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Testing Ask Me Anything - Exploratory Testing

10th January 2023

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Callum Akehurst-Ryan

Staff Quality Engineer

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Introduction to Callum

What information should be included in an exploratory test charter?

What is the briefing and how does it help?

How do you stay focussed while exploratory testing?

If a team defines acceptance tests to cover the acceptance criteria of a user story and they are all green, why should this team still do exploratory testing?

Is there ever a scenario where exploratory testing is not suitable?

How do you know when you've done enough exploratory testing?

We have automated tests that cover all this, how would you respond to comments like this when people challenge the idea that exploratory testing is necessary?

If there was a system, device or perhaps fictional vehicle that you wanted to test but had no knowledge of it's internal workings or use cases, where would you start?

How do you change the mindset of testers from manual to exploratory?

What are good heuristics to be used in exploratory sessions to gain confidence about what has been tested?

Is there testing that isn't exploratory?

What was your favourite time of testing exploratorially?

Description

Our host Vernon Richards was joined by Callum Akehurst-Ryan to answer all your questions relating to Exploratory Testing. Callum answered questions covering heuristics, how to debrief your team, the importance of notes and the tools you can use to do. Plus helping you explain the importance of exploratory testing to your team and when you've done "enough" exploratory testing. A first for an Ask Me Anything - Callum had slides prepared and helped provide a deeper understanding of the answers he gave! You can find a copy of the slides in the resources section.

This Testing Ask Me Anything is kindly sponsored by mabl! Get free access to The Complete Guide to Shift-Left Testing, which includes practical tips to integrate automated testing into your pipeline, and how to empower your entire development team to test. This guide includes contributions from testing pros like Andrew Morton (DevBoss), Isabel Evans, and Ken Talbot who share their own shift-left stories. Access the guide here!

Callum Akehurst-Ryan

He/Him

Staff Quality Engineer

Hi I'm Callum, a software tester and quality coach in London. I talk about exploratory testing, test strategy, diversity & inclusion and building testing in agile teams / startups.