In addition to what is already there you could use the legs as reminder for testing > and < as input (might find bugs in AJAX/XML)

You couldalso give the little fella a big and a small ear as a reminder to test max an min values.

I also wonder why no one ever reversed it. Except maybe I don't—when you look at it, the whole history of science is filled with people saying, "Wha…? Oh. Right."

Thanks for the kind words.

—M.

Thanks for a great workshop. Just wanted to add a comment on the angle of gaze (i.e. how dogs catch frisbees) heuristic you mentioned during the workshop:

I find it really fascinating that this only seems to have been discovered in the past ten years, because there’s a very similar heuristic that’s been in use in aviation for many years.

Except with this trajectory, you’re not trying to catch a moving object, you are the moving object, and you’re trying to throw yourself at a particular reference point on the ground, to land your aircraft. But the essential heuristic is just the same – if it’s moving up in your field of view, you’re going to fall short, if it’s moving down, you’re going to overshoot. I wonder why nobody ever reversed it?

Often I see that time is lost collecting evidence/metrics and based decisions on those figures. My opinion is that it is better to make decisions instead of thinking making them. Decisions make people move and on movements we can act. If decisions are moving in a good direction or when they are going the wrong direction doesn’t matter. It helps us to adapt. If adaptation is done in a proper context, they should help customers better.

At least your words had some impact as they convinced me to trust the test-the-tester-test instead of trusting on certifications.

With regards,
Jeroen

First, thank you for the kind words. I too met some very interesting people and felt lucky to have interesting conversations with them.

The name of the original patterns book is A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction, by Christopher Alexander et. al. At one point, I remarked to Cem Kaner that Lessons Learned in Software Testing seemed to be a book very much in the same kind of spirit, which is one of the reasons that I liked it so much. Both books are collections of heuristic suggestions about their subjects, with some excellent stories to illustrate and emphasize the points.

—M.

—M.

Firstthought Right
* Don’t keep thinking too long about the possible solution.

Sounds lika a chicken
* Use your senses when describing a problem.

The Genius complex
* The ares coded by the genius are not bugfree.

The Sexy Chick perpective
* Look away from the interesting b(t)its once in a while.

Take prisoners
* Bring “difficult” people into your team

Don’t Feel Stupid
* If you don’t understand – chances are you are not the only one. ASK !

Picture/Film says more then 1000 words
* When reporting use images and videos for describing when words fail.

It’s always the new kid
* A new comer will always mess something up. Test it.

Reverse it.
* Try it doing the opposite way. Think in 180 degrees.

Just try it !
* Even if you are sure it would not work.

Don’t Berate – Automate !
* Well that is selfexplanatory.

The Bathroom Oracle
* Take a break for a fresh view on stuff. ( And for toilet testing @ google.com)

Defects are Gold
* All value of testing comes from found defects. Crap reports give no value.

No bugs no Glory
* Bugs make you happy. Finding bugs is fun. Day without bugs is a waste.

Follow the Rythm
* Projects have speed and follow a steps and patterns. Do not swim against the flow.

Hide and seek
* Find your friends and on the way you’ll find many interesting things. Don’t forget to find your friend.

Tell that yo your cat !
* Would your cat or grandmother understand what your are saying ?

Trust People, not Numbers
* Context : decision about what to tell “Managment”. Get facts to support.

Don’t trust Foreigners
* CMMI levels in different countries mean differents things.

“It is only …”
* Really Means : “I underestimate this problem”

Newcast action !
* when you see a problem videotape it – and broadcast.

Look ! Look – No Hands!
* People ofter use fancy words to hide their incopmetence and for distraction.

There are no problems
* .. Only challanges.

Google Rule
* Your problem is already solved by someone else. If not then make sure it’s not yours anymore.