TestBashX was initially thought to debut in Edinburgh in 2020 and two years later, here it is! TestBash X, our new software testing conference experience is coming to Edinburgh on the 28th of April 2022. It will be hosted at Brewhemia.
Ministry of Testing is closely collaborating with local testers and this time, our super MoT Edinburgh Meetup organiser Craig Wylie is working with us to bring this innovative event to you.
Super Early Bird Tickets are now available for £99 and the conference is limited to 100 attendees, so make sure you get yours as soon as possible so you don't miss out on this great come back!
What Happened
Select a session to learn more about it.
Power of Habit - With Alex Reynolds
What
Pre Test Bash MeetupTopics
Description
The evening before TestBashX Edinburgh, we are going to be looking at the Power of Habits, which ties in nicely with the first-ever TestBash in Edinburgh!
This Pre-TestBash Meetup will be happening at the People's Postcode Lottery's office (28 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh EH2 4ET).
This month we are hosted by the amazing Post Code Lottery! Make sure you register your attendance here, so we know how many are coming.
Alex Reynolds is going to share how simple habits can develop, drive and support a learning culture for you and your team.
Join us as Alex brings to life the teachings from the masters of habits and habit research Dr Charles Dhugg and James Clear, and how he used them to create his own learning habit.
At the session, you will discover why we are indeed 'creatures of habit' and how you can use this knowledge to introduce a learning habit for yourself and your team.
Plan of Attack!
18:00 - Doors Open and Reception
19:00 - Power of Habit: Alex Reynolds
20:00 - Group Discussion
20:30 - End, maybe to the pub :)
Speaker
TAP-ping Your Potential: An Introduction to Test Automation Portfolios
What
TalkTopics
Description
To kick off TestBashX Edinburgh, Beth will be giving an original and interactive talk on a subject she's passionate about - Test Automation Portfolios.
If you've ever wondered what they are, when they are useful and how they could help you on your learning journey then come on down!
Takeaways
- Discuss the value a Test Automation Portfolio might hold for you
- Understand the different elements of a successful Test Automation Portfolio
- Design your very own Test Automation Portfolio Plan
Speaker
API Testing and Automation
What
ActivityTopics
Description
In this session you will try out a variety of tests in Postman, demonstrating how you can build robust test suites for your APIs.
You'll author some test scripts, automate tests, and dynamically control workflows using the collection runner and scheduled monitors - and if you’re still hungry for more you’ll experiment with the CLI collection runner Newman!
What you'll learn in more depth:
- Author scripts to test API request responses.
- Run collections via the collection runner in Postman and/or on the command line using Newman.
- Control the flow of request execution via scripting.
- Use scripts and variables to pass data between requests.
- Use dynamic variables and/or mock servers to automate request data generation.
- Set up monitors to observe API behaviour.
Takeaways
- Use Postman API test and automation workflows in their development and deployment pipeline
Speaker
The Heuristic Challenge
What
ActivityTopics
Description
Where do you get your crazy ideas from? As testers we have a mental toolbox of test ideas, but how do we keep it fresh and expand it?
In this activity, learners will come up with as many different test ideas as possible in a short frame of time. We’ll then learn how we can expand our ideas with heuristics to help us identify new ideas to expand our testing.
Takeaways
- Discover new heuristics to expand your testing abilities
Coding in Real Life
What
ActivityTopics
Description
Learn about coding concepts in a fun and interactive way as a team and complete as many challenges as you can.
In this activity you will have to arrange sections of written "code" to help the robot complete a challenge. Once you have ‘developed’ the code you can test it and then submit it to the human compiler/robot (Our activity instructor). But, you only get one chance to submit the code! If its wrong its wrong (and our instructor is a stickler for syntax)
Takeaways
- Use basic code concepts to inform real world activities such as testing and development
Quality Jenga
What
ActivityDescription
How does culture, process and collaboration impact how we deliver software? How can we work together to better improve the quality of our products and the quality of our testing?
In this activity, learners are given different roles and a task to create a Jenga tower. As we work to create a Jenga tower that doesn't fall over, we'll learn how collaboration is the key to success.
Takeaways
- Argue why collaboration is key to improving the quality of our products
Model and Test The Button
What
ActivityTopics
Description
What would you do if you were presented with a system that has no clear inputs and outputs? How would you learn how the system works and how would you test it? One great place to start is by building a model of how the system works.
For this activity, you’ll explore a device using a range of different questions and tools. What you learn will be used to create a visual representation of how the application works. So that you can pick the right testing approaches to learn more.
Takeaways
- Construct a model of an application to help guide testing
Speaker
The Transition from Traditional to Modern Testing
What
TalkDescription
Several years ago I wanted to transition from Traditional Testing to Modern Testing.
My goal was to no longer be a safety net for teams, break the cycle of being the “lone tester” and guide teams towards shared responsibility for quality. Through a variety of painful testing experiences I knew what didn’t work but was struggling to find new and better approaches.
Throughout this journey I have experimented, learnt many lessons and embraced many concepts. Two of those key concepts were Whole Team Testing (Lisa Crispin and Janet Gregory) and The Modern Testing Principles (Alan Page and Brent Jensen).
These concepts evolve testers to the next level so that their teams embrace whole team quality.
Personally it helped me undertake changes such as no longer being a safety net for the team, embracing lean principles and ensuring the team made data-driven decisions. Embracing these concepts accelerated my development to becoming a Modern Tester, influenced how I lead a team of distributed testers, and ultimately helped improve the quality culture of teams.
In this talk I will openly share successes, failures, and plans for the future.
Takeaways
- An Understanding of Traditional Testing, Agile Testing and Modern Testing
- An understanding of the three phases of a tester’s career, executor, partner and influencer and how to transition between each phase
- An understanding of Whole Team Testing and the 7 Principles of Modern Testing, and the huge benefits that can be gained from these approaches
- Practical examples of activities to move you towards modern testing, and future-proofing your career
Speaker
Our Famous 99-Second Talks
What
99 Second TalksTopics
Description
It's not a TestBash without 99-Second Talks!
The 99-Second Talks is the attendee's stage, an opportunity for you to come on stage and talk for, that's right, 99 seconds.
You can talk about anything, a testing topic you want to share, a personal experience, an idea sparked by all the amazing talks you've just listened to... the stage is yours, for 99-Seconds!
The host will introduce you on stage and start the clock. As soon as the time's up, a noise will be heard and that's it: time's up!
Post-TestBashX Evening Meetup
What
MeetupTopics
Description
What better way to finish the day than to warm down with a post-TestBash Meetup?
We will be staying in the same venue, Brewhemia for some food and drinks, thanks to our Personal Trainer Sponsor Postman and our Warmdown Sponsors Mailinator and Harvey Nash!
Frequently Asked Questions
What's With the X?
The X stands for experience, which we know starts with an “E” but “X” sounded way cooler! The day will start and close with a talk and in between we'll have a learning circus.
A learning circus is an active, cooperative learning approach that involves groups of people moving around a space, visiting several learning stations and completing authentic collaborative tasks. Put simply, it’s loads of mini-workshops that you will complete with fellow testers.
The TestBashX Circus will be made up of several learning stations with carefully crafted testing challenges and activities for you to complete in small groups. Each station will be run by a software testing expert and will focus on different testing topics. As an attendee, you'll then visit each station to ensure you get the most out of the day.
Where is it being held?
The venue is Brewhemia, 1A Market St, Edinburgh EH1 1DE.
Want to Sponsor TestBashX?
Want to sponsor our warm down or one of our learning stations? There are only limited spaces available, contact us now via email to testbash@ministryoftesting.com for more information.
So What Should I Expect?
Two awesome talks from two accomplished speakers in the testing community.
After the opening talk, you will be grouped up with fellow testers and you’ll stay in this group for the duration of the day while you complete circus activities. This grouping is essential to the learning circus approach and we are confident you will learn just as much from your fellow testers as you will from the testing experts running the stations.
At the end of the day, you’ll walk away brimming with new knowledge and skills that you can implement at your workplace. Have we mentioned yet there will be some prizes too? 🤫
Do I need to bring a laptop?
No. All equipment for the activities will be provided by the station.
What if I don’t want to go into a random team?
Part of the goal of TestBash X is to meet new people and make new connections to help you with your learning long after the event has passed. It is also beneficial to learn from those that have an entirely different experience from you. TestBashX was designed around this. However, if you do not please let us know in advance if you want to pair with a friend or colleague.