This question was posted on LinkedIn>Answers under "Software Development".

Since I've decided to try to preach what I practice I posted this in response:

"To answer your question, we'd really need to know the size of the puzzle and the number/size of its pieces!

In some ways we (the test team) *are* interested in the "puzzle pieces of the system". Even at the early stages of feeding the requirements into the testing process/system/tool - is it not the case that conflicting requirements are discovered?

I also draw the line at the unit tests - but how many times have you heard a developer say "I'll add a unit test to cover that"? The tester has found something within a puzzle piece that could have been unit tested - surely not!

I've rarely had the chance to test (for the first time) a complete system, it is usual to test what you can sooner rather than later. Example: If the developers have delivered handing for 10 out of 50 XML requests - then test what you have. It will drive out any fundament defects, get the testers used to the system and build up good tester developer relationships - without the testers getting involved at a "low-level".

I don't think many project budgets will allow for pair-programming with developers and testers pairing up. However there are a few methodologies which advocate testing first or testing and developing at the same time, I think generally these methodologies are referring to unit level testing. The testing process can start as soon as we have something to talk about (requirements), a test framework could be put together based on this – but it would be somewhat skeletal. When a design/mock-ups is available, we could begin fleshing out the tests.

As an automated tester, I'd like to get involved as soon as possible - if anything can be tested in relative isolation then I'll test it. This also allows me to build up the test tool and quickly test new functionality when they arrives later."

I've been using LinkedIn for the past month or so, my public profile is here:



So far it's been quite useful, I've found my manager from 7 years ago and I've even been offered a job :-) More importantly I'm now "LinkedIn" to plenty of my old collegues which is a great technical resource for me.

Why didn't I google for this earlier?

Evolane have produce a version of the TCL, called eTCL, which will run on Windows Mobile (i.e my XDA Exec PDA/Phone):
www.evolane.com/software/etcl/index.html

This puts me in a comfortable environment and of course opens up some familiar TCL doors:

1. Automated testing
2. Task scripting - such as backups and synchronisations

I've just installed it and a few test tools I'd written for the manual testers on my last project work a treat! Of course you may have initial limitations in terms of the base packages in the distribution.

I'm not proposing running test tools on it, although there might be some useful scope for this.

Time for a rant about Sky customer services.

I rang the technical help line about 6 weeks ago to ask what would happen if I source my own (second hand) Sky+ box. They were very helpful and advised that I would need:
1. A twin output LNB because Sky+ has two digital decoders
2. To ring them when it is set up so they can pair my viewing card with the new box.

They confirmed that having a Sky+ box and Sky+ functionality (record, pause live tv etc.) would not actually cost me any more since I sourced the equipment myself. They also agreed that I wouldn't need to change my package.

I bought a Sky+ box and quad LNB on ebay a few weeks ago.

So last night, I got the ladder out, replaced my dish single output LNB with the quad version, laid two extra cables and brought them down into my AV cupboard. Fine.

I plugged everything in and got a much better signal strength (on both of the decoders) than before.

The box worked fine (minus recording etc) as it was, but I rang Sky customer services to get the viewing card switched over anyway. The technical person did this, but transferred my to a call center with a very bad line. I could hardly understand the lady I spoke to because of a combination of her English and a very bad line.

It transpired that to have Sky+ recoding enable, on my existing package, would cost a further £10 per month.... yes per month..!!!! I tried to explain the effort I went to to get to where I was (checking first with Sky and then sourcing and installing the equipment myself) to which she replied "... but Sir, if you want the pleasure of having Sky+ you must pay for it...". I got put on hold and after 15 minutes and then gave up.

I have recording enabled just now - because she just assumed that I would pay "for the pleasure" and enabled it!

I rang Sky later for more information and it turns out that with some packages I would get Sky+ functionality enabled for free, but:
1. I don't want to change packages.
2. Because I got a great deal which isn't up until June - I can't change packages.

What a nightmare and to top it all off I'm already in the process of moving over to Sky broadband - that was a big mistake.

Izabella knows when it's bath time if she sees mums shower cap...



Our rugs get rolled up and Iz follows us around the house now...



She can't get enough of aunty Irena's baking...



Charlie came to see us....


Mylo came round too for a go on the bouncer...


We thought it was quiet - Iz fell asleep on her playmat...