October 19, 2012
Dear Everyone:
Up to my eyeballs in drafting “Test Scripts” to be used in the future
for when the system is “upgraded” or “enhanced” (again!)
So I was going through “Ludmilla’s” original
Word document for
“testing” moving people around in buildings and in the system.
It turns out many of “Ludmilla’s” test scripts are predicated not
so much on functional capability as on wishful thinking.
Sort of like buying a refrigerator/freezer that has one of those ice
makers built in, with the “window” in the door to dispense water and
ice. Only when you get it
delivered, it has to be hooked up to a water line in order to work.
If it doesn’t, it’s not a “design flaw” so much as “operator
error”. No water, no ice.
But “Ludmilla’s” tests want the refrigerator to dispense chocolate ice
cream, too. That would be
“nice to have”, but it’s not part of the original functionality.
After “Matilda” mentioned in a meeting the fact that I was “testing”
some pretty esoteric “functions”, “Ludmilla” came and abruptly pulled
the rug out from under the “Move” tests (I was t-h-i-s close to
finishing the last one anyway) and instructed me to start on new Test
Scripts for “Service Requests”.
Have you heard me mention “Service Requests” before?
That’s because I haven’t had anything to do with them.
But “Ludmilla” needs them done by yesterday.
“Ludmilla’s” idea of teaching someone how to swim is to tie their hands
and feet, throw them in the deep end of the pool, turn out the lights
and close the door on her way out.
If they don’t drown, good.
If they do drown, they’re just not as good a swimmer as
“Ludmilla” is.
So, with no “original” test scripts to follow, I’m forging “ahead” with
my own. But I found an
“escape clause”. While
discussing the basic functionality of Service Requests, “Balthasar”, the
developer who works out of his home in Southern California, told me the
real expert was none other than “Babette”, the person who originally
hired me to come in and help “Ludmilla”.
After a brief “sit down” with “Babette”, I finally have the blueprint
for what she really wants the testing to test.
As opposed to what “other people” just plain want.
It looked like clear sailing until I hit a little “dip in the road”
yesterday. That prompted a
question to another developer, “Tallulah”, in “Hobby”, who immediately
started whisking system authorities around in the Test environment.
Something we’re trying to avoid with “Ad Hoc” IDs instead.
But they haven’t been set up yet.
So… Trying to put the brakes
on “Tallulah” and moving right along with Service Requests.
Situation Normal.
And, more importantly, it’s the Weekend!
Love, as always,
Pete
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