Events

Rapid Software Testing (SS-125)

• Date: Monday 13th to Wednesday 15th September 2010
• Venue: Xilinx, Citywest Business Park
• In association with Testing Times and Xilinx
  
• Duration: 3 day course (9.00am to 5.30pm)
• Cost to non-members: €1,700 per person
• Cost to Software Skillnet Members after Grant aid: €770 per person

The course cost is all-inclusive for the 3 day course and covers all materials and refreshments   
This event is being grant aided by the Software Skillnet
Contact susan@isa-skillnet.com to book your place

Rapid Software Testing is a three-day, hands-on class that teaches testing as a sophisticated thinking art. The philosophy presented in this class is not like traditional approaches to testing, which ignore the thinking part of testing and instead advocate never-ending paperwork. Products have become too complex for that, time is too
short, and testers are too expensive. Rapid testing uses a cyclic approach and heuristic methods to constantly re-optimize testing to fit the needs of your clients. The Rapid approach isn't just testing with a speed or sense of urgency; it's mission-focused testing that eliminates unnecessary work, assures that everything necessary gets done, and
constantly asks what testing can do to speed the project as a whole. This class presents an approach to testing that begins with developing personal skills and extends to the ultimate mission of software testing: lighting the way of the project by evaluating the product.

One important tool of rapid testing is the discipline of exploratory testing-essentially a testing martial art. Exploratory testing combines test design, test execution, test result interpretation, and learning into a seamless process that finds a lot of problems quickly. If you are an experienced tester, you'll find out how to articulate those intellectual processes of testing that you already practice intuitively. If you're a new tester, hands-on testing exercises help you gain critical experience.

There is no charge to attend this event 

To Register for Cork  18/02/09- please use the following link  http://www.itcork.ie/index.cfm?page=events&eventId=172

4:00 - 4:15    Registration

4:15 - 5:00    Sarah Murphy, Xilinx: Title: Lean Test Process Improvement in Agile Testing

5:00 -  5:45   Scott Armstrong, SQS UK:Title: Test Automation: A Roadmap for Success

There is no charge to attend this event

To Register for Dublin - 17/02/09- please email  Anna.Donegan at ibec.ie

Agenda

5:00 - 5:30    Registration

5:30 - 6:15    Sarah Murphy, Xilinx: Title: Lean Test Process Improvement in Agile Testing

6:15 - 7:00   Owen Lydon, Intec Billing: Title: Avoiding Common Pitfalls in Virtual or Distributed Teams.

There is no charge to attend this event and lunch will be provided.

To Register for Belfast - 16/02/09- please email  Nicola.McManus at momentumni.org

Agenda

12:00 - 12:15   Registration

12:15 -  1:00    Sarah Murphy, Xilinx: Title: Lean Test Process Improvement in Agile Testing

1:00   -  1:30    Lunch

1:30   -  2:15    Scott Armstrong, SQS UK:Title: Test Automation: A Roadmap for Success

Registration - 7:45am

Cost: No Charge to attend this event (Tea & Coffee provided on arrival)

To register for this event please email Anna.Donegan[at]Ibec.ie 

I am delighted to invite you to the June 2009 SoftTest Event taking place in Belfast, Dublin & Cork 

To Register for Belfast -   16/06/09 - please contact  Nicola.McManus-at-momentumni.org

To Register for Dublin -    17/06/09 - Please contact   Anna.Donegan-at-ibec.ie

To Register for Cork -   18/06/09  please contact Catherine.Wall -at- itcork.ie  

Agenda

12:00 -  12:15  Registration

12:15 -  13.10  Evolution of new feature verification in Ericsson - Michael Monaghan

13:10 -  14:00  Software Testing and Global Industry: Future Paradigms- Val Casey

14:00 -  14:30  Networking Lunch

I am delighted to invite you to the June 2009 SoftTest Event taking place in Belfast, Dublin & Cork 

To Register for Belfast -   16/06/09 - please contact  Nicola.McManus-at-momentumni.org

To Register for Dublin -    17/06/09 - Please contact   Anna.Donegan-at-ibec.ie

To Register for Cork -   18/06/09  please contact Catherine.Wall -at- itcork.ie

Agenda

12:00 -  12:15  Registration

12:15 -  13.10  Evolution of new feature verification in Ericsson - Michael Monaghan

13:10 -  14:00  Software Testing and Global Industry: Future Paradigms- Val Casey

14:00 -  14:30  Networking Lunch

I am delighted to invite you to the June 2009 SoftTest Event taking place in Belfast, Dublin & Cork 

To Register for Belfast -   16/06/09 - please contact  Nicola.McManus-at-momentumni.org

To Register for Dublin -    17/06/09 - Please contact   Anna.Donegan-at-ibec.ie

To Register for Cork -   18/06/09  please contact Catherine.Wall -at- itcork.ie 

Agenda

12:00 -  12:15  Registration

12:15 -  13.10  Evolution of new feature verification in Ericsson - Michael Monaghan

13:10 -  14:00  Software Testing and Global Industry: Future Paradigms- Val Casey

14:00 -  14:30  Networking Lunch

To Register for Dublin - 27/05/09 - please contact Anna.Donegan [at] ibec.ie

Agenda

• Sogeti SoftTEST Professionalism in Test.pdf
  

• Startups and Software Testing.pdf
  

To Register for Belfast - 26/05/09 - please contact Nicola.McManus [at] momentumni.org

Agenda

16:30 - 17:00 Registration

17:00 - 18:00 Professionalism in Testing, John McArdle

• Sogeti SoftTEST Professionalism in Test.pdf
  

18:00 - 19:00 Software Testing in the World of Start Ups, Anne- Marie Charrett

• Startups and Software Testing.pdf
  

19:00 Close

http://free-test.org/node/5

Call for papers

The 23rd of March 2009, the Norwegian Computer Society hope to present: Free Test - Conference on Free Testing Tools

The conference will be held in Trondheim, Norway.

In this rapidly changing world, testing as a profession is becoming more and more recognized. At the same time, testers experience an increasing pressure when it comes to time and resources. One way to alleviate this pressure, is by incorporating tools in the testing activities. The interest in Open Source and/or Free testing tools is therefore growing fast.

Looking for the right tools and evaluating their usability in the organization is a time consuming effort This conference aims at people in this situation: it gives them an opportunity to learn more about products, experiences, and establish a network of other people with the same interests. Free Test will offer presentations about free testing tools and experiences with these. There will also be product stand facilities, where Free Testing Tools can be demonstrated.

Contact Henri van de Scheur <henri at volve.no>

Stuart Reid on 'Progress on the development of ISO 29119'
Paul Gerrard on 'The Future of Testing - Some Predictions'

To book for EITHER event please e-mail Anna.Donegan -at- ibec -dot- ie indicating which event you wish to attend. 

Stuart Reid on 'Progress on the development of ISO 29119'
Paul Gerrard on 'The Future of Testing - Some Predictions'

To book for EITHER event please e-mail Anna.Donegan -at- ibec -dot- ie indicating which event you wish to attend. 

Slides from Michael Monaghan, Ericsson, 6 Nov 2008.
Shows how Feature Based Verification achieved 69% - 79% savings in cost of testing

• Click here to view the presentation 

Sponsors: Insight Test Services, SQS Ireland, All-Island Software Network, The Software Skillnet

To register your attendance for the Dublin or Belfast events, please contact ruth.walmsley <at> momentumni.org stating which event you would like to attend, or for the Cork event, contact admin <at> itcork.ie

Sponsors: Insight Test Services, SQS Ireland, All-Island Software Network, The Software Skillnet

Sponsors: Insight Test Services, SQS Ireland, All-Island Software Network, The Software Skillnet

To register your attendance for the Dublin or Belfast events, please contact ruth.walmsley <at> momentumni.org stating which event you would like to attend, or for the Cork event, contact admin <at> itcork.ie

1. Testing in an Agile Environment Speaker: James Lyndsay

2. Competency Based Tester Qualifications: The Next Step for the Testing Profession? Speaker: Susan Windsor

There is no charge to attend these events - to register for the Belfast or Dublin events, please email ruth.walmsley at momentumni.org stating which event you wish to attend

1. Testing in an Agile Environment Speaker: James Lyndsay

2. Competency Based Tester Qualifications: The Next Step for the Testing Profession? Speaker: Susan Windsor

There is no charge to attend these events - to register for the Belfast or Dublin events, please email ruth.walmsley at momentumni.org stating which event you wish to attend

1. Testing in an Agile Environment Speaker: James Lyndsay

2. Competency Based Tester Qualifications: The Next Step for the Testing Profession? Speaker: Susan Windsor

There is no charge to attend these events - to register for the Belfast or Dublin events, please email ruth.walmsley at momentumni.org stating which event you wish to attend

Mark your diaries for our next evening event, Thursday May 15th!

Time 18:00 - 20:00, registration from 17:30

Venue: IBEC, Confederation House, 84/86 Lower Baggot St, Dublin 2

There is no charge to attend this events - to register please email ruth.walmsley [at] momentumni [dot] org stating which event you wish to attend.

Speaker details and venue/booking information will be circulated separately via IT @ Cork.

1. Testing Using Open Source Tools by Richard Thompson
2. People Challenges for Test Teams by Steve Allott

There is no charge to attend this event. To register please email ruth.walmsley -at- momentumni -dot- org stating which event you wish to attend.

1. Testing Using Open Source Tools by Richard Thompson
2. People Challenges for Test Teams by Steve Allott

There is no charge to attend this event. To register please email ruth.walmsley -at- momentumni -dot- org stating which event you wish to attend.

Mark your diary - Dec 10 /  11 - Process improvement half day

Dec 10, 2-5pm in Belfast,
Venue for Belfast is Radisson SAS Hotel, The Gasworks, Belfast

Dec 11, 09:30-12:30 in Dublin
Venue for Dublin is Holiday Inn, Pearse Street.

Registration via email to ruth.walmsley(at)momentumni(dot)org

SoftTest with the support of the All Ireland Software Network is pleased to announce the following events:

September 19th, Dublin, Venue: Holiday Inn Pearse Street, 2.00pm - 5:30pm
September 20th, Belfast, Venue: Radisson SAS Hotel, The Gasworks,  2.00pm - 5:30pm

Speakers and topics:
Neil Thompson, Thompson information Systems Consulting Ltd. (TiSCL) ‘Holistic Test Analysis and Design’

Details: as for Dublin event, Sep 19

For more information on registering for these free events, or to discuss sponsorship please contact Ruth Walmsley < Ruth.Walmsley at momentumni.org >

SoftTest with the support of the All Ireland Software Network is pleased to announce the following events:

September 19th, Dublin, Venue: Holiday Inn Pearse Street, 2.00pm - 5:30pm
September 20th, Belfast, Venue: Radisson SAS Hotel, The Gasworks,  2.00pm - 5:30pm

Speakers and topics:

Unfortunately due to a family bereavement, Paul Gerrard will no longer be able to deliver his presentation.  Paul Shortt of Allied Irish Bank has kindly agreed to do a presentation on Insourcing System Testing - details below:

Abstract

This is a case study based on the AIB teams experience of Insourcing quality assurance services to support technology change projects. Discussion on quality improvement is often process, metric or standards focused. This presentation will also look at how a structured approach to testing can promote teaming. Providing a catalyst that gets all stakeholders, business users/sponsors and technology providers, working together more effectively and creating a positive project experience.

Biography

Paul is currently Head of Corporate Banking Technology Solutions & Services at Allied Irish Bank. He s been with AIB since 1998 in various management roles, leading project and application development teams. He has nearly 20 years experience in technology and Financial Services and before joining AIB worked as a consultant for ACT Banking Systems on projects in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Neil Thompson, Thompson information Systems Consulting Ltd. (TiSCL)

‘Holistic Test Analysis and Design’

(presentation prepared in collaboration with Mike Smith, Testing Solutions Group)

Abstract: To test professionally and understand software risks fully, we need to know what our tests cover. Counting test cases is not enough—that’s like sizing business requirements by counting program modules. Neil Thompson presents a test analysis and design method that integrates four key entities into a holistic approach: test items, testable features, test basis documents, and product risks. Testing standards and textbooks have anaesthetized many into the delusion that test cases are a known quantity and all we need to derive them is a few basic techniques. Neil argues that we need a broader approach, incorporating exploratory techniques and new thinking into our testing. We should consider:

distinguishing logical and physical coverage;
information traceability;
how coverage should play a part in governance scorecards; and
a measurement framework for management to understand testing better.
 

Bio: Neil Thompson is a UK-based independent testing consultant and manager, serving blue-chip clients through www.TiSCL.com, either directly or with other consultancies. Co-author with Paul Gerrard of 2002 book "Risk-based e-business testing". Neil has worked for 30 years in information systems, first with a computer manufacturer, then two leading software houses, an international user organisation, followed by ten years as a management consultant with global firms and nine years with his own company. Has a wide and international perspective on the IS business, through diverse roles including programmer, systems analyst, team leader for enhancements and maintenance, database administrator, and project manager. Member of British Computer Society (and its specialist interest groups in Software Testing and Configuration Management), also a Certified Management Consultant and IEEE member. Neil spoke at the first EuroSTAR in 1993, then again in 1994, 1999, 2002 (with Paul Gerrard), 2004 (best paper award) and 2006. Also spoke at STAREast in 2003, attempting to build a bridge between “best practice(s)” and the Context-Driven School. Neil is still old enough to appreciate The Bothy Band and Horslips.

For more information on registering for these free events, or to discuss sponsorship please contact Ruth Walmsley

 Ruth.Walmsley at momentumni.org

Please mark your diary for the upcoming SoftTest Ireland quarterly meeting and networking session which takes place in the Holiday Inn, Pearse St, Dublin on Tuesday 7 Nov registration at 5:30pm for a 6pm start.

Speakers:

• Darren Pickering of Elemental Creative on "Accessibility Testing"
• Dr. John Murphy from the Performance Engineering Laboratory on "Understanding Performance Engineering by means of Tools and Practical Exercises"

All members are encouraged to participate and new members are welcome! Please reply to admin at softtest.ie to register for this event.

Registration opens at 5.30pm and the event will be followed at 8pm by a drinks and networking reception.  The event is FREE to paid-up members of SoftTest Ireland. There is a charge of 50 euro for non-members.

The evening will feature two presentations and a brief AGM to keep you informed of our progress.

(1)
The first speaker is Darren Pickering of Elemental Creative. His topic is Accessibility Testing.

Contents:
Accessibility Testing- An Introduction
The problem with inaccessible websites
How users use the web
What are the W3C guidelines?
Manual and Automated Testing
What is 'bad' usability?
Benefits of Usability Testing
Case Study- O2
Case Study- Dergfinn Partnership
Case Study- The Blind Centre of Northern Ireland

Darren Pickering co-founded Elemental Creative Ltd in 2002, an IT consultancy that specialises in website usability and accessibility testing and online performance development.

An experienced senior web designer and website tester, Darren has been involved in the design, build and testing of web presences for many companies and has provided usability and accessibility consultancy for Sun Microsystems and O2, and has developed and implemented an accessibility lab for O2.

Elemental Creative Ltd is an independently owned, website usability testing, accessibility testing and Internet marketing agency based in Omagh, Co Tyrone.

=============================================

(2)
Doctor John Murphy from the Performance Engineering Laboratory
http://www.perfenglab.com
Title: "Understanding Performance Engineering by means of Tools and Practical Exercises"

Abstract:
Software Testers and IT specialists need to be educated with a basic degree of
performance engineering knowledge, so they are aware of why and
how certain design and development decisions can lead to poor
performance of the resulting software systems. In this talk we document how performance
engineering is introduced through practical exercises, and how these exercises relate to industry problems.

The talk will cover:
performance testing, tuning
Load/stress testing, profiling, capacity planning,
Flexible benchmark generation for:
Performance testing
Middleware infrastructure testing
Portable test-bed generator
Quick Ant-based generation
Functional testing: eliminate bad configurations

Bio:
Dr. Murphy is an IBM Faculty Fellow, a Senior Member of the IEEE, a  Fellow and a Chartered Engineering with the IEI, a Fellow of the  Irish Computer Society, as well as being a member of the ACM, IEE and a
European Engineer with FEANI. Dr. Murphy is the author or co-author of over 100 technical papers on performance engineering.


=============================================

In yet another superb SoftTest Ireland educational event, members will learn from two international experts about specification-driven test generation and the latest developments in test automation.

SoftTest Ireland are delighted to announce that the guest speakers will be Mark Fewster of Grove Consultants on 'Keyword Driven Test Automation Illuminated' and Harry Robinson of Google on 'Model-based Testing'

Attendance is free to all members and guests are welcome. 
To register to attend contact: administrator [at] softtest [dot] ie  or call 053 9422294. Click into the title of this conference to learn more about the speakers and their papers. 

The lastest in our series of educational seminars sees Julie Gardiner of QST Consultants Ltd and Declan Kavanagh of Insight deliver papers of great educational value to SoftTest Members and guests alike. Julie, on the subject of, "Testers are doing it for Themselves" will address how testers can develop their testing careers through personal investment whilst Declan will tackle the subject of outsourcing testing functions. Free attendance to all SoftTest members - this is an evening not to be missed!

SoftTest Ireland are delighted to annouce a new half day seminar that will take place on Wednesday 29th March 2006. Guest Speaker Andy Redwood Group Business Manager for Testing at the Portman Building Society will discuss the issue of SOX Testing, whilst Stuart Reid will present a paper on the issue of the Personal Test Maturity Matrix before the delegates split up for a "Birds of a Feather" on three testing related issues. Attendance is free to all SoftTest Members.

"Effective Testing - Using Industry Standard Techniques", Stephen K Allott, CaseMaker International

"Test Data generation and analysis using Scripting Tools", Brian Lambert, Ericsson

The largest IT project in the history of the ESB - Market Opening (deregulation) by Leon Brinkley, ESB;  Case study for the use of Test Automation Frameworks by Susan Windsor, WMHL consulting.

How to Break Software Security by James Whittaker; Virtual Software Testing Teams: Overcoming the Obstacles by Val Casey.

"Testers Rights: What Test should demand from others, and why?", Tom Gilb "Managing Projects With Intelligence", Paul Gerrard. June 3, 2005.

Richard Thompson, Testing and Verification Manager for Liberty IT, Belfast. 10 May 2005.

John Watkins, IBM  presented 'A Complete Guide to Evaluating Software Testing Tools' & David Putman, Exoftware, presented 'Testing in an Agile World'.

Risk Analysis & Test Strategy with Erik Van Veenendaal; Adventures in Session-Based Testing with James Lyndsay

'Spreadsheet Testing' and 'XP for Testers'

'First Time Experiences of Test Automation' and 'Testing in Small Companies'

Mini-conference with Lee Copeland and David Parnas Dec 8 2003

Quarterly event and Annual General Meeting 7 Oct 2003

“Exploratory Testing Explained” James Bach, Satisfice Inc, USA

“Measuring the Value of Testing” Dorothy Graham, Grove Consultants, UK

"Automated Patch and System Testing"
Vernon Everett, Sun Microsystems

"Testing JSPs using Cactus"
George Clulow, IBM

Case study: AIB: Test Process Improvement

Case study: Spokesoft: Automatable Use-Case Driven System Tests of Java Web Applications, using HttpUnit

Paul Gerrard Technical Director, Systeme Evolutif Limited: Risk-based Testing.
Fran O'Hara, Insight Consulting : A Practical Method To Rapidly Improve The Performance Of Testing.

'Managing Integration Testing in the large- The Cluster Approach' Fergal O'Riordan, Eircom.
'Merits/Demerits of developing GUI automation for use in Corporate Environments'  Pat O'Sullivan, IBM.