When a test process is not working as you expect it can be very hard to critically analyse the steps you have taken to work out where the problems are. The trouble is that the test world is so familiar it's easy to fall into the trap of "well, of course I do that, I always have". One way out of this problem can be to abstract the idea and compare to something similar but in a completely different sphere of reference. As we know, I love an analogy and while putting on the weekly wash it occurred to me that the principles involved were very similar, the clothes being the software and the washing process the testing, so lessons learned from doing the washing might translate to insights into how the test process actually functions. So, somewhat unexpectedly, here are some musings on laundry.
No sooner is a round of washing finished than the end users get their grubby hands on it and start making it dirty again. Sometimes accidentally (in the normal course of events) but there are some reckless people who go out of their way to make things mucky (why yes, I do have kids, how did you know?). It's like they can't be trusted to act in a sensible way. (See Acting the fool)
And different clothes require different treatment - dark wash, delicates, cottons - using the wrong setting on the wrong product will not only fail to bring it out clean, it may even damage the underlying fabric, so selecting the correct technique to deal with it is very important.
Fortunately some of the process is automated which takes a lot of the donkey-work out of it but there are so many choices of machine it's hard to know which one to go with. It's easy to end up with one that works well to start with but becomes very expensive to maintain when it starts to break down; or one that promises a very short cycle but requires a huge amount of preparation to make it work properly. (See To automate or not to automate)
We all have our favourite clothes - items that for no logical reason (at least none fathomable to friends and family) are just somehow better and more comfortable. These things are less likely to go in the wash, as clearly they are special, and anyway the washing process might damage them. There's nothing more unnerving than being handed a very fragile object held together by a few delicate threads that you know a full wash might destroy; do you do half a job just to ensure it survives to keep that one person happy? (See Diplomatic Baggage)
And there are external influences to consider; you can't just clean something to the satisfaction of the end user (i.e. just enough to make it wearable) but you also have to make sure it passes the eagle eyes of yourboss wife.
And finally, why bother? I don't think my kids see the point in doing the washing at all - as soon as the clothes are clean and dried people just go and wear them and make them dirty again anyway. Maybe I should stop doing the washing and see how long it takes then to notice...
No sooner is a round of washing finished than the end users get their grubby hands on it and start making it dirty again. Sometimes accidentally (in the normal course of events) but there are some reckless people who go out of their way to make things mucky (why yes, I do have kids, how did you know?). It's like they can't be trusted to act in a sensible way. (See Acting the fool)
And different clothes require different treatment - dark wash, delicates, cottons - using the wrong setting on the wrong product will not only fail to bring it out clean, it may even damage the underlying fabric, so selecting the correct technique to deal with it is very important.
Fortunately some of the process is automated which takes a lot of the donkey-work out of it but there are so many choices of machine it's hard to know which one to go with. It's easy to end up with one that works well to start with but becomes very expensive to maintain when it starts to break down; or one that promises a very short cycle but requires a huge amount of preparation to make it work properly. (See To automate or not to automate)
We all have our favourite clothes - items that for no logical reason (at least none fathomable to friends and family) are just somehow better and more comfortable. These things are less likely to go in the wash, as clearly they are special, and anyway the washing process might damage them. There's nothing more unnerving than being handed a very fragile object held together by a few delicate threads that you know a full wash might destroy; do you do half a job just to ensure it survives to keep that one person happy? (See Diplomatic Baggage)
And there are external influences to consider; you can't just clean something to the satisfaction of the end user (i.e. just enough to make it wearable) but you also have to make sure it passes the eagle eyes of your
And finally, why bother? I don't think my kids see the point in doing the washing at all - as soon as the clothes are clean and dried people just go and wear them and make them dirty again anyway. Maybe I should stop doing the washing and see how long it takes then to notice...
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