Difference between revisions of "Introduction and Background"

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=<span style="font-size: 16px">Purpose and Scope</span>=
 
=<span style="font-size: 16px">Purpose and Scope</span>=
<span style="font-size: 16px">The 'purpose' of this wiki is to share information, ideas and experiences about test automation, using the Diagnostics, Issues and Patterns described here.<br />  The 'scope' of this wiki is system-level test automation patterns, not test patterns, and not development-level patterns (these are covered by Gerard Meszaros - see [[References]]).<br /> <br /> </span>
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<span style="font-size: 16px">The 'purpose' of this wiki is to share information, ideas and experiences about test automation, using the Diagnostics, Issues and Patterns described here.<br /> <br />  The 'scope' of this wiki is system-level test automation patterns, not test patterns, and not development-level automation patterns (these are covered by Gerard Meszaros - see [[References]]).<br /> <br /> </span>
  
 
=<span style="font-size: 16px">What is in the wiki?</span>=
 
=<span style="font-size: 16px">What is in the wiki?</span>=
<span style="font-size: 16px">The 'Diagnostics' are questions you can answer to help identify the most critical Issue you want to deal with to improve your test automation.</span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: 16px">An 'Issue' is some kind of problem in test automation, or something that needs to be done.</span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: 16px">The 'General Issues' are an alternative to the Diagnostic (but are planned to be phased out at the end of 2016).<br /> </span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: 16px">A 'Pattern' is a way of solving an issue that has worked for people and may be useful for others. A pattern is not prescriptive or a set of steps, but rather ideas to consider to see if they would apply in your situation or context.</span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: 16px">Issues and Patterns are categorised into Process, Management, Design and Execution.</span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: 16px">Issues and Patterns have 'Mindmaps' to help show their structure and relationship to other patterns. (These mind maps are not links, just for information.)</span><br /> <br />  
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<span style="font-size: 16px">The 'Diagnostics' are questions you can answer to help identify the most critical Issue you want to deal with to improve your test automation.</span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: 16px">An 'Issue' is some kind of problem in test automation, or something that needs to be done.</span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: 16px">A 'Pattern' is a way of solving an issue that has worked for people and may be useful for others. A pattern is not prescriptive or a set of steps, but rather ideas to consider to see if they would apply in your situation or context.</span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: 16px">Issues and Patterns are categorised into Process, Management, Design and Execution.</span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: 16px">Issues and Patterns have 'Mindmaps' to help show their structure and relationship to other patterns. (These mind maps are not links, just for information.)</span><br /> <br />  
  
 
=<span style="font-size: 16px">History of this wiki</span>=
 
=<span style="font-size: 16px">History of this wiki</span>=
<span style="font-size: 16px">In 2012, the book Experiences of Test Automation was published, a collection of automation case studies, collected, edited and commented on by Dorothy Graham and Mark Fewster. Seretta Gamba contributed Chapter 21: Automation through the back door. When she read the other chapters, she thought: "there are patterns here!" As a developer, she was already familiar with development patterns. She initially wrote them up as a book in Word, and asked Dorothy to help; Word proved to be unworkable for the interconnected issues and patterns, so the idea of the wiki was born.</span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: 16px">This wiki was initiated by Seretta Gamba on 28th January 2013, and is developed and maintained by Seretta and Dorothy.</span><br /> <br />  
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<span style="font-size: 16px">In 2012, the book Experiences of Test Automation was published, a collection of automation case studies, collected, edited and commented on by Dorothy Graham and Mark Fewster. Seretta Gamba contributed Chapter 21: Automation through the back door. When she read the other chapters, she thought: "there are patterns here!" As a developer, she was already familiar with development patterns. She initially wrote them up as a book in Word, and asked Dorothy to help; Word proved to be unworkable for the interconnected issues and patterns, so the idea of the wiki was born.</span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: 16px">This wiki was initiated by Seretta Gamba and Dorothy Graham on 28th January 2013, and has been maintained by Seretta and Dorothy ever since. The original host, wikispaces.com, closed down in 2018, and we are very grateful to have EuroStar conferences as the host for this wiki so that it can continue!  </span><br /> <br />  
  
 
=<span style="font-size: 16px">Your help is welcomed!</span>=
 
=<span style="font-size: 16px">Your help is welcomed!</span>=
<span style="font-size: 16px">The more people contribute to this wiki, the more benefit it will be to everyone. We invite your help to show how the patterns have worked for you, problems you have encountered, and tips and advice from your experience.</span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: 16px">Each pattern has an "Experiences" section where you can write a few paragraphs about your own experience (an example is in the pattern [[ AUTOMATION ROLES]]).  
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<span style="font-size: 16px">The more people contribute to this wiki, the more benefit it will be to everyone. We invite your help to show how the patterns have worked for you, problems you have encountered, and tips and advice from your experience.</span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: 16px">Each pattern has an "Experiences" section where people can contribute their own experience (an example is in the pattern [[ AUTOMATION ROLES]]).  
  
</span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px">Or just email either (or both) of us if you have something you would be willing to share, and we will be happy to help find the best place for your input. Our email addresses:</span><br /> <br />  
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<span style="font-size: 16px">If you would like to contribute to the wiki, please go to [[Feedback]] to submit your experience or comment.</span><br /> <br />  
  
* <span style="font-size: 16px">srttgmb _at_ yahoo.com</span>
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<span style="font-size: 16px">Thanks very much to those who have already contributed - details on the [[Acknowledgements]] page.</span>
* <span style="font-size: 16px">info _at_ dorothygraham.co.uk</span>
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<br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: 16px">Thanks very much to those who have already contributed - details on the [[Acknowledgements]] page.</span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: 16px">[[Main Page]]</span>
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<br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: 16px">[[Main Page]]</span>

Latest revision as of 14:36, 15 October 2018

Purpose and Scope

The 'purpose' of this wiki is to share information, ideas and experiences about test automation, using the Diagnostics, Issues and Patterns described here.

The 'scope' of this wiki is system-level test automation patterns, not test patterns, and not development-level automation patterns (these are covered by Gerard Meszaros - see References).

What is in the wiki?

The 'Diagnostics' are questions you can answer to help identify the most critical Issue you want to deal with to improve your test automation.

An 'Issue' is some kind of problem in test automation, or something that needs to be done.

A 'Pattern' is a way of solving an issue that has worked for people and may be useful for others. A pattern is not prescriptive or a set of steps, but rather ideas to consider to see if they would apply in your situation or context.

Issues and Patterns are categorised into Process, Management, Design and Execution.

Issues and Patterns have 'Mindmaps' to help show their structure and relationship to other patterns. (These mind maps are not links, just for information.)

History of this wiki

In 2012, the book Experiences of Test Automation was published, a collection of automation case studies, collected, edited and commented on by Dorothy Graham and Mark Fewster. Seretta Gamba contributed Chapter 21: Automation through the back door. When she read the other chapters, she thought: "there are patterns here!" As a developer, she was already familiar with development patterns. She initially wrote them up as a book in Word, and asked Dorothy to help; Word proved to be unworkable for the interconnected issues and patterns, so the idea of the wiki was born.

This wiki was initiated by Seretta Gamba and Dorothy Graham on 28th January 2013, and has been maintained by Seretta and Dorothy ever since. The original host, wikispaces.com, closed down in 2018, and we are very grateful to have EuroStar conferences as the host for this wiki so that it can continue!

Your help is welcomed!

The more people contribute to this wiki, the more benefit it will be to everyone. We invite your help to show how the patterns have worked for you, problems you have encountered, and tips and advice from your experience.

Each pattern has an "Experiences" section where people can contribute their own experience (an example is in the pattern AUTOMATION ROLES).

If you would like to contribute to the wiki, please go to Feedback to submit your experience or comment.

Thanks very much to those who have already contributed - details on the Acknowledgements page.



Main Page