Without Which ...

This week's Cambridge Tester meetup was a show-and-tell with a theme:

Is there a thing that you can't do without when testing? A tool, a practice, a habit, a method that just works for you and you wouldn't want to miss it?

Here's a list, with a little commentary, of some of the things that were suggested:

Testability: mostly, in this discussion, it was tools for probing and assessing a product.
Interaction with developers: but there's usually a workaround if they're not available ..
Workarounds
The internet: because we use it all the time for quick answers to quick questions (but wonder about the impact this is having on us).
Caffeine: some people can't do anything without it.
Adaptability: although this is like making your first wish be infinite wishes.
People: Two of us suggested this. I wrote my notes up in Testing Show.
Emacs
Money: for paying for staff, tools, services etc.
Visual modelling: as presented, this was mostly about system architecture, but could include e.g. mind maps.
Notebook and pen: writing gives clarity
Phone: for playing games as a break from work.
Explainability: "it's my job to eradicate inexplicability."
Freedom/free will: within the scope of the mission
Problems: because we'll be out of a job without them.

Image: https://flic.kr/p/5Wqpov

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