Commiserating once again with a colleague about the frustrations of testing a complex (computer) system within a complex (human) system I said that it reminded me of the Fighting Fantasy books I used to play as a boy. In them, non-linear storylines are generated by choosing, or rolling dice to determine, how the story proceeds. Characters are typically engaged in some kind of quest, such as collecting gems, and have some attributes, such as strength, which are affected by interactions during the game.
As a little bit of amusement for myself I tweeted a few words that reflected something of the situation I found myself in at that moment. Then now and again over the next couple of weeks I extended it (fictitiously!) as if I was playing out a book. I've compiled the whole thread here.
62. You upgrade and rerun the test. Presently your client is wedged. Server logs have stopped and 'df -h' shows disk at 100%. You can start another lengthy and frustrating diagnosis (turn to 239) or kick a handy inanimate object repeatedly (turn to 18).
--00--
18. After a couple of taps, you let rip. The bin's parabolic arc pleases your eye, until you project its future trajectory onto a developer's head. Do you chase the bin (turn to 431), shout a warning (turn to 20) or quickly sit down (turn to 775).
--00--
--00--
--00--
--00--
--00--
Die a little inside (turn to 643), or new session (turn to 322).
--00--
- Brush it aside and start this session. Turn to 323.
- Spend a couple of hours tidying. Turn to 236.
--00--
- 2. Test logging filled the disk.
- 3. Automatic update.
- 4. Network outage.
- 5-12. WTF??!!?
--00--
Keep rolling a dice until you get the same score twice in a row. Add that score to MASTERY. On every roll, subtract 1 from PURPOSE.
Turn to 325.
--00--
- Ignore. (Turn to 473.)
- Reject, (Turn to 475.)
- Sigh and go. (Turn to 477.)
--00--
473. "Mission" you say, "mmm mission: explore the thingy with the, erm, for,
um, to prove, err to, what was it again?"
You search "Hendrickson Template" and an hour later your family Christmas card design is sorted… Turn to 474.
--00--
- Dive in. Turn to 112.
- Make a test ideas mind map. Turn to 113.
- Review specs. Turn to 114.
- Ask the developer. Turn to 115.
--00--
You start the app and click all buttons. No errors. Erm, done?
Cuppa! Then ...
- Make a test ideas mind map. Turn to 113.
- Review specs. Turn to 114.
- Ask the developer. Turn to 115.
--00--
- Dive in. Turn to 112.
- Review specs. Turn to 114.
- Ask the developer. Turn to 115.
--00--
- Dive in. Turn to 112.
- Make a test ideas mind map. Turn to 113.
- Ask the developer. Turn to 115.
--00--
- Dive in. Turn to 112.
- Make a test ideas mind map. Turn to 113.
- Review specs. Turn to 114.
--00--
Comments
Post a Comment