View webinar: http://www.eurostarconferences.com/community/member/webinar-archive/webinar-88-improve-the-process-by-taking-control Testing is one of the few overarching aspects of software delivery. Done well it is almost invisible. Yet in reality almost all aspects of a successful release require test input. Despite this testers often give developers freedom to select automation test strategies and are happy to let release managers co-ordinate releases, while reducing their role to nit-picking software. This session will examine how focusing on testing enabled Songkick to overhaul their entire build and release pipeline, and move from safe, controlled releases to continuous deployment. Contrary to common belief this approach could only succeed by drastically improving testing. The unique skills and knowledge that a tester holds is exactly what is needed to avoid testing gaps, prevent test duplication and most of all educate the development team about working with risk. Whatever your development approach this session will help you identify and explore ways in which your testing skills can, and should, be used to drive radical process improvements.

1. Take Control of the Process
Amy Phillips

3. 
Don’t break anything critical

Avoid unnecessary delays

Clearly defined roles and responsibilities

Reliable build and release processes

4. Coding
Ready to
commit
Automated
checks and
build
Testing
Deployed
to
Production

5. Release
Problem
Increase
prerelease
checks

6. Have a vision

7. Developers
Testers

8. Developers
Testers
Automated Checks
Unit Tests
Feature Tests
Integration Tests
Regression Tests
Manual Checks

9. Team Effort
100 %

10. Coding
Ready to
commit
Automated
checks and
build
Testing
Deployed
to
Production

11. Coding
Testing
Ready to
commit
Automated
checks and
build
Testing
Deployed
to
Production

12. Coding
Testing
Ready to
commit
Automated Testing Deployed
checks and Checks to
build
Production
Testing

15. 
Make the checks fast
◦ < 10 minutes to complete

Checks must run locally

Run tests in the most sensible order

16. 
Never release if the build is red

Green builds must mean the tests have passed

17. Performing the
right tests
at the right time
Automated build
and
deploy process
Continuous
Deployment

18. Code
Code
Checks
Testing
Build
Machine Checks
Build
Check
Machine Checks
Release
Deploy
Human Test

19. 140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
Releases

20. 
Everyone cares about testing

Fast and maintained automated checks

Bug fixes often take just minutes

21. 
Agree on an end goal

Stay risk focussed

Strong communication throughout the whole team

Use problems to drive positive change
Testers already have these skills

22. By managing the people and activities which
make up the development process we can
manage the risk level of a release.
Testing provides information to this
process, which makes better-informed
decisions possible.