Should a tester know how to code? Should a tester be proficient in SQL? Should a tester have a project manager mind-set? These are questions that a Quality Assurance tester may have been asked throughout their career but what really makes for a "good" tester? Let's discuss!!
A good tester can be defined by simply someone who is very passionate about testing...someone who loves to find bugs in other people's work OR someone who has been testing for a certain period of time...let's say 15 years. Perhaps their experience makes them a "good" tester...?
I think a MOTIVATED tester is someone who is very passionate about testing and loves to find bugs. In order for someone to be considered a GOOD tester, they would need to be able to think outside the box when it comes to testing. I think that it is necessary to have multiple skill sets. It all depends on what you are testing but being proficient in SQL and writing automated tests are definitely good skills to have.
ReplyDeleteAttention to detail is a great trait of a good tester. Also, good testers are people who like to think out of the box because they will look for things that the average user may not every encounter, and be able to address potential bugs before anyone else ever notices.
ReplyDeleteI feel that a good tester doesn't need to know code. Testing requires a fresh pair of eyes.
ReplyDeleteIt's okay if the tester knows how to code, but it's two different lanes. A tester should be a person who can pick out the issues that can cause a program, site, or database to function improperly. In certain circumstances, the tester may need to understand programming languages or databases.
Knowing Coding and SQL are tester bonuses lol. A great tester will run into bugs a developer would have never thought about.
A good tester pays close attention to detail and knows how to test beyond the happy path. Ability to think and use the application like an end user is also important. I don't think that a tester needs to be able to code however I find that the ability to write basic SQL scripts comes in handy in a data driven environment. A good tester also knows how to troubleshoot using various tools and have the ability to go through logs to back their findings.
ReplyDeleteElisabeth Hendrickson found 112 out of 187 tester jobs posted required some type of programming skill. She blogged about it here: http://testobsessed.com/2010/10/testers-code/. So at least people think coding skills are important for testers.
ReplyDeleteI think a tester without coding skills can still play an important role. Most tests we can think of either can't be automated or shouldn't be. People who disagree probably don't understand testing.
That being said, there is certainly a fair amount of apathy in our field. Testers that are not interested in changing with the times are going to find it difficult. Having 15 years of experience does not tell us anything about how good of a tester someone is.
Looking forward to your next post!