State of the Market

[nomadd]

There certainly seems to be a move towards [test] automation.

This happened more than 10 years ago now...

[SussexSeagull]

This happened more than 10 years ago now...

Not sure I agree. A majority of projects haven't incorporated automated testing and those that do tend to do it as an afterthought.

Regardless, there has been enough Manual Testing to keep me and others in work.

[squarepeg]

Not sure I agree. A majority of projects haven't incorporated automated testing and those that do tend to do it as an afterthought.

Regardless, there has been enough Manual Testing to keep me and others in work.

If you can access an app/service via TCP/IP or if it's a mobile app, testing will be automated. The tools are very good, and getting better every year. Learn the tools, manual labour is outsourced to India and then replaced with automated testing.

[kaiser78]

This happened more than 10 years ago now...

Robotic (software) automation is the next step on from this now.

[SussexSeagull]

If you can access an app/service via TCP/IP or if it's a mobile app, testing will be automated. The tools are very good, and getting better every year. Learn the tools, manual labour is outsourced to India and then replaced with automated testing.

Last couple of mobile projects I worked on we weren't allowed to use emulators.

Automated Testing is extremely useful for systems that are going to have a long shelf life and a lot of companies should have invested in it from the get go but most companies what to save money now and not in two or three years time.

Personally I think there are a reasonable amount of roles out there but there are so many people available it turns it into a lottery.

Of course this is all slightly overlooking that it isn't just testers who are feeling the pinch.

[Big Blue Plymouth]

This happened more than 10 years ago now...

More like 20. Remember Visual Test?

[Lance]

Robotic (software) automation is the next step on from this now.

I agree. Been working on a some robotic process infrastructure recently.

Testers who want to stay in work had best learn to be test managers rather than testers and document test plans. There'll be no jobs doing the actual button pressing of testing in the next 5 - 10 years.

[eek]

I agree. Been working on a some robotic process infrastructure recently.

Testers who want to stay in work had best learn to be test managers rather than testers and document test plans. There'll be no jobs doing the actual button pressing of testing in the next 5 - 10 years.

Surely there will always be the initial run through of the application to record the testing steps before the robot takes over...

[Lance]

Surely there will always be the initial run through of the application to record the testing steps before the robot takes over...

I reckon so. That would make sense.
More senior testers though.

[pauldee]

Robotic (software) automation is the next step on from this now.

Some of the places I've worked are incrediblyou slow at adopting new technology: 5, 6, 7 yeasts behind. And they're still plodding along. So even when the tech does catch up up think we have a rew years yet.