Test Automation in the Real World: Practical Lessons for Automated Testing
Greg Paskal (Author) Find all the books, read about the author, and more. See search results for this author |



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Product details
- Publisher : Independently published (March 5, 2017)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 101 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1520745923
- ISBN-13 : 978-1520745923
- Item Weight : 6 ounces
- Dimensions : 6 x 0.23 x 9 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #2,204,567 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,484 in Robotics & Automation (Books)
- #4,914 in Microsoft Programming (Books)
- #5,575 in Computer Programming Languages
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Greg Paskal is a natural innovator, pioneering new approaches across the Quality Assurance landscape. Greg enjoys mentoring others in sustainable approaches to manual and automated testing. Author of Test Automation in the Real World and countless technical publications, Greg can be heard on the TestTalks podcast with Joe Colantonio. Creator of METS, the Minimal Essential Testing Strategy, Greg’s approach is recognized and taught by ASTQB as an effective, manual testing strategy. Greg has spoken at numerous conferences including the Automation Guild, StarEast, StarWest, and QA Trailblazers. Greg founded the Open Test Technology Forum, encouraging collaboration and focusing on greater quality across the SDLC. Find Greg on LinkedIn and learn more about his work at METSTesting.com, RealWorldTestAutomation.com and RecognizeAnother.com.
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Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2018
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Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2018

There are several chapters and paragraphs worth highlighting and going back to every now and then. Greg has done a fantastic job of breaking down many of the important stages of starting up and maintaining a successful test system. He has provided just enough depth to address common tools, their strengths and weaknesses, and making sure you consider your test methodology and how a tool can work for you.
The book initially covers concepts like tool selection, hiring the right people, requirements for tests and how the team operates. He then expands on the ongoing automation software development process. I appreciate his candor about how hard it can be to do automation right, the patience it takes if you want to build something that lasts, and how to recognize and correct ROI robbers. Leveraging the strengths of the tools, asking the right questions, abstracting code, function libraries, etc.
From my perspective, he covers a decent amount of material at a generic level. The writing is deep enough to cause reflection, questions to formulate, and practical suggestions to have success. Perhaps the most interesting reading for me was his list of ROI robbers. I read the list before reading the in-depth descriptions in the chapter. I initially would have said thing are pretty good. Reading the actual ROI descriptions was enlightening because it caused me to reflect on our systems and realize that some things are good, but, it also pointed out where there is room for improvement.
Reading with the willingness to listen to Greg's words in this book is valuable for anyone just starting out as well as for veterans of test automation. Well done.
Also, I get accused of going overboard on documentation while I'm writing code but the styles presented in the book--which are presented in a "here's the extremely specific way I do things. Let me tell you about it for pages and pages!" manner--are truly gruesome.
The author feels like that one over-confident coworker that no one likes who got hired because he's family friends with the boss and is allowed to run around doing whatever he wants.
I just bought several books on Amazon for professional development and can say with honesty that I learned nothing useful from this overpriced drivel.
Our Center of Excellence team are in the process of planning a workshop for our testers and Greg's book will be one of the hubs that the course will revolve around.
If you are serious about automation in an agile world - you HAVE to read this book.
We even used Greg's phrase "what is eating your lunch" as a conversation starter and foot in the door when talking to our Agile Teams.
When asked about recommended books for our new testers - this is one of the top four I recommend.