转载《Test Engineers @ Google》

Test Engineers @ Google

By Yvette Nameth

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A4YB.[/whZ$c6sp0At Google, we’re very big into highlighting individuals’ strengths and using them to make teams and products better. However, we frequently get asked “What do Test Engineers (aka TEs) do?” I pause when I get this question since it’s hard to speak for my peers - I test Google Maps rendering, which is just one small portion of what Google’s Test Engineers test.51Testing软件测试网NR'V1o9@3l]D4T
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In order to get a clearer picture of what Test Engineers are responsible for, I chatted with three of my colleagues. We were able to identify the underlying Test Engineers’ similarities, while highlighting the differences.
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:W7T&e0A-qpnN)n0Sowhat common themes do Test Engineers specialize in at Google?51Testing软件测试网^#@7y'U o

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We’re product experts:
0{ ]+@!bT;a0Test Engineers need to become a “go-to” person for how their product works and integrates with other Google products. (You aren’t expected to have this before working with a product, but you need to figure out how to become one on any product you work on!) TEs need to understand use cases and contracts with other services, products, and features.We aren’t expected to write unit tests for other engineer’s code; instead we ensure product quality on the functional and integration aspects of the product.51Testing软件测试网1kg$k4A fUx~/Xz

q5Z g LU.[c?@5P0We’re flexible:
F.LhJA0Test Engineers are required to switch tasks and re-prioritize frequently. From unplanned catastrophes, to shifting launch calendars, to people asking us questions, our work is filled with interrupts. We determine how to ensure quality in the face of the interrupts.51Testing软件测试网w"S4y,GQ+g.N3@a8U
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We also modify our tests based on the pace of the development andunderstand that there is no one right way to test a product.Test Engineers adapt tools to meet their needs and understand when a tool just can’t get the job done.
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We’re clear communicators:
Y JS#w_6J]U tk0We have to be able to communicate via test plans, design docs, bugs, email and code.Every day we work with a wide variety of people in different roles: Software Engineers, Software Engineers in Test, Product Managers, Usability Researchers, Designers, Legal Counsel, etc. We need to address these different audiences to make sure we’re eithergathering the information that will help us build better strategies or presenting feedback that will help influence the product.
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We’re good at coordination:51Testing软件测试网'gb(QRdw(R
We arepeople who use our “in between the product and user” status to coordinate integration testing efforts between products. We may coordinate manual testing efforts by our manual testers; or we may make sure thattest gaps are being addressed by “someone” (Test Engineer, Software Engineer in Test, or Software Engineer). We put our product knowledge and communication together with a bit of coordination and make sure that bugs are looked at and the product is getting tested hourly / daily.51Testing软件测试网.@)w8tq0[+Vx;`
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We have impact:
IB^!yK1I'N-]'Fj3tET0Google Test Engineers have big impact.We hold responsibility thinking of ways that our products could fail in “real scenarios”; and then we add tests to make sure that the worst won’t come to pass.51Testing软件测试网acursgkzT
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How big is this? Well, in my case, I’m responsible for making sure Google Maps represents a map that is useful to my relatives in the middle of rural Montana as well as my friends living in London, Paris or Sydney. When you add to that the billions of other users in different regions, speaking different languages and using the map for different reasons, I know that my testing is impacting their ability to get around and find out information about the physical world around them safely.51Testing软件测试网Lqo;S$]gqV

n;JM#t(f0We code:
#?B8Q-J0J+?*m0The other most common question is “Do you write code?” The answer is yes; Test Engineers at Google do code. 51Testing软件测试网/_vD8Ajp

The three aspects that generally differentiate what a Test Engineer does day-to-day depend on the following:51Testing软件测试网1@-s1Hip

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Individual’s Strengths & Interests:51Testing软件测试网Kv,IqBLBF
Everyone is different and every TE has different passions, strengths and areas of expertise.Thankfully, Google’s a big enough company that many different areas of testing are available, and we gravitate to testing products we like.All TEs start with core competencies in testing, coding, and algorithms.How a TE applies this knowledge varies.
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z_0SU,|0The Type of Product:51Testing软件测试网j}UQ6zO/@
Desktop, web app or mobile? Frontend or backend? The technologies that our products use and run on create a lot of variationin what and how we test.51Testing软件测试网ayU%Rd tT7|;~
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The Product’s History / Lifecycle:51Testing软件测试网K9e+}R:E6p
Early concept products don’t resemble those that exist in production. And the amount of testing that a product already has will determine what testing the TE is focused on.We work creating a test roadmap that parallels the product’s development cycle and addresses any testing gaps. 51Testing软件测试网}h-P;^ G2p i

~w E{3aZIo0If you still want to know what the day in the life of a Test Engineer entails, we’ll never be able to give you a general answer for that. Instead I suggest that you check out what Alan Faulkner is doing or ask the next Google Test Engineer you meet.
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8[W2p l ]0Interested in joining the ranks of Test Engineers (or Software Engineers in Test)? Check out http://goo.gl/2RDKj
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U&F!^h0About the Contributors:51Testing软件测试网@/OL2P}o.E'^
Albert Drona has been at Google for 5 years and is currently working on Google Maps for Mobile.
6RK3W+Y3D ZWm0Jatin Shah has been at Google for 9 months on Google+.
ba*kV6@'d,^0Mohammad Khan has been at Google for 7 years and is currently working on Google+ releases.
M,xq:z:lCP9VGR0About the Author:51Testing软件测试网uRbyD$d1id
Yvette Nameth has been at Google for 5 years and is currently working on Google Maps rendering.51Testing软件测试网1foO0V0w}p@
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Posted 15th January by Anthony Vallone51Testing软件测试网0y0pf F7W