8e)aP#Sp6`;N0Test Engineers @ Google
t._$v1O7N,||!}#Z}0By Yvette Nameth51Testing软件测试网7B[(J
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o7kz-OD9t@W5D/[/{0At 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.
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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.51Testing软件测试网Yo!De @3k8~1s3y
Uc3w*T]{4g2{)PEa S0Sowhat common themes do Test Engineers
specialize in at Google?51Testing软件测试网 u#P`v tk
51Testing软件测试网
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We’re product
experts:
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T0Test 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]u#F.jIx
,t.\#Z/l;BK6m0We’re flexible:51Testing软件测试网jk2rS G3`zh
Test 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.
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q8}[ky0We 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.51Testing软件测试网[.A0r9d.l|sBO[
51Testing软件测试网N!? e,D,| F
We’re clear communicators:51Testing软件测试网
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We 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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^9sMvzD0We’re good at coordination:
.L`
q^~9T(m_Z:rYv0We 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/X"~A G,mr3n
51Testing软件测试网
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We have impact:51Testing软件测试网5B.tg(nD1c
Google 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f ]9S(br4D|7}jS
51Testing软件测试网3Y5Qy/_%z6L,Ao`
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.
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D0We code:51Testing软件测试网$q9F{0uM5A0d
The 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p[F7Lb.x*a[
The three
aspects that generally differentiate what a Test Engineer does day-to-day
depend on the following:
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9~ G'o(ZJ0I8TI0Individual’s
Strengths & Interests:51Testing软件测试网@p2b(gJ]A{&K
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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c6_!F0The Type of Product:
+hN_|,O0Desktop, 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.
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The Product’s History / Lifecycle:
L&k2X
sPl*q/w!OY0Early 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.
:R9H0\v!\-IQE.Zw0I f0
}$Z-@+li0If you still
want to know what the day in the life of a Test Engineer entails, we’ll never
be able to give you a general answer for that. Instead I suggest that you check
out what
Alan Faulkner is doing or ask the next Google Test Engineer you meet.
|"f`5s;P0
*Ogjg6T%[$X|4T0Interested in joining the ranks of Test Engineers (or Software Engineers in
Test)? Check out http://goo.gl/2RDKj
a.U~~k;N0
:I&[q|$^d0About the Contributors:51Testing软件测试网 B"q!U+jE$\3N
Albert Drona has
been at Google for 5 years and is currently working on Google Maps for Mobile.
,teJ6H1q0ZPMB0Jatin Shah has
been at Google for 9 months on Google+.51Testing软件测试网B}(n.Z:[lR.zMS
Mohammad Khan
has been at Google for 7 years and is currently working on Google+ releases.
5n9F!H'oiD0About the
Author:51Testing软件测试网i5wnTG&@F
Yvette Nameth
has been at Google for 5 years and is currently working on Google Maps
rendering.
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6`^c QlSd%RoQ0
"o]!_MY_/t0Posted 15th January by Anthony
Vallone51Testing软件测试网/rHBcg*zj