"Some birds aren't meant to be caged, their feathers are just too bright"- Morgan Freeman, Shawshank Redemption. This blog is from one such bird who couldn't be caged by organizations who mandate scripted software testing. Pradeep Soundararajan welcomes you to this blog and wishes you a good time here and even otherwise.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

the 5 years of blogging as Tester Tested

I am a changed man today. I didn't know I would be here when I started this blog exactly 5 years ago. I want to thank you all. I don't know if this blog has influenced you in any way but it has definitely had a huge influence on one tester I know - me.


Thanks to all those who motivated me to reconsider blogging when I almost announced I will stop after a lot of plagiarizing incidents. Today, I am least bothered if someone plagiarizes. I have learnt sick people exist in this planet. Hey, it wasn't bad learning. It also told me that there were great people and I should care for them.


Instead of me doing my usual blah blah, why not you comment and tell me the posts you like from this blog and why? If you don't comment, I won't assume anything :)

28 comments:

Anonymous said...

No comments ;-) [ Does this qualify as a comment? ]-Dhanasekar S

Parimala Shankaraiah said...

Hi Pradeep,
I can't pinpoint a single post that influenced. Imagine reading a complete blog in 5 days time! I did it. I bet even you can't do that ;-). Your blog helped me realise what I had to do to my career. I am indebted to you for that for ever!

Rgds,
Pari

Pradeep Soundararajan said...

@Parimala,

When I started this blog, I wanted to make a difference to AT LEAST me and AT MOST to one more person. Your comment seems to help me feel that I have done it :)

Unknown said...

Happy Birthday Pradeep,

First of all I think it would be fitting that the Cartoon Tester scribbles a suitably amusing cartoon to commemorate this auspicious occasion.

Secondly, given that this blog is a virtual Aladdin's Cave of testing wisdom, and I have about 5 years of blog posts to wade through, could you possibly highlight your "Top 5" blog posts that you believe have had the most impact on the testing community or provoked the most discussion?

Lastly, where's my autograph? (See previous legend post) :-)

Cheers
Del.

Pradeep Soundararajan said...

@Del,

Its too difficult for me to pick the top 5 among what I have written. I did try listing 5 and skimmed through other titles to realize top 50 may make sense. Wait a minute, top 220 makes sense :)

For the autograph, you'd have it when we meet :)

Darren McMillan said...

Hi Pradeep,

Del asked exactly what I was going to ask, having only been following your blog for the past year.

I guess the five post's could expand into five of each type:

-Top five community impact posts
-Your favourite five posts
-Top five people can learn from

and so on...

In the past year I'd have to say I enjoyed this one the most

http://testertested.blogspot.com/2010/06/experience-report-of-testing-versus.html

Keep up the good work, I'll forbid myself from commenting until another five years :P

Pradeep Soundararajan said...

@Darren & Del,

OK, you got me to write it

I can classify certain things in my blog that maybe posts or comments.

1. The posts that made people angry at me like - Faking Experience, Most Challenging Software Testing Quiz. This drew a lot of abusive emails to my inbox or comments section.

2. The posts that helped me learn I am not a good writer - the ones I wrote for the first few years.

3. The posts that helped me see I am learning and changing - like - Test Case Passed who cares, I failed in BBST...

4. The posts that were plagiarized and made me consider to stop blogging - Testing Bowl of the world

5. The posts that I felt a need to update so as to not misguide the people who may land up on it accidentally or incidentally.

6. The posts that made me win confidence of people like you.

7. The posts that are important for me to look every now and then - Letter to Myself, Obsessive Checking if being mentioned disorder

8. The posts that I could help in promoting other testers talent - Weekend Testing - Three new good things about Indian testers...

Unknown said...

February 2006 automation post was my first contact with your blog. Here's to not knowing a world without the tester tested blog. Congrats.

Pradeep Soundararajan said...

@Perze,

I will start loving that post a little bit more for helping bring me to you :)

Thanks.

Albert Gareev said...

Hi, Pradeep!

Congratulations on this milestone. You are creative not only in testing and writing. "Test Knight" video be the proof.

Thanks,
Albert

Pradeep Soundararajan said...

@Albert,

Thanks a ton for recognizing the Test Knight. Lets put a smile on everybody's face.

Anonymous said...

Thank you!!

Jassi said...

Thanks Pradeep & Kudos to you for all your efforts, for such wonderful posts, giving us such a Treasure.

All the best for your future & awaiting much
Cheers,
Jassi

Puneet said...

Congratulation Pradeep for you ongoing journey...

Your post inspires us do good work in right direction.(every post have a unique learning message) First time i meet you in Noida workshop. that changes my vision toward testing..

Thanks a lot :)

Puneet

Pradeep Soundararajan said...

Thanks Puneet. I am glad to hear that. I hope to meet you again in NCR region. BTW, are you going to NCR testers meet?

Puneet said...

No i missed both the meets but defiantly going to attend next one.

ashish said...

Hi Pradeep, I haven't met you but have an Image of yours in my mind (the way you appreciate your self in your blogs...in a funny manner) I like your writing style, and believe me your post and comments on your post makes me understand that what is going on at other places, it helps me to compare my work with the big fishes in the pond.

Unknown said...

Congratulations Pradeep, the one I liked the most was about the fake experience and how everyone thinks testing is the easiest way to get into software industry to get the big bucks. I feel frustrated when I hear such comments and meet those kind of people in interviews.

Looking forward to many more in the coming years.

Thanks
Sudha.

Pradeep Soundararajan said...

@Sudha,

Thanks. It also triggered lots of abusive emails :) It remains memorable.

Anonymous said...

Pradeep,
People plagiarize for various reasons. Does it matter that they do? Probably not. What matters is that if those were words of wisdom they should reach people.
Don't call them sick people. Be more magnanimous. You have a large heart and your words should reflect that. :-)
Your friend.

Anonymous said...

Pradeep, congrats on completing 5 years of blogging.

there are two blogs that come to my mind.

1. The blog wherein you shared your interview experience, you said that you would bite a pencil to test it.

2.the blog "Software testing black swan bites cause pain".
I would like to know the name of the "Indian" you had mentioned in that blog :).

All the best with moolya as well.

Sam

Anonymous said...

I like the style ... I like the content ... I like the ideas ... I like the passion ...

but somehow feel your stance againt people who post anonymously is in poor light ... there can be many reasons why its their personal opinion not to disclose their name ... even if someone posts a (any) name .... how sure are you that they are actually whay they claim ... atleast the anonymous stay anonymous ... some respect?

Its your personal choice not to respect an annonymous person ... if thats so ... please put a note saying the bright father bird ... wants to fly with a flock where there are birds only with names ... others birds are not encouraged and will be shot down ...

please note
...they are not cowards ... some authors write with pen names ... and they are not cowards
... the point they make is more important than the name ... how does it matter of they put a name like Tom Dick or Harry ...

If you like it ... my name is A Singh ... A Jacob ... A Shastri ... A Ahemd ... A stands for Anonymous ... would it matter?

Pradeep Soundararajan said...

@ A Singh, A Jacob, A Shastri, A Ahmad,

This is the best Anonymous comment I have recieved so far. I want to thank you for this. I wish I really knew who you are. Maybe you should email to my id.

I will explain here why I hate people who post Anonymous, in my blog.

Most Anonymous comments you see on my blog are abusive against what I have written or as a personal attack against me. I don't mind flying with birds whose names I don't know but I just hope when a bird wants to shoot me down, its brave enough to tell me who it is.

Also, if a bird wants to shoot me, I prefer being shot in the front and not at the back. When I am being shot, my last wish is, I know who shot me. I just hope that wish is reasonable to have before being shot.

Your's,

Fletcher Seagull

Uma Badhe said...

I surely remember "The domain particle " article. It helped me a lot in participating debate whether domain knowledge is imp for a tester or not. I am new to software testing. Your articles make a tester think in different point of view. Congratulations on completing 5 years of Blogging !!!

Eusebiu Blindu said...

Hi Pradeep,

Congrats for the fifth year!
Keep the good work!
"I have learnt sick people exist in this planet."
I am not sure what are you referring to, but I can only say that before any approach and any technique, what matters is intention and attitude.
If you don't have good intentions, you cannot help yourself, others, or the organization you are in, in the long run

Pradeep Soundararajan said...

@Sebi,

That's a good advice. I take it.

Santhosh Tuppad said...

Congratulations!!!

Madhukar Jain said...

Congrats Pradeep. Your Blog has helped many Testers realise their self potential. Keep up the good work.