Tag: testing

My experience speaking at DevOpsCon, Singapore 2024 – Talks, Learning, and Inspiration

Nishi Grover GargLeave a comment

Last week, I had the wonderful opportunity to attend and speak at DevOpsCon Singapore, an event that brought together some of the brightest minds in the DevOps and agile communities. It was an experience filled with learning, sharing, and connection, all while revisiting the vibrant city of Singapore.

My Talks at DevOpsCon

I had the privilege of delivering two talks, each centered on topics I am deeply passionate about:

  1. Mastering Test Automation: Strategies for Maximum Efficiency and Impact
    In this session, I explored how teams can elevate their test automation game to ensure faster feedback, better quality, and smarter integration into CI/CD pipelines. We discussed practical strategies, real-world examples, and tools that can help achieve these outcomes. The engagement and thoughtful questions from the audience truly made this session a delight.
  2. Navigating the Agile Seas: Program Management in Startup Waters
    This talk was all about managing the unique challenges faced by agile teams in fast-paced startup environments. I shared insights and anecdotes from my own experiences, focusing on strategies for balancing speed with quality, fostering collaboration, and keeping teams aligned with business goals amidst chaos.

Both sessions were well-received, and I was deeply encouraged by the feedback and conversations they sparked. Knowing that my insights resonated with the attendees is always a humbling experience.

The Power of Learning and Collaboration

One of the highlights of the event was attending Ben Linders‘ workshop on Agile Teams Gamification. The session was not just informative but also incredibly interactive, showcasing how gamification can be a powerful tool to foster team collaboration and innovation. The exercises and insights were eye-opening, and I’m already thinking of ways to incorporate some of these ideas into my own work.

Workshops like these remind me of the endless possibilities for learning and the value of sharing knowledge within a community. It’s moments like these that inspire us to challenge conventional thinking and embrace fresh perspectives.

Reflections on the Event

Events like DevOpsCon are a testament to the power of tech communities. From engaging discussions with fellow speakers and attendees to exploring ideas that can reshape the way we work, the experience was nothing short of invigorating.

Beyond the technical learnings, it was also about connecting with people—whether it was hearing about their challenges, sharing stories over coffee, or simply realizing how much we all have in common in our pursuit of excellence.

Gratitude and Looking Ahead

I’m immensely grateful for the opportunity to represent my ideas on such a global stage, and for the chance to learn from some of the best minds in the industry. Sharing my knowledge, while also growing from the knowledge of others, is what drives me to keep pushing forward.

Here’s to more opportunities to learn, share, and grow together! If you attended the event or my talks, I’d love to hear your thoughts and continue the conversation.

#DevOpsCon #AgileLeadership #ContinuousLearning #Grateful #TechCommunities

I am speaking at DevOpsCon, Singapore

Nishi Grover GargLeave a comment

I am elated to share that I have been invited to speak at DevOpsCon, SIngapore – an event by devmio. This event is known for its power workshops, practical learning avenues and networking with international community of Agile & DevOps enthusiasts, I am excited to be presenting not one but 2 sessions – one focused on Agile Delivery and another on Test Automation Strategies!

The conference offers 4 full days of learning in the form of sessions, keynotes and workshops, with options to attend in-person or online – here is the full program https://devopscon.io/singapore/program-singapore/

As I prepare for the sessions and my travel, I am also looking for recommendations and ideas for things to include in these sessions. Please share your thoughts and suggestions on what you would like to be included in these topics – here are the details of my sessions:


Navigating the Agile Seas: Program Management in Startup Waters

Agile teams in startups can be in a constant state of flux, and creating harmony there requires mastering adaptive leadership techniques, relooking at processes and leaning them out to suit the needs of the teams. In this session, we will dissect the intricate dance of leading software delivery in startup agile teams, and discover actionable strategies for navigating the complexities of program management in fast-paced environments. Program and engineering leaders will gain valuable insights into aligning team efforts with business goals while maintaining agility and high-quality standards.

By the end of this session, you will:​

  • Gain insights into adaptive leadership techniques tailored for startup agility.
  • Learn practical approaches to balance speed and quality in software delivery.
  • Explore effective methodologies for orchestrating agile programs in dynamic startup ecosystems
  • Navigating the Agile Seas: Program Management in Startup Waters

Mastering Test Automation: Strategies for Maximum Efficiency and Impact

In today’s fast-paced development cycles, effective test automation is essential for delivering high-quality software at speed. This talk will guide you through selecting the most impactful test automation strategies by focusing on aligning with business goals, ensuring scalability, and optimizing test coverage. Attendees will learn how to prioritize which tests to automate, choose the right tools, and create a balanced approach that maximizes efficiency while minimizing maintenance overhead.

Grateful for the opportunity to share my word with the community, and looking forward to travelling the world!

See ya there!

Cheers,

Nishi

I am speaking at Testflix 2024

Nishi Grover GargLeave a comment

I am super excited to share that I will be speaking at Testflix 2024, being organized by The Test Tribe. With 15+ themes and more that 20,000 people signed up for it already, this is going to be a grand event with testers from 125 countries & from the world’s top companies in attendance!

I am going to be speaking on the theme of Leadership – and my session is specifically about Leadership in Agile. Here are the details of my talk:

Leadership in agile is not about command and control; it’s about empowering teams to collaborate, innovate, and adapt to change. From navigating shifting priorities to fostering collaboration and accountability, agile leadership is about enabling teams to deliver value continuously and grow in a sustainable, self-organizing environment. In this session, we will talk about the lessons in leadership and attendees will walk away with actionable leadership tips to inspire, motivate, and lead their own agile teams to deliver high-impact results.

Talk Takeaways

  • Lessons in Leadership from various hands on agile roles
  • Actionable leadership tips to inspire, motivate and lead agile teams.
  • How to lead agile teams to deliver high-impact results

It is a virtual event which is free to attend, so do sign up now to not miss out on the incredible opportunity for learning & networking at this vibrant community event!

Integrating Testing with Cloud-Based Development: Challenges and Solutions

Nishi Grover GargLeave a comment

Cloud-based development has become the norm for many organizations due to its numerous benefits. These include the ability to scale resources dynamically, reduce costs, and improve collaboration among development teams. However, with these advantages come challenges, particularly in integrating testing processes. Effective testing is crucial to ensure that applications are reliable, secure, and performant. 

The rapid evolution of cloud-based development has transformed how software is developed, tested, deployed, and maintained. Software testing companies play a critical role in ensuring the quality and reliability of applications developed in cloud-based environments. However, integrating testing within these environments presents unique challenges that require innovative solutions. This article explores these challenges in detail and provides strategies for overcoming them.

What is Cloud-Based Development?

Cloud-based development refers to the process of building, deploying, and managing applications using cloud computing services. This approach leverages cloud infrastructure, platforms, and software to enable developers to work more efficiently and collaboratively. Cloud-based development environments provide tools and resources that facilitate continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD), which are essential for modern software development practices.

Benefits of Cloud-Based Development

  • Scalability: Resources can be scaled up or down based on demand.
  • Cost-Efficiency: Pay-as-you-go models reduce the need for significant upfront investments.
  • Collaboration: Cloud environments enable better collaboration among distributed teams.
  • Flexibility: Developers can choose from a variety of tools and services to meet their specific needs.

Challenges in Integrating Testing with Cloud-Based Development

1. Environment Consistency

Ensuring consistency across different environments (development, testing, staging, production) is challenging in cloud-based development. Variations in configurations, dependencies, and data can lead to discrepancies in test results, making it difficult to identify the root causes of issues.

Solution

  • Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Use IaC tools like Terraform or AWS CloudFormation to define and manage infrastructure. This ensures that environments are created consistently.
  • Containerization: Use containers (e.g., Docker) to encapsulate applications and their dependencies, ensuring consistency across environments.

2. Data Management

Managing test data in cloud-based environments can be complex. Ensuring data availability, consistency, and security across multiple environments is a significant challenge.

Solution

  • Data Virtualization: Use data virtualization techniques to provide consistent and secure access to test data without the need to replicate it.
  • Automated Data Management: Implement automated processes for data provisioning, masking, and cleanup to ensure data consistency and security.

3. Security and Compliance

Ensuring security and compliance in cloud-based environments is critical, especially when dealing with sensitive data. Testing processes must adhere to stringent security and compliance requirements.

Solution

  • Security Testing Tools: Integrate security testing tools (e.g., OWASP ZAP, Burp Suite) into the CI/CD pipeline to identify and address vulnerabilities early.
  • Compliance Automation: Use compliance automation tools to ensure that testing processes adhere to regulatory requirements (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA).

4. Performance Testing

Performance testing in cloud-based environments can be challenging due to the dynamic nature of cloud resources. Variability in resource allocation can affect performance test results.

Solution

  • Synthetic Load Testing: Use synthetic load testing tools to simulate real-world traffic and measure performance under different conditions.
  • Resource Monitoring: Implement resource monitoring tools to track and analyze the performance of cloud resources during testing.

5. Tool Integration

Integrating various testing tools within a cloud-based development environment can be complex. Ensuring seamless communication between tools is essential for effective testing.

Solution

  • CI/CD Integration: Use CI/CD tools (e.g., Jenkins, GitLab CI/CD) to automate the integration of testing tools and processes.
  • API-First Approach: Adopt an API-first approach to ensure that testing tools can easily integrate and communicate with each other.

Solutions for Effective Testing in Cloud-Based Development

Read More »

My Session on HerKey Community platform

Nishi Grover GargLeave a comment

I had the pleasure of hosting a session on the HerKey Community Platform today, where we explored “The Power of Tech Communities.” It was inspiring to see so many enthusiastic participants join in for an open and engaging discussion.

Communities are more than just groups with shared interests—they thrive on the collective passion, willingness to share, and dedication to support one another. During the session, we delved into how tech communities can be powerful catalysts for career and personal growth. We also discussed the significance of Product Communities and how organizations can unlock the full potential of their user communities by empowering them with the right platforms for growth.

It was particularly rewarding to hear participants share their own experiences on how tech communities have positively impacted their careers and learning journeys. I’m grateful for the insights and energy everyone brought to the conversation.

I’m looking forward to hosting more sessions like this on the HerKey platform, and continuing to explore how we can harness the power of communities to drive success.

Cheers,

Nishi

The experience of #TribeQonf 2024

Nishi Grover GargLeave a comment

Speaking at #TribeQonf was definitely a highlight of my year so far! What an fantastic event put together by an amazing team led by @Mahesh Chikane, Ashutosh Garg and so many more!

I was excited to see the grand setup, the massive stage was a sight to behold and so was the packed room in front! The hallway was flowing with delegates, sponsor booths and so much chatter, with interesting conversations, networking and smiles in all corners!

So much has already been said by the delegated and esteemed speakers in their posts. This conference surpassed most events in the kind of energy, enthusiasm, connections and learning that was seen and experienced.

My session was all about “Building Harmony in Chaos” wherein we talked about Orchestrating Agile deliveries in a startup environment. It was a jam packed room and definitely a great experience to deliver a session at this scale. I am thankful to have received such great feedback and kind words from the attendees after the session. Here are a few glimpses of my talk:

This event was definitely a highlight of my year so far, and looking forward to many more in the coming months! Thanks for the partnership @The Test Tribe.

Cheers,

Nishi

My Experience Speaking at DevOpsCon, Berlin (June 2024)

Nishi Grover Garg1 Comment

Just back from the big trip! And catching a moment to jot down my experiences in Berlin!
I was invited by DevOpsCon to present at the Berlin event in June 2024, which turned out to be a fantastic event!

Apart from the hurried visa process and the last minute preparations, the travel went smoothly. Being my first ever event in Europe, I was elated and honored to have the opportunity to speak at this massive event!

The organizing team had invited us to a welcome dinner on the initial day of the conference, which was a great way to meet other speakers and make some connections! Our conversations turned evening to night and we connected over work, career, challenges, travel and much more!

The day of the event arrived with lots of excitement & nerves. It sure was a grand setup and well managed by the tireless team from Devmio.

My session was titled “Keeping the Wheels of Continuous Testing in Motion“, and saw attendees from various countries and a variety of tech contexts! The session went well and had some great engagement from the attendees in form of questions and discussions and some nice feedback at the end.

Here is me meeting up with fellow speakers, catching the keynotes and networking with the delegates. Had some great conversations with my friends Simon Pearce, Martin Dulak, Nikhil Barthwal, and my fellow other female speaker at the event Almudena Vivanco !

It is insightful to hear from such varied personalities and humbling to be a part of such a world-class lineup of speakers! I am proud to be the only speaker to be invited from India, and one of 2 female speakers at the event!

Overall, this was a great experience. It not only gave me a chance to meet such wonderful people all under one roof, but also provided me the opportunity to travel to another amazing city- Berlin!

Thanking the event team Mirjam Kuhlmann, Robin Schoen and the entire DevOpsCon team!

This event will always hold a special place in my heart.

Cheers,

Nishi

Best Practices to implement while doing Web Applications Testing

Nishi Grover GargLeave a comment

In today’s fiercely competitive digital landscape, flawless web applications are the cornerstone of a successful online presence. However, achieving this ideal requires a strategic and often overlooked weapon: meticulous web application testing.

A recent study by the International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB) , a leading authority in software quality, unveils a compelling statistic: organizations with robust testing practices experience a remarkable 63% reduction in post-release defects. Let’s unpack what this means for your web app:

  • Reduced Costs: Fewer bugs after launch translates to less time and money spent fixing issues after deployment. Imagine the savings associated with catching and rectifying problems early in the development cycle.
  • Happier Users: A web application riddled with bugs and usability issues is a recipe for user frustration. Effective testing ensures a smooth and intuitive user experience, leading to happier and more engaged users.
  • Enhanced Brand Reputation: A web application that functions flawlessly and delivers a seamless experience builds trust and strengthens your brand reputation. Users are more likely to recommend a reliable and user-friendly application.

Having established the undeniable value of web application testing, let’s now equip you with the knowledge to construct bulletproof applications. Here, we’ll delve into the best practices that empower you to implement a comprehensive testing strategy:

Best Practices for Web Application Testing

Emphasize User-Centric Evaluation:

Usability testing assumes a pivotal role in meticulously appraising how users interact with your web application. Through a granular examination of factors such as interface design, navigational architecture, content perspicuity, and overall user experience, you can discern areas for improvement and refine your application to achieve optimal user-friendliness. Remember, a user-centric approach is instrumental in fostering user engagement and propelling conversions.

Evaluate Web Application Performance:

Performance testing meticulously assesses the responsiveness and loading speed of your web application under various conditions. This encompasses factors such as page load times, system stability under high traffic volume, and overall responsiveness. A web application exhibiting sluggish loading times or subpar performance can significantly impede user satisfaction. Performance testing empowers you to identify and rectify these bottlenecks, ensuring a seamless and efficient user experience.

Implement Comprehensive Security Testing:

Security testing is an indispensable facet of safeguarding your web application from vulnerabilities that could be exploited by malicious actors. This process involves meticulously identifying and rectifying potential security weaknesses to protect user data and maintain the integrity of your application. Robust security testing fosters trust with your users and shields your application from cyber threats.

Integrate Exploratory Testing Throughout the Development Lifecycle:

Exploratory testing embodies a dynamic testing approach where testers leverage their acumen and creativity to improvise test scenarios while interacting with the application. This method uncovers issues that might be missed by scripted tests and assists in identifying unforeseen user behaviors. By incorporating exploratory testing throughout the development lifecycle, you can proactively discover and rectify potential problems before they impact your users.

Prioritize Cross-Browser Compatibility Testing:

A cornerstone of web application testing involves verifying consistent functionality across a diverse array of web browsers and devices. Contemporary users leverage a heterogeneous assortment of platforms to access websites, thus compatibility with prominent browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, etc.) and devices (desktops, tablets, mobiles) is paramount. This meticulous approach guarantees a broader reach and a uniformly positive user experience for all.

End Note

In the ever-evolving digital arena, flawless web applications are no longer a luxury, but a strategic necessity. This guide has served as your compass, navigating you through the importance of web application testing and its impact on user experience, cost-effectiveness, and brand reputation. Now, armed with the best practices , you are empowered to transform your web application from a nascent concept into a robust and user-centric reality. Remember, exceptional web experiences are not born by chance, but meticulously crafted through the fires of rigorous testing.

Embrace this knowledge, embark on your testing journey, and unlock the full potential waiting to be unleashed. Let your web application become the cornerstone of your digital dominance.

<This is a guest post by Vijayashree Shinde>

Vijayashree Shinde is the Digital Marketing Executive. She has worked in a wide range of industries, including the software testing industry. Currently, she is a Digital Marketer at Testrig Technologies. In addition to as marketing expertise, Vijayashree enjoys writing articles on quality assurance for a larger audience.

I am speaking at DevOpsCon, Berlin

Nishi Grover GargLeave a comment

I am elated to share another speaking invitation that I am super excited and honored to receive! I will be speaking at DevOpsCon, Berlin – which will be a grand event hosted by S&S Media from June 17 – 20, 2024, at the Maritim ProArte Hotel. The event will include 4 full days of learning about the latest industry innovations with Power Workshops, Sessions and Keynotes with 40+ speakers from around the globe!

I am honored to be a part of such an esteemed speaker line up!

The event has learnings spread over many tracks such as –

The program is full of engaging topics and intriguing talks and keynotes. My talk is titled

“Keep the Wheels of Continuous Testing in Motion” – Here are the details of the session:

Description: “Continuous testing is the way toward continuous delivery. Software teams must strive for continuous improvement of their continuous testing strategy. Continuous delivery is necessary for agile development, and that cannot happen without having continuity in testing practicestoo. In a DevOps environment, teams can reduce their release times from months or years to weeks or days (or even hours!). By adopting the correct practices and embracing the spirit of continuous learning and improvement, we can help our testers to become agile champions. In this talk we will explore some tips to improve your continuous testing framework and help your DevOps succeed including: ensuring test automation is the best fit, leveraging automation benefits in all aspects, selecting the right tools, and creating the optimal pipeline.”

Here is the Registration Page for the event – Get your tickets now!

See ya there!

Nishi

Giving Mentorship is a service, to them, & to yourself – ‘Global Mentorship Program 2023-24’

Nishi Grover GargLeave a comment

“The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled.”
― Plutarch

And that is how we took the mentorship experience that I was a pert of recently.
I was a part of AgilityToday‘s Global Mentorship Program 2023-24 organized by #WomenInAgileAndTech which concluded last week. It was a great experience, sharing my knowledge but also learning from so many others in unique ways.
I have been associated with the organizing community AgileVirgin in the past too and have always liked the zeal they put into everything they conduct. So, I decided to take up the role of a mentor in this program.

I was matched with a mentee by the program, which then kicked off a 4 week journey into the program.
It is always great to meet curious young minds like my mentee Nikita Priyadarshini, who is full of zeal, ideas, questions and enthusiasm!

We had some amazing conversations, chatted about her career aspirations, what she wanted to learn and then charted out a plan for our sessions.

The weeks flew by and we made great progress in every session. Nikita always had great questions, ideas, and results on every topic we talked about. I made sure to share some good resources, reads, book recommendations, online courses and articles to help further her learning.

Here is a gist of what we covered in our mentorship program- as summed up nicely by Nikita into a mindmap!

Thus concluded our Mentorship Program , and we had a closing call with the organizing team where we had a chance to meet other mentor-mentee pairs as well!

We have decided to continue to association, and I would love keep in touch with Nikita to see her growth and help her along the way.
Hoping to make an impact and leave a lasting mark on her budding career!

Grateful for the opportunity, and looking forward to many more coming my way in 2024!