exampler.com/testing-com > Test Patterns > Workshop 3 > FAQ
Last updated 3 August 2001
On this website, please see /testing-com/test-patterns/w2/preparation.html.
If you need a place to start, here's my (Pettichord's) suggestions:
James Coplien's "Software Patterns Management
Briefing"
http://www1.bell-labs.com/user/cope/Patterns/WhitePaper/SoftwarePatterns.pdf
"How to hold a writer's
workshop"
http://www.cs.wustl.edu/~schmidt/writersworkshop.html
POST is a writer's workshop. Bring ideas and drafts of your writing.
Please review some of the suggested readings on this website.
Please bring ideas that you would like to write about. If you have drafts, great. They don't have to be written in the patterns format (yet).
Sunday morning will begin with an introduction to patterns, how to write them, and now to "workshop" them. This is required for anyone who has not previously attended a patterns workshop.
Please contact Bret Pettichord. He is keeping a list of attendees.
In order to recieve further announcements regarding the workshop, please subscribe to the test-patterns mailing list: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/test-patterns
People who are interested in writing patterns regarding testing, testability, debugging and test automation are welcome. We are encouraging people to focus on test automation and related areas. What's related? You tell us.
There is no cost other that whatever travel costs you may incur. The hosts are donating their time and Rational is providing facilities and refreshments because they believe that encouraging pattern-writing will help the community. We ask you to contribute to the workshop with your cooperation and ideas.
If you have enough experience with software test automation to have some ideas about what kinds of problems recur, either in a single company or within the industry, then you are qualified to attend. You do not have to be an expert, and you don't have to have read lots of books on test automation. We are looking for thoughtful, experienced people.
Come prepared to share the things you've learned. We have found that many software testers have learned many interesting things in their work, but don't know what parts of it are interesting to others. The purpose of this workshop is to try and help provide this kind of context and feedback so that you will understand what is valuable about your ideas.
You can work on whatever writing you want during the workshop. In order for your work to be "workshopped" and reviewed by others you will have to share it. This is your choice, which you can make at the workshop. You will not be required to relinquish any rights to the work you share. We hope to encourage collaboration and sharing. One of the basic principles of a pattern is that people repeatedly find the same solutions for common problems. As such a pattern should not represent truly innovative ideas. (Although you may find an innovative way to present common practices.)