Software Testing Posts

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How I Use AI for Software Development

16 minute read - AI

TLDR; I’ve been using AI. I’ve changed my approach a lot as I’ve gained experience. AI has allowed me to experiment with more tools and process, and build more, than I could possibly have done without it. I’m experimenting to find new ways to use it better.

API Spector Open Source API Testing Tool

API Spector a new Open Source API Testing Tool

2 minute read - API Testing API Challenges

TLDR; API Spector is a new free HTTP and WebSocket Testing Tool.

Free Selenium WebDriver with Java Course Released To Youtube

4 minute read - Test Automation WebDriver

TLDR; Selenium WebDriver Course course has been released to YouTube as a 16 hour video. And split into 8 smaller 1-4 hour video chunks

Web Testing Automating Tooling Masterclass

A Web Testing, Automating and Tooling Masterclass

17 minute read - Web Testing Technical Testing

TLDR; We can only test to the level supported by our Ability, and the degree to which we are supported by tooling to Observe, Interrogate and Manipulate the System.

How to Test This - Selenium WebDriver

57 minute read - Podcasts Test Automation

In January 2026, I was guest on the “How to Test This?” Podcast.

Test HTML Form Fields Effectively

4 minute read - Exploratory Testing

TLDR; When testing web apps we need to test the interaction between the browser implemented controls and our system. We don’t test the browser.

CounterString Extension Updated

3 minute read - Exploratory Testing Counterstrings

TLDR; Generate CounterStrings, random data from Regex, ranges of data, and strings made by concatenating repeated data.

Older Posts for Evil Tester Blog Posts

Free Technical Web Testing Course Released To Youtube (2025-12-18)
An overview of the Basic Shopping Cart Practice Web Page (2025-12-15)
Convert Chrome Dev Tools Recording to WebDriver Java Code Using Free OpenCode AI Agent (2025-11-24)
Using Free OpenCode AI Agent to create Page Objects for WebDriver with Java (2025-11-20)
WebDriver with Java Overview (2025-11-13)
An overview of the dummy practice web page Basic Web Page (2025-11-04)
An overview of the Software Test Pages, a dummy practice web testing application (2025-11-04)
Automating an Accessibility Evaluation Report using Deque Axe and Selenium Webdriver (2025-09-26)
What tool to choose for Web UI Test Automation? (2025-09-25)
List of the Top Software Testing Newsletters (2025-09-12)
Agile Testing (2025-09-01)
Recommended Reading (2025-08-31)
Using Free Chat GPT to learn Playwright Automating in Java (2025-08-26)
Using Free Claude.ai chat interface to Vibe Code a Browser Javascript Game (2025-08-15)
Using Chrome Dev Tools AI Assistance to Automate UI from Javascript Console (2025-08-09)
The 21 Best Software Testing Podcasts (2025-08-04)
Using YouTube and Google NotebookLM For Speed Studying (2025-08-02)
Modelling Software Testing for Naming and Understanding (2024-08-25)
Kubernetes kubectl cheat sheet (2023-11-15)
Updated Github Repos and Released Conference Talk (2023-07-30)
Recruit And interview people. Do not just fill roles (2023-07-15)
Triangle Problem Testing (2023-07-15)
Behind the Scenes: Tools and workflow for blogging on blogger and writing for other reasons (2023-07-10)
On Modelling (2023-07-10)
Applications to Practice Testing and Automating (2023-03-02)
What is Software Testing? - a meta model (2023-01-22)
Chrome Dev Tools Overview 2022 (2022-09-22)
Using Faker to Generate Random Data in AnyWayData (2022-06-21)
Using https cdn imports with Jest tests in JavaScript (2022-06-04)
Model Based Testing Thoughts (2022-03-19)
How far should you go in your investigation of a defect? (2022-02-21)
Is there such a thing as an Evil Tester? Poking holes is good. (2022-02-21)
Why Speak at conferences? write blogs? - To get your message out. (2022-02-21)
Lesson Learned - I'm not ready for that vs I could do but choose not to (2022-02-20)
Lessons Learned - Experts Make Stuff Up, They Don't Know Everything (2022-02-18)
Automating API Tip - Use minimum, fail assert less, pass assert more (2022-02-17)
Use Leaderboards and Counts as Triggers and Trends, not for Motivation (2022-02-17)
A beginner's guide to software testing - Claims, and Expectations. (2022-02-13)
Software Testing Techniques are Model Based, not White/Grey/Black Box (2022-02-13)
Tester Role vs Testing Process. Anyone can Test. Are we testing well? (2022-02-13)
Skip your intros (2022-02-12)
What is a Software Developer? Programmer? Tester? A Career Aspiration? (2022-02-12)
Q. How to learn software testing? A. Identify, Try, Apply (2022-02-12)
Adopt a Personal Approach to Exploratory Testing (2021-12-28)
Cypress AG Grid Automation (2021-12-09)
Tactic - Automate for yourself (2021-11-20)
How to Release a Chrome Extension to the Chrome Store (2021-11-14)
Jacoco Java Coverage Reporting - minimal configuration for Junit 4 and 5 (2021-11-14)
T.O.T.E - Test, Operate, Test, Exit for Software Testing (2021-11-01)
Generate Random Tabular Test Data (2021-10-30)
Fiddler Notes and UseCases (2021-10-16)
API Testing Challenges - How To Use Simulation Mode (2021-08-01)
API Testing Challenges - How To Use Mirror Mode (2021-08-01)
Q - Can we use Automated Execution to find defects? A - Yes (2021-07-23)
Do we need Testers? What is the right question to ask? (2021-07-11)
Claude Shannon on Creative Thinking Strategies (2021-06-26)
Q. Do you have to be negative to be a tester? A. No (2021-06-20)
Are testers there to make development look good? (2021-06-16)
QA is a process not a role and is not testing (2021-06-08)
Learn Test Automation By Taking Short Practical Steps (2021-02-26)
JUnit and TDD for Testing (2021-02-20)
Poetry and Software Testing (2021-02-13)
A Trail of Code (2021-01-27)
A Meta Reason for Locator Ids (2020-11-19)
Using Code Coverage As a Review Tool (2020-09-07)
REST API Open Source Workshops (2020-08-20)
Automating Calculator From Console (2020-08-19)
Unit Testing FAQs (2020-08-07)
API Testing Challenge - Debrief - POST challenger 201 (2020-07-31)
Automating To Detect Change (2020-07-17)
Ordering Headers In HTTP Requests with RestAssured and UniRest (2020-07-06)
RestAssured Tips for Proxies and Logging (2020-07-06)
Because sometimes it's hard... some tips for "Working with WebDriver" (2020-06-30)
Data Driven Tests in JUnit 4 with Parameterized Tests (2020-06-27)
Using Static Analysis to improve your Java Coding (2020-06-24)
Basic Differences Between JUnit 4 and Junit 5 (2020-06-23)
JUnit HTML Reports (2020-06-23)
Junit 4 vs 5 - using both in same project (2020-06-23)
How to fix Java Language Level Issues (2020-06-22)
What is Software Testing? My working definition. (2020-06-21)
What is Software Testing? - definitions (2020-06-21)
How to Turn on and off JavaScript in Firefox and Chrome (2020-06-15)
Comparing Automated Tic Tac Toe GamePlay Implementations (2020-06-11)
Effective use of Thread.sleep (2020-06-09)
You can submit to Conferences (2020-06-06)
How and Why to use Variation in Software Testing (2020-06-03)
Humpty Dumpty - "a tale of risk and... other stuff" (2020-06-02)
Automate Playing Tic Tac Toe online game using JavaScript from the browser console. (2020-06-01)
Tips for Presenting Online (2020-04-22)
JavaScript Resources (2020-04-14)
Automation Coverage (2020-04-09)
Observation vs Interrogation (2020-03-23)
What does it take to find bugs? (2020-03-09)
Software Testing and Spies in The Art of War (2020-02-14)
Collated Collection of Evil Tester Comics (2020-01-02)
Risks, Issues, Benefits Of Tactically Automating Twitter Case Study (2019-12-03)
Automating Deselection and Unchecking of Twitter Interests (2019-11-25)
How to Ask for Help (2019-11-22)
HTTP Proxy Testing Tips (2019-11-18)
Good Testing Requires Technological Understanding and Appropriate Tools (2019-11-01)
On being Good, Automation as Testing and Diagrams vs Models (2019-10-29)
Reflections on Names, Nasty, Variation and Mystery (2019-10-22)
How to Randomize your Software Testing Thought Process (2019-10-18)
LEAPWORK Overview (2019-08-30)
Example of modelling an application flow as a diagram for Software Testing (2019-08-14)
I need a tool... no, you need to work on the system (2019-07-17)
An Introduction to API Based Documentation Automating (2019-07-12)
How to write a link checker in the browser with Vanilla JavaScript (2019-07-02)
AccelQ Overview (2019-06-20)
Recommended Study Subjects (2019-06-02)
Recommended Tools to Support Testing (2019-06-02)
Which Link Checking Tools Do You Use? (2019-03-09)
What is Software Testing And Why Do We Test Software? (2019-03-06)
Are there any programming Katas related to testing? (2019-03-04)
How to View URL Query Parameters using Browser Dev Tools (2019-03-02)
How to Write a Chrome Extension from JavaScript Snippets code (2019-02-28)
A Deep Dive investigation of a HTML search button bug in Github (2019-02-28)
A Deep Dive investigation of a live bug in Github (2019-02-27)
Demo of CounterStrings in Action finding a live bug in Github (2019-02-26)
Questions and Answers About Software Testing (2019-02-25)
CloudApp Screenshot Tool Review (2019-02-22)
JavaScript Tutorial Creating a CounterString tool in Chrome Browser Dev Tools Snippets (2019-02-19)
Hacking JavaScript Games - Accessing private javascript variables at runtime via debugging (2019-02-12)
How to Practice your JavaScript, Software Testing and Test Automation (2019-02-07)
How to Pretty Print JSON using Browser Dev Tools (2019-02-04)
How to bypass no paste controls on a web form (2019-02-03)
What is Boundary Value Analysis? Software Testing Technique explained with real world examples. (2019-01-24)
A Tactical Automation Case Study - Java, JavaScript, API and Dev Tools (2019-01-14)
Pro Con Critical Evaluation - but What If? (2019-01-09)
Merging Blogs Test Report (2018-12-28)
Tips for a Successful Test Automation Proof of Concept (2018-12-05)
Moved Site to HTTPS (2018-12-04)
Do not look for Cheap Black Friday Deal Testing (2018-11-23)
Digital Marketing FIT Small Business Influencers (2018-11-04)
Postman Snippets to Assert API response status codes (2018-11-02)
Instagram Private Information not private on Business Accounts (2018-11-01)
Amending HTTP Traffic within a Browser - Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge (2018-10-26)
How to Take Screenshots in a Browser (2018-10-24)
Luck, Opportunity and Contextual Advice (2018-10-05)
What If Courage was Contagious? (2018-09-21)
What if we don't use the words verification and validation? (2018-09-11)
Do you answer your own rhetorical questions? (2018-09-04)
Test Automation ROI Exercises (2018-08-28)
How To Invest In Testing (2018-08-23)
Click bots for social media and beyond (2018-08-21)
Exploratory Testing Clean Recon Live Example (2018-08-15)
Exercise - how many ways to count the values in a json array returned from a REST API call? (2018-07-29)
Using a Travel Router for Mobile Testing (2018-07-05)
Live Web Exploratory Technical Testing Session Example (2018-07-03)
Freemind Scripting for Markdown Presentation Generation (2018-06-29)
Notes on Shift Left in Testing and Software Development (2018-06-11)
The Question - Are there any Software Testing super heroes? (2018-06-01)
Google Advanced Searches - Google Dorks (2018-05-30)
On Hacking and Being Hacked (2018-05-15)
Protect The Square and Buggy Games (2018-05-09)
CounterString Algorithms (2018-05-08)
When Management Systems Restrict Testing - Crowdsourced Functional and Security Testing Mismatch (2018-05-04)
How to install cURL on Windows (2018-03-29)
Using the Turnkey Linux VM for Tracks Testing (2018-03-23)
Automated Execution for Acceptance Testing - Java JUnit FizzBuzz (2018-03-20)
TDD - Test Driven Development - Java JUnit FizzBuzz (2018-03-04)
A practice exploratory testing session - javascript button game (2018-03-02)
Problem Solving as Software Development (2018-02-23)
Considering a Career in Software Testing? (2018-02-21)
Testability vs Automatability - in theory (Free Bonus Video Inside) (2018-01-12)
Proof of Concept vs Minimum Viable Product (2017-12-24)
Automating Storify and Twitter Using JavaScript From the Dev Tools (2017-12-18)
Agile Testing Books List (2017-11-27)
What is Agile Testing? The Evil Tester's Guide To Agile (2017-11-17)
The Evil Tester's (Mini) Guide To Agile (2017-11-16)
A Treatise of Buggs (2017-11-09)
What is Regression Testing? Software Testing FAQs and Definitions (2017-10-24)
Test Automation and Test Process Modelling - an evolutionary and pictorial explanation (2017-09-22)
Overcome Impostor Syndrome for Public Speaking (2017-09-15)
Course Branding Image Revamp and the Google Image Search Tool (2017-09-07)
I wish companies offered functional bug bounties - not just security bug bounties (2017-08-30)
A Diagram for a Logical Model of Automating With Abstraction Layers (2017-08-26)
3 Reasons to use Insomnia REST Client in your Exploratory API Testing (2017-08-18)
Use your malevolent powers for good (2017-07-17)
Using Browser Dev tools to investigate and bypass GUI error reporting bugs (2017-07-13)
Are you stable, or complacent? Is it time to experiment yet? (2017-07-10)
How to improve your software testing skills by following Isaac Newton's strategies (2017-07-07)
How to use your testing skills to bag a SNES Classic Mini Pre-Order (2017-06-29)
Quaere, Heuristics, Mnemonics, and Acronyms (2017-05-24)
Dev Ops Article in May Test Magazine (2017-05-21)
How to use JavaScript Bookmarklets to Amend Web Page Example [Tutorial Text and Video] (2017-05-19)
Notes on Structured Analysis and System Specification by Tom Demarco (2017-04-27)
Do you know what your framework is doing? A quick use of WebPageTest. (2017-04-26)
Notes from Glenford Myers Advances in Computer Architecture (2017-04-25)
A Quick Intro To BookMarkLets (2017-04-24)
Lessons from the making of "Are you Experienced" (2017-04-21)
Lessons from "Platoon Leader" by James McDonough (2017-04-20)
Normal is the rarest of all states (2017-04-19)
Input -> Process -> Output - I test Systems (2017-04-18)
That moment where you should have automated but didn't (2017-04-13)
Notes on Representation and Meaning: relating Programming, Testing, Coding and Checking (2017-03-12)
Ambiguity Detection and Weaponisation for Software Testers (2017-03-08)
Harness Your Ruthless Efficiency as MVP in testing and development (2017-02-17)
Should I test at the GUI Level or the API Level? (2017-02-15)
How to test a text adventure game - some notes on Testing RestMud (2017-01-31)
What do you do? As a Tester, when you are asked for ROI calculation (2017-01-12)
Recognise and Improve Your Personal Test Process (2017-01-03)
Hack the JavaScript Evil Tester Sloganizer to Generate Random New Year's Resolutions (2017-01-02)
Lessons Learned from Arnold Schwarzenegger Applied to Software Testing (2017-01-02)
Happy Testing New Year (for 2017) (2016-12-31)
Software Testing Definitions and Models - How and Why to Create your own Definition (2016-12-16)
A testing challenge for you "I T.E.S.T with A.T.T.I.T.U.D.E" (2016-12-12)
Taking Software Testing More Seriously By Using Humour (2016-12-09)
Lessons learned and tips for testing from public bug bash events (2016-12-08)
How to improve your CV and improve your chances of finding your next software testing job (2016-12-07)
Hacking JavaScript Games - Cellular Automata - Supporting Notes (2016-12-01)
A retrospective critique of an exploratory testing session (2016-11-29)
Software Testing YouTube Channels to Subscribe to - and how to subscribe (2016-11-24)
A live exploratory testing session recorded (2016-11-21)
Q: when do we prefer manual testing over automated testing? A: Hmmm.... (2016-10-25)
A Case Study in Creating a Conference Presentation using Markdown (2016-10-06)
Adhoc testing of incrementally developed HTML and CSS (2016-09-29)
You can improve your JavaScript skills and have fun at the same time (2016-09-28)
How to Use Chrome Developer Tools JavaScript Source Snippets (2016-09-26)
How to use the JavaScript Console for Technical Web Testing (2016-09-23)
How to Treat your Application as an API - "App as API" (2016-09-22)
How to write a simple random test data sentence generator (2016-09-21)
Difference between hacking, cheating and automating? (2016-09-19)
Lessons learned from Automating - Instantiated (2016-09-16)
Hacking JavaScript Games to improve your testing (2016-09-14)
Responsive Web Testing (2016-09-14)
Stop finding simple bugs. Use Automated Validation tools early. (2016-09-13)
Introducing Pious Sanctimonious Standard Compliance Boy (2016-09-13)
Batch validation of HTML as part of your web testing with Total Validator (2016-09-09)
What could possibly go wrong? And what to do about it? (2016-09-08)
Dear Evil Tester: I think that if I 'learn automation' I can get a new job FAST (2016-09-06)
Dear Evil Tester "I want to keep my testing skills up to date otherwise I might not get another job" (2016-09-06)
Dear Evil Tester: I think that if I 'learn automation' I can get this specific type of job (2016-09-06)
A Model of Automating (2016-09-05)
Dear Evil Tester: "How can I learn Automation?" (2016-09-02)
We test REST even if it isn't REST (2016-07-22)
On Workarounds and Fixes (2016-07-22)
An Open Answer to an Open Letter (2016-07-15)
How to Watch Repositories on Github via a NewsFeed (2016-04-08)
Join the Anti Test-Automation Brigade Article for Testing Circus Magazine (2016-04-04)
Everyday Browsing to improve your web testing skills - Why? (2016-03-31)
Coding for workarounds so you know when they are not needed (2016-03-24)
What is the Role of a Tester on Agile Projects? (2016-03-22)
The Making of "Dear Evil Tester" (2016-03-10)
Lessons Learned Testing the House of Test contest app (2016-02-29)
I did not know Firefox could do that: Syntax Error Highlighting in "View Page Source" (2016-01-18)
Dear Evil Tester, Who is Stafford Beer and Why should I care? (2016-01-11)
Technical Testing with MS Edge and "the user will never do that" (2016-01-08)
Test Automation in Cybernetics And Management (2016-01-07)
Lessons learned from Black Ops Testing - Testing a JavaScript library (2015-07-14)
Lessons Learned Testing QA Mail for Black Ops Testing (2015-05-12)
Some API Testing Basic Introductory Notes and Tools (2015-01-26)
My search for easy to use, free, local HTTP servers (2014-12-18)
An exploratory testing example explored: Taskwarrior (2014-09-24)
Lessons learned testing Command Line Applications from Black Ops Testing Webinar (2014-09-23)
Using Wireshark to observe Mobile HTTP Network traffic (2014-09-10)
How to convert VirtualBox to VMWare and install the ethernet device drivers (2014-08-14)
Testing Circus Magazine Interview with Alan Richardson (2014-05-11)
Back to Basics: How to use the Windows Command Line (2014-02-17)
Introducing Virtualbox modern.ie Turnkey Virtual Machines for Web Testing (2014-02-13)
How to emulate mobile devices using Chrome browser (2014-02-06)
How to use Jira to subjectively track and report daily on your testing? (2013-11-22)
Create a local WiFi hotspot for testing using connectify.me (2013-10-25)
Android and IOS Screen Capture, Streaming and ScreenRecording tools for Mobile Testing (2013-10-04)
WinMerge Revisited - my default file and directory comparison tool (2013-09-27)
10 Experiments to Improve Your Exploratory Testing Note Taking (2013-09-06)
FAQ: Why are my JUnit 4 asserts showing as deprecated (2013-08-30)
How would you check that a www web site redirects to a mobile site? (2013-08-30)
Don't go live with simple security problems - 10 tips to help (2013-07-23)
A Bugzilla exploratory testing session from the vaults (2013-05-31)
Abstraction in Action for Automating Applications (2013-05-04)
Silver Bullets and Magic Bullets in Software Testing (2013-05-04)
What does a technical exploratory test session look like? (2013-03-06)
Selenium Simplified Webinar 002 - Page & Domain Objects (2013-02-22)
V-Model Reclaimed (2013-02-11)
Selenium Simplified Webinar 001 - Getting started (2013-02-08)
NLP For Testers (2012-02-17)
Q: What is Testing? A: look inside... (2012-02-17)
Build your own model of software testing – or rediscover one from several thousand years ago (2011-10-31)
Build your own model of software testing – "the quotes" (2011-10-29)
Running out of email addresses when you test? (2011-09-20)
How Can I Estimate My Testing? (2011-06-28)
Tutorial on Burp Suite Repeater and Intruder (2011-04-21)
Paranoia as a learning and testing strategy (2011-03-14)
Sub-cultural Testing Influences gone mainstream #1 – The Assassins Creed (2011-03-12)
Dangerous Test Concepts Exposed - QA and 'Types' of Testing (2011-03-08)
Exploratory Testing Lessons from the Tao Te Ching (2011-02-24)
A Tester is For Life Not Just For Christmas ebook interview (2010-12-01)
A poor man's testing Head Up Display (2010-03-19)
Do you still remember your first 'real' test (2009-02-18)
Notes on the evolution of my exploratory testing documentation style (2009-01-16)
Software Testing, A Funny Business (2008-07-23)
Test Driven JavaScript using QUnit (2008-06-06)
Evil Tester and The Agile Team (2008-05-18)
A Short History of my ISEB Software Testing Certification involvement (2008-05-04)
5 books I recommend to software testers that most testers have probably never read (2008-04-22)
Challenge your assumptions and presuppositions to identify useful variation (2008-04-18)
Software Testing Lessons from Brief Counselling and Therapy (2008-04-11)
Create Software Test Ideas Fast Using Presentation PreparationTechniques (2008-04-08)
A generalised model for User Acceptance Testing (UAT) (2008-03-09)
How to do software User Acceptance Testing (UAT) really badly (2008-03-07)
A simple explanation of dependency injection (2008-03-04)
My Novice Mistakes in Test Driven Development (2008-02-28)
Some Notes on Software Testing Waste - my lean perspective (2008-02-20)
Notes on 'abstraction' and 'equivalence classes' in Software Testing (2008-02-11)
ISEB, and the train that won't stop going (2008-02-08)
My notes on how to study for ISEB foundation (2008-02-06)
ISEB testing certification, fear, and the hiring dilemma (2008-02-01)
I thought you were a tester but... you're programming (2008-01-30)
Agile Acceptance Testing (2008-01-21)
5 Exploratory Test Documentation Lessons (2008-01-19)
"Martial deals with surprise" - GTD related to testing (2008-01-18)
Adhoc Automating Using SQL For WordPress Migration (2007-12-28)
AutoIt free basic Windows Automation (2006-06-17)
Can the words that we use affect our thinking (2006-04-26)
Being Resourceful when your hands are tied (2004-08-04)
Help Yourself - Self Education for Software Testers (2004-01-04)
Tom Gilb Competitive Engineering Courses (2003-10-20)
Popular testing phrases #57 - Testing should start early (2002-04-01)
The Actor's Ways and Means (2002-03-11)
Finding Faults with Software Testing (2002-02-13)
An exploration of, and notes on, the process of Test Scripting (2002-01-16)
An exploration of, and notes on, model path analysis for Testing (2002-01-15)
Modelling Tesla for Software Testing (2002-01-04)
Charity Shop Shopping For Software Testing Books (2002-01-04)
The Cost of DIY Quality (2002-01-04)
Software Testing Book Reviews (2000-02-03)

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