Exploring WebdriverIO - Installation

Over the past five years, I've constructed many automation test frameworks, both tinkering here at home and creating ones on-the-job. 

For this next series of blog entries, I will be exploring Webdriver IO Version 6, which uses JavaScript, Node Js, and the Node Package Manager (NPM). The only problem? I last used this particular toolset back when I was working on a Nightwatch JS project four years ago. So, here it goes! 

The WebdriverIO robot

Related Links: 

• Official Site: https://webdriver.io/
• Github site: https://github.com/webdriverio/
• TestAutomation University course,  UI Automation with WebdriverIO by Julia Pottinger
• YouTube: Learn WebDriverIO by Kevin Lamping

First up: Installing WebdriverIO!

The next step in my automation development journey

Although I received my offer letter back on June 3rd, for a Software Test Engineer position at Verily (formerly Google Life Science) it was still thrilling to see in my Inbox:

"Welcome to Google: Hi Thomas Maher, We're so excited for you to join us at Google/ Alphabet".

"Email: Onboarding at Google"

My automation journey started, as I mentioned a few years ago, when I was I picked up the book "How Google Tests Software (2012)".

Hello, Verily! Can't wait until June 15th!

Starting June 15th, I will be a Software Test Engineer for Verily Life Sciences!

Verily.com

"Verily's mission is to make the world’s health data useful so that people enjoy longer and healthier lives. The company was launched in 2015 and is a subsidiary of Alphabet.

"Verily develops tools and devices to collect, organize and activate health data, and creates interventions to prevent and manage disease. The company partners with leading life sciences, medical device and government organizations, using deep hardware, software, scientific, and healthcare expertise to enable faster development, meaningful advances, and deployment at scale".

This is so exciting. I can hardly wait!!
-T.J. Maher
Sr. QA Engineer, Software Engineer in Test
Meetup Organizer, Ministry of Testing - Boston

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Why hire me as an SDET? Some recommendations.

As you may have seen in my last post, the workplace I have loved had a reduction in force. I made a lot of friends at Threat Stack, people I loved working with and hanging out with. I am really going to miss them.

I am now looking for a new full-time perm SDET role in the Boston role. Why hire me as an SDET as your company? Here are a few recommendations from the people I worked for, worked with, and trained:

SDET looking for full-time opportunities in Downtown Boston

Anyone know of any SDET (Software Development Engineer in Test) positions in Downtown Boston? I am now looking for new employment.

I now have five years experience in the automation development space. I am familiar with:

• Creating and demoing automation framework proof-of-concepts
• Interviewing stakeholders to validate business needs are met
• Leading discussions on what makes up a high value test
• Setting up code reviews with developers
• Iterating through development stages
• Customizing reporting and logging
• Configuring tests to be run continuously
• Training fellow automation developers on how to add to the finished framework. 
• See samples of Programming Projects I have done

I have experience as a:

• Writer & Speaker. 
• Instructor: TestAutomationU.com’s Introduction to Capybara. 
• Meetup Organizer, Ministry of Testing – Boston. 

I have been a QA Engineer since 1996. Seeking full-time employment in Boston, MBTA accessible.

And here's my GitHub and my LinkedIn Profile!

Happy Testing!

-T.J. Maher
Sr. QA Engineer, Software Engineer in Test
Meetup Organizer, Ministry of Testing - Boston

Twitter | YouTube | LinkedIn | Articles

New article on the Threat Stack blog: How to Write an Automated Test Framework in a Million Little Steps

A new article of mine was just published on the Threat Stack blog, dealing with all the research, requirements gathering, and analysis I performed when I was drafting the first version of an automation framework testing our web application, the Threat Stack Cloud Security Platform.

The article is called: How to Write an Automated Test Framework in a Million Little Steps. Enjoy!

So far, I have written for Threat Stack:

• Testing Tool Profile: Why Threat Stack Uses ThoughtWorks Gauge 
• 10 Automated Testing Tools That Threat Stack Uses -- and Why 
• Five Tips How Testers Can Collaborate With Software Developers 

... And I was interviewed for the article, Current Trends in Automated Software Testing. Now you know why I haven't had a chance to post to this blog in a while. Work has kept me busy, busy, busy!

Happy Testing!

-T.J. Maher
Sr. QA Engineer, Software Engineer in Test
Meetup Organizer, Ministry of Testing - Boston

Twitter | YouTube | LinkedIn | Articles