I have a lot to thank the Software Testing Community for, you are all a really amazing bunch of human beings!
The community helps me to learn, challenges me, lifts my mood and even supports me when I’m looking for new opportunities. I’ve made friends, and been inspired. For this I’m very grateful.
So, what is out there, and how can you get involved?
Photo by Dio Hasbi Saniskoro: https://www.pexels.com/photo/people-doing-group-hand-cheer-3280130/
Association for Software Testing
The Association for Software Testing (AST) is a professional organization for software testers. We strive to build a testing community that views the role of testing as skilled, relevant, and essential to the production of faster, better, and less expensive software products. We value a scientific approach to developing and evaluating techniques, processes, and tools. We believe that a self-aware, self-critical attitude is essential to understanding and assessing the impact of new ideas on the practice of testing.
Source: https://associationforsoftwaretesting.org/about-the-ast-a-professional-body-for-testers/
Full disclosure, I am an AST member! I took advantage of their new “Pay what you can” model, and with this membership is really very accessible. AST have a Slack group, blog syndication for members and run CAST, the Conference of the Association for Software Testing.
Website: https://associationforsoftwaretesting.org/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AST_News
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/association-for-software-testing/
Ministry of Testing
Our Story
We’ve come a long way from our modest beginnings in 2007. The long timers in our community will know that Ministry of Testing started out at The Software Testing Club. A humble forum that, over the years, grew into an amazing and thriving online community of testers. The Software Testing Club forum is now switched off, but our online community continues to grow and discuss all things testing on our shiny new forum The Club.
Source: https://www.ministryoftesting.com/about
Website: https://www.ministryoftesting.com/
Forum: https://club.ministryoftesting.com/
Slack: https://www.ministryoftesting.com/slack_invite
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ministryoftest
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ministry-of-testing/
Ministry of Testing Meetups
You can’t get much more local testing community then the MoT meet-ups! They are a great way to meet Testers in your local area, and an amazing opportunity to present.
Many of the best in the industry started by presenting at meet-ups such as these, and they still often bring their talks to meet-ups first, to test their ideas and practice ahead of larger conferences.
List of meetups: https://www.ministryoftesting.com/meetups
Test Automation University
TAU is an amazing resource to learn, for free, about Test Automation! There is also an active slack community, with channels focusing around each course and more generally helping each-other learn.
Website: https://testautomationu.applitools.com/
Slack: https://tauslacksignupapp.herokuapp.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TestAutomationU
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/testautomationu/
LinkedIn:
Test Tribe
This is a story of passion for Software Testing. A story of making change happen. A story of sincere attempt to bring more glory to the craft of Testing.
The Test Tribe run a regular events and have a thriving community on Discord.
Website: https://www.thetesttribe.com/
Join the community: https://www.thetesttribe.com/community/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/the_test_tribe
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thetesttribe/
The Test Chat
The Test Chat is primarily a large group on Telegram, and I do mean large! At time of writing there are over 4500 members.
Telegram: https://t.me/joinchat/UKDuiCJi-pPpv_9a
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheTestChat
Testers Hangout
Started by Lee “The Pirate Tester” Marshall as a support network around the start of the UK Lock-down in 2020. The Testers Hangout has grown organically and has been a great way for me to meet some really amazing human beings from the world of Software Testing!
Google Hangout: https://bit.ly/testerhangout
Discord Group: https://discord.gg/Nu64rg3EC2