Tomorrow Barry Gervin and I will be interviewed on AlignIT with Ruth Morton and Jonathan Rozenblit.
We will be discussing the Pros and Cons of upgrading to the next version of VS and TFS. Affectionately known as vNext or Dev11.
Feb 29th MS announced the release of Windows 8 Customer Preview and Visual Studio 11 Beta.
Looking forward to the discussions. Watch for it on AlignIT.
MTM needs a feature that allows testers to describe what an individual test case iteration is testing.
Right now I add a parameter to the last steps expected results "@Notes" and for each iteration of a test case I add to the Notes what I am testing in each iteration. Example would be testing a address site. My test case will go through all the address fields so any testing I would need can be done with parameters and iterations even boundary. But I need a easy way to identify what is being tested by an iteration.
Vote for this feature “Identifier that describes what each test case iteration is testing”
Testa 
Check out instructions on how to create reports for your TFS2010 Test Results. There is also an example that you can follow.
Testa 
Typemock is presenting a webcast “Introduction to Unit Testing” if your a tester this will be a good intro into unit testing. Pass this onto your developers even if they unit test.
Software testing isn’t just a task for QA. In order to prevent bugs and release quality code to market, you also need developer testing, including unit testing. Discover why you should start unit testing, and how you can get started with automated tests quickly.
Click below to register
Introduction to Unit Testing
Testa 
I remember the first ever event we did in a theater. It was all about Whidbey, remember that? Then the next year Nick Van Exan our student and part time graphics guy created a movie poster to promote the event. I think it was Barry Gervin as Dr. Evil, very funny stuff.
The tradition continues.
ObjectSharp is pleased to present it's 2012 "At The Movies" event!
At this 3-hour live morning event at the Scotiabank Theatre, on Tues 1 May 9-12 noon, you will see and hear about Microsoft's new developer tools for 2012:
Metro (Win 8 + Mobile)
VS 2012
TFS 2012 + Test Manager 2012
...from ObjectSharp's MS MVPs: Dave Lloyd, Bruce Johnson, Barry Gervin, Colin Bowern, Deb Forsyth and Atley Hunter
PLUS: your admission includes:
Coffee + Popcorn + Soft Drinks
AND ... multiple draws for Microsoft and Telerik cool stuff!
What does it cost?
General Admission is $25 (or register by Friday April 14 and pay just $15)!
Register Online Now!
What if I have questions?
e-mail us at ATM@objectsharp.com
or call: 416-649-3690 (ext 0)
Karthik K.K has posted on LinkedIn (click to see) a chart that compares the features of Visual Studio & Test Manager to Quick Test Professional (QTP).
I like the last item:
| Visual Studio 2010 Test | QTP | Who’s Best |
| VSTS is cheaper and can be used for both development & testing. | QTP is costlier and can be used ONLY for testing. | VSTS |
VSTS can also be used by Business Analyst, Project Managers, and Stakeholders. It can assist teams being Agile or Scrum or Waterfall thru a process template. The process template can be customized to meet your company need. VSTS reports on all aspects of a project and can tell you at any time where in the project you are at, the quality of the project to date, the status of your requirements/user stories. You can have a “Requirement to Test Matrix” in seconds at anytime.
If this alone has got your attention and you want to know more contact me directly.
Testa 
What is a Windows 8 Camp?
A Windows 8 Camp is a free, two-day event. During the Camp, you’ll discover HANDS-ON how to build your first Metro Style App for Windows 8. You’ll learn from experts in a low-key, interactive way and apply what you’ve learned with support from Microsoft Canada.
How do I register? Click below for the city nearest you.
o Toronto – May 22nd to June 1st, Microsoft Downtown Toronto Office
o Montreal – June 4th to June 8th, Microsoft Downtown Montreal Office
o Vancouver – June 11th to June 22nd, Microsoft Downtown Vancouver Office
· A Cornucopia of Windows 8 Goodness
· Windows 8 Consumer Preview
· Windows 8 Consumer Preview Product Guide for Developers
· Windows Dev Center
· Visual Studio 11 Beta
Testa 
Harry Baran from Thoughtworks posted a blog that I think is very much worth sharing. Harry outlines in his posting some of the difference between unit testing in Agile to the Traditional approach.
Unit testing in any process needs to be getting the attention it deserves, if done right it can be an early quality indicator for the solution under development. Test teams need to get involved in unit testing to some capacity no matter what process/methodology being followed. Pair up your developers and testers, offer training to your testers in unit testing and coding, hire testers with coding skills, let your testers see and understand what is being unit tested.
To quote Harry Baran: “Unit tests are foundations of an agile project. They enable fast feedback, continuous testing, continuous integration and refactoring.”
As children we were taught to share, for some reason one of the most important aspects of developing an application has not been shared. Time to change that, isn’t it?
Unit Testing: Agile vs. Traditional Approach
Great write up Hari, thanks,
Testa 
The first Toronto VS ALM User Group kick off meeting is being held on April 12th @6:30pm sign up at TALMUG to get the details and register.
The User Group is for all roles within the Application Life Management team. Topics presented will vary from generic ALM practices to ALM with Visual Studio. If your involved in product management, a stakeholder, a business analysis or product owner, a developer or a tester this User Group is for you.
The goal of the first meeting will be to:
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Define the group’s mission
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Select an appropriate name
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Document the roles of the executive
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Recruit volunteers
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Funding
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Discuss how to reach out for sponsors
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Discuss meeting locations
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Discuss ideas for the first few meeting topics
Come out on April 12th and help us to kick-off this new user group code named TALMUG.
Testa 
If you want to edit your build process and utilize some of the custom activities in the Community TFS Build Extensions. You may be finding it tough to drag the activity into your Workflow. Or Intellisense may not be working like you saw in that demo. Below are the steps to help you create a project to store your custom build processes and easily edit them.
First Download the Community TFS Build Extensions and copy them into a folder in source control. I like to put them in a folder under the BuildProcessTemplates folder created from your Process Template, called Custom Activities.
For example: $/ObjectSharp Projects/BuildProcessTemplates/CustomActivities
You need to make sure the build server knows where to find these so Change the Build Controller property Version control path to custom assemblies to this location in source control. You can get to it by right clicking on the Builds node in Team Explorer and selecting Manage Build Controllers. Select the Controller and click the properties button.
Make a copy of the Build Process Template that you want to edit and make sure it’s in the BuildProcessTemplates folder under source control.
- Add the Custom activities to your toolbox.
in Visual Studio select Tools | Choose Toolbox Items… from the main menu.
On the System.Activities Components tab browse for the TFSBuildExtentions.Activities.dll and add it.
- Create a new Class Library Project
Delete the Class1.cs that gets created.
Add the following references to the project:
From the .Net tab on the Add Reference dialog:
Microsoft.TeamFoundation
Microsoft.TeamFoundation.Build.Client
Microsoft.TeamFoundation.VersionControl.Client
Microsoft.TeamFoundation.VersionControl.Common
System.Activities
From C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 10.0\Common7\IDE\PrivateAssemblies
Microsoft.TeamFoundation.Build.Workflow.dll
Microsoft.TeamFoundation.TestImpact.BuildIntegration.dll
From where ever you installed it on your machine
TFSBuildExtensions.Activities
- Add the Build Process Template to the project.
Right click on the project and select Add | Existing Item… from the context menu.
Navigate to the build process template you want to edit
Click on the arrow next to the add button to select Add As Link
Now you can work on your build process in place from within a project so you have all the references you need to drag activities in and have the benefit of intelitrace.