There are many ways to leave the happy path when testing.
Recently, I wondered what it would be like to approach testing with inspiration from a role model.
One of my greatest role models is James Bond.
But what does a secret agent—who typically saves the world by battling villains or defusing bombs at the last second—have to do with software testing?
Let’s try it out with an example.
Let’s take the following happy path of an ATM test for withdrawing money:
Step 1. Insert the ATM card into the machine.
Step 2. Enter the correct PIN.
Step 3. Choose the “Withdraw Cash” option.
Step 4. Enter a valid withdrawal amount within the available balance and transaction limit.
Step 5. Confirm the transaction.
Expected Result:
The transaction is successfully completed.
Now, let’s turn this scenario into a thrilling Bond story:
“A dangerous villain has hidden a bomb inside the ATM.
But there’s a way to stop it: a specific bank transaction will deactivate the mechanism.
Secret agent James Bond accepts the mission and begins the transaction.
Suddenly, armed enemies appear out of nowhere – time is running out!”
Step 1. Bond inserts the ATM card into the machine
Step 2. Enter the correct PIN.
Step 3. Choose the “Withdraw Cash” option.
Step 4. Enter withdrawal amount: 007,000.00 GBP
Step 5. Just as Bond is about to press “Confirm,” multiple attackers strike!
Step 6. Meanwhile, the transaction timer mercilessly counts down.
Step 007. A blink of an eye before the timer runs out, he can press the “Confirm” button
Expected Result:
The transaction is successfully completed.
The bomb is deactivated.
Now it’s your turn.
Be creative and help me find more James Bond like test paths.
A password form filed will accept a certain number, all other combinations will result in error.
Open the page with the password field
Enter the wrong comnination to check the error message.
Click the error message away
Enter the correct number
The site opens.
Secret agent James Bond, codenamed 007, enters the secret base of a rich South African mogul bent on conquering the world. M stressed to him that the data about the mogul’s plans are vital for world security. Bond is ready to strike, hopped up on benzedrine (yes, I read the books) and has incapacitated a guard. The computer screen is before him.
With sweaty fingers Bond switches on the screen, his face tinted green from the page displayed. The possibility of a password was never mentioned by M who still uses post it notes!
Swiftly Bond enters the first combination that comes to his mind, T-R-U-M-P.
A message appears, “Haha, try again, Mr. Bond!” How would the mogul know his name? He angrily clicks the message away.
His secret agent intuition lets Bond try another combination: 0-0-7, this always works!
The page opens and displays world domination plans! Bond wants to lean back in the chair but suddenly iron manacles appear and fix him to the chair! The mogul jumps into the room with a strange sideways move in a coat and a stupid cap, “Haha, Mr. Bond, I got you!” Bonds tries to play it cool.
Long ago, I took part in a workshop with Ben Simo on a MoT Tester’s Bash where he suggested that testers should be more like explorers (to put a fine idea into a very short form). So I will rewrite the above example with one of my heroes in mind:
Professor Indiana Jones, once again in the untouched (as if) jungles of South America, once again in a lost temple of a people long vanished. Where is the Idol of Eternal Good Looks? Indy reaches a pedestal with strange symbols covering the base - they can be pressed (much like a tester!)
One touch and a plane shows on the Idol, displaying a field.
Indy deftly touches several of the symbols but the plane only shows a skull. A deep rumbling can be heard, beads form on his forehead.
He wipes the skull away and
enters other symbols in the forgotten language that he fortunately can decipher: H-O-L-L-Y-W-O-O-D
The plane vanishes and reveals the Idol. Indy just has time to grab it and jump away to avoid the avalanche of tumbling rocks flooding the room. “This belongs in a museum!” he shouts.