#267 Steve Upton from adversarial relationships with devs to QA in high performing teams

In the ever-evolving realm of software development and testing, it's rare to encounter someone with as vast and varied an experience as Steve Upton. From his early foray into quality assurance to his insights on teamwork and agile methodologies, Steve's journey offers a lens into the nuanced world of development from a quality-first perspective.Steve placed the start of his journey coding in YABASIC on a PS2 and creating the infamous program "Insultor." Fast forward a few years, he graduated with a CS degree, and having worked as an intern at IBM; he applied for a graduate program. We discussed how he was given a "tester" role, which incidentally defined the rest of his career. We talked about testing practices at IBM, adversarial relationships with devs & moving to the polar opposite in a high-performing team Here. We discussed what "quality" really means, and then we talked about the hiring process, biases, working in the open (and writing blogs about backpacking trips with a GPS), the transition, and what he learned Here. We finally talked about his current work as a consultant for ThoughtWorks and how he would advise learning more about quality.In this episode, Steve shares his thoughts on the significance of agile testing and recommends foundational books. He delves into his experiences, highlighting the importance of a whole-team approach and the continuous pursuit of better, alternative software development and testing methods.If you want to learn more about agile testing methodologies and get inspiration from Steve's incredible journey, tune in to this episode!Three reasons why you should listen to the full episode:Get insights from Steve Upton's journey, from quality assurance to deepening into software development. Learn the importance of focusing on the end user's needs and overall usability.Understand the value of the Agile methodology, particularly the "whole team approach." This episode delves into the strong interdependency of development and testing, highlighting the need for seamless communication and collaboration.Discover invaluable resources and books Steve recommends for anyone venturing into software development and testing. Benefit from foundational knowledge and practical advice to propel your career forward.Support the show