testjutsu

Welcome to testjutsu.

What the hell is testjutsu?

I’m glad you asked. First up, a bit of terminology.

The difference between ‘jutsu’ and ‘do’.

Japanese martial arts are typically divided into ‘jutsu’ and ‘do’ forms. ‘jutsu’ refers to the practical application of the martial art. ‘do’ means ‘the way’ or ‘the path’ and generally speaking, do-forms are more about the development of the practitioner’s character through the principles of the martial art. This is not to say that do-form practitioners are not capable of using their skills in a practical way, merely that practical application is not usually their primary goal.

So why testjutsu?

Testjutsu is about the practical application of software testing principles. I am not well versed enough in the craft of testing to use it to develop my character. There are many more hours of toil and sweat and pain to go through before I can speak confidently about how the craft of testing shapes a human being. Instead, I am focused upon learning how to apply the craft of testing in real-world situations such that I can become comfortable in the appropriate use of testing given any situation. Well, that and ‘testdo’ sounds kinda hinky.

Who is Ben Kelly?
I am a software tester who lives and works in Tokyo, Japan. I have few claims to fame, other than that I was a jedi for approximately three seconds, and I seem to be quite good at breaking stuff.

I have experience in programming, systems administration, software config management and test automation. I have over six years in software testing and test team management and am a member of the Association for Software Testers.

If you want to get in touch with me, you can email me here.