Past Events

A live talk for the Toronto chapter of The Test Tribe, titled Quality Engineering? Quality Assurance? Testing? Let's Get Back to Basics. Here's the abstract: Why do we test software? One easy answer is that we test because we're paid to test, but that begs the question. Why would anyone more … read more…

Rapid Software Testing Focused: Automation is a full-day workshop about the essence of automation strategy: vision and setting goals that make sense for you and your organization. You can Register at the PNSQC site W10(Full Day): Rapid Software Test Automation Test automation is a hot topic. If you are in more … read more…

Keynote: What Are We Thinking — in the Age of AI? In November, 2022, OpenAI released ChatGPT 3 — a Large Language Model (LLM) — that dazzled and surprised even the people who produced it. The LLM’s impressive output quickly led to magical claims that Artificial Intelligence (AI) would write all of our software, cure cancer, solve climate change, etc... Meanwhile, other claims (some of which new either) suggested that AI posed an existential threat to all humanity, or to testing and development jobs. Only a few people — mostly in the research community, and hardly any in commercial software development — actually tested these claims skeptically and seriously. In this keynote, Michael will challenge us — and himself — to critically assess our relationships with technology and hype — and our own beliefs. read more…

A private Rapid Software Testing Explored class, presentations, and consulting in-house for a corporate client in Vilnius, Lithuania. read more…

A keynote talk for the Codecamp_Braşov Conference. Testing AI: Five Obstacles and Seven Workarounds There's an incredible amount of noise around artificial intelligence these days, but very little reliable signal. AI will bring doom and destruction, or a world where cheerful robots feed us peeled grapes while we lie on more … read more…

“Test automation” is a hot topic. If you are in the testing field, then you are probably being pressured to automate your work. But how should you go about it? Only certain specific aspects of testing can be automated, so which aspects should you focus on first? There are lots more … read more…

About Everyone involved in developing a product brings different perspectives to testing it. Developers wrote the code, so they have unique knowledge with which to test that. Testers didn’t write the code, so they are uniquely motivated to learn things about the product so they can test it. Some people more … read more…

Training (Rapid Software Testing Explored), consulting, alumni reviews, and presentations for a corporate client in Gothenburg, Sweden. read more…

Rapid Software Testing classes, live and in person, return to Copenhagen, September 9-13, 2024! Organized by Nine in collaboration with Qalibrate, Michael Bolton will present RST Explored and RST Focused: Automation, along with a testing meetup (details to follow). See a video introduction from Nine's Jens Christian Christiansen. Rapid Software more … read more…

Presented by Nine in collaboration with Qalibrate. Michael is presents RST Explored and RST Focused: Automation, plus a meetup. Together with James Bach, Michael Bolton has developed the context-based test method Rapid Software Testing. He is recognized throughout the world for his great knowledge and ability to communicate on the subject of testing software. read more…

A keynote presentation {“Shift Left or Squish Right: Testing in a DevOps Context”} and a half-day workshop on Critical Thinking Skills for Testers for a corporate client's internal testing conference. read more…

RST is a context-driven approach for testing any product that includes or involves software. It's designed to be the fastest, least expensive testing that completely fulfills the mission: exposing risk and finding problems before it's too late. Rapid Software Testing Explored is a three-day class that introduces the methodology. read more…

Do Large Language Models represent the end of testing as we know it? Are testers doomed to extinction? Or is ChatGPT this year's Watson, non-fungible tokens, or Metaverse? Michael Bolton looks at the current state of Large Language Models, and how they relate to testing - and how serious testers need not fear the future. read more…

After a sold-out Rapid Software Testing Explored class in 2023, Hidden Trail is hosting another! Register Here Rapid Software Testing Explored (RSTE) is a three-day live workshop that explores and explains the Rapid Software Testing methodology. Through hands-on activities, exercises, and interactive discussion, we challenge assumptions and expose common misconceptions about testing practices. more … read more…

Michael is the co-creator of Rapid Software Testing (RST), a testing method and mindset that allows for better and more confident testing. In February 2024, Michael is coming to Belgium especially for Axxes! Our Axxes Testing League is constantly looking for ways to take their knowledge to the next level, and came to Michael. And you can enjoy this! On Thursday, February 22, Axxes is hosting a BREWT meet-up where Michael will talk about RST and the issues that are currently on his mind. We will make it an interactive evening, where you can ask questions as well. read more…

A private Rapid Software Testing Explored class, presentations, and consulting in-house for a corporate client in Antwerp, Belgium. read more…

Rapid Software Testing Explored Public Class in the Auckland. Save the dates.  Details to come. Learn powerful new ways to think, to apply heuristic models, and to test responsibly and systematically, so that you focus on business risk and do the right kinds of deep testing that your project needs. Organized by Potentia and Resourcefully in Auckland. read more…

Creating, applying, and maintaining useful automation to support testing can be immensely valuable. It’s also a huge challenge. This one-day class is designed to help you help you meet that challenge, looking through the lenses of the Rapid Software Testing Methodology. This course is suitable for Testers, Developers, Project and Business Leads. read more…

Rapid Software Testing, a context-driven methodology for testing any product that includes or involves software. Through hands-on activities and interactive discussion, we challenge assumptions and expose common misconceptions about software testing. Then we show you powerful new ways to think, to apply heuristic models, and to test responsibly and systematically, so that you focus on business risk and do the right kinds of deep testing that your project needs. read more…

Hidden Trail is hosting an Ask Me Anything (AMA) webinar with Michael Bolton, diving into some deep testing questions. This is your chance to present your burning testing related questions directly to Michael! Sign up here for the AMA Session    December 12th, 4-5pm (EET) Hidden Trail is hosting Rapid more … read more…

Excellent testing is an open investigation by skilled technical people. Excellent test management requires you to center on the people who do testing—their skills, behavior, and relationship to the rest of the development process. This class will help you to be a better test manager. Some approaches to testing require more … read more…

Risk-based testing means organizing test strategy around suspected product risks. This means testers perform risk analysis before tests are performed, to guide the testing process; while performing tests, to notice possible problems and to adjust the strategy; and after the product is released, to learn about risks that were missed more … read more…

Futureproofing Testing, a public talk and meetup sponsored by Nine and Qalibrate Nine, Kongens Nytorv 18, Copenhagen Time: Doors open at 17:00. The first session starts at 17:30   read more…

Rapid Software Testing Explored (RSTE) is a three-day live workshop that explores and explains the Rapid Software Testing methodology. Through hands-on activities, exercises, and interactive discussion, we challenge assumptions and expose common misconceptions about testing practices. Then we show you clear and powerful ways to think about testing that allow you to more … read more…

Training (Rapid Software Testing Explored), presentations, and consulting for a corporate client in Gothenburg, Sweden. read more…

Training (Rapid Software Testing Explored), presentations, and consulting for a corporate client in Christchurch, New Zealand. read more…

Rapid Software Testing Explored (RSTE) is a three-day live workshop that explores and explains the Rapid Software Testing methodology. Through hands-on activities, exercises, and interactive discussion, we challenge assumptions and expose common misconceptions about testing practices. Then we show you clear and powerful ways to think about testing that allow you to more … read more…

A one-day visit to a corporate client in Auckland, New Zealand, to talk about testing and exploration. read more…

Training, presentations, and consulting for a corporate client in Vienna, Austria. read more…

Measurement, Metrics, and Magic Numbers Tutorial at the 2023 EuroSTAR Software Testing Conference. In the tutorial, we’ll learn about reliability and validity in measurement and metrics. We’ll analyze some common testing metrics, and learn how to recognize when they’re dangerous, based on smoke and mirrors. read more…

Critical Thinking Skills for Testers Tutorial at the 2023 EuroSTAR Software Testing Conference. In this interactive, hands-on and minds-on workshop, Michael Bolton shares specific techniques and heuristics of critical thinking that can help testers deal confidently and thoughtfully with difficult testing situations. read more…

Training, presentations, and consulting for a corporate client in Sofia, Bulgaria. read more…

Michel Bolton presents Keynote talk: The Rapid Software Testing Guide to What You Meant to Say at the GreaTEST Quality Conference in Zürich Switzerland. read more…

Michael Bolton will be presenting Rapid Software Testing Focused: Risk and Rapid Software Testing Focused: Strategy  and talking about The Secret Life of Automation at the SIGIST conference in Stockholm. For more information and to Register  Rapid Software Testing Focused: Strategy Countless thousands of people create test cases and perform more … read more…

Michael Bolton presents Rapid Software Testing Focused: RIsk. Risk-based testing means organizing test strategy around suspected product risks. read more…

Training, presentations, and consulting for a corporate client in Gothenburg, Sweden. read more…

Rapid Software Testing Explored (RSTE) is a three-day live workshop that explores and explains the Rapid Software Testing methodology. Through hands-on activities, exercises, and interactive discussion, we challenge assumptions and expose common misconceptions about testing practices. Then we show you clear and powerful ways to think about testing that allow more … read more…

Training, presentations, and consulting for a corporate client in Lund, Sweden. read more…

Training, presentations, and consulting for a corporate client in Gothenburg, Sweden. read more…

A visit to a corporate client for a three-day Rapid Software Testing Explored class, with an extra day of presentations and consulting. read more…

Rapid Software Testing Explored (RSTE) is a four-day online seminar that explores and explains the Rapid Software Testing methodology. Through hands-on activities, exercises, and interactive discussion, we challenge assumptions and expose common misconceptions about testing practices. Then we show you a clear and powerful way to think about testing that more … read more…

Rapid Software Testing Explored (RSTE) is a four-day online seminar that explores and explains the Rapid Software Testing methodology. Through hands-on activities, exercises, and interactive discussion, we challenge assumptions and expose common misconceptions about testing practices. Then we show you a clear and powerful way to think about testing that allows more … read more…

As the opening event for the Global Testing Summit 2022, I'll be participating in a live panel discussion with James Bach and Janna Loeffler.  The topic: "What is Good Testing?" The event, which runs December 6 & 7, is organized by Perfecto Mobile and BlazeMeter.  Our session kicks it off more … read more…

An online presentation for the fourth Agile Week at BNP Paribas Fortis. Thanks to Geert Lemmens and Yves Hanoulle for the invitation. read more…

An special online version of Rapid Software Testing Explored for the members of the QAUA in Canada group, organized by Mikhail Pavlov. I am honoured to be supporting this project to help Ukrainian refugees getting settled in Canada. read more…

An ask-me-anything session with members of the QAUA in Canada group, organized by Mikhail Pavlov.  I'm delighted to be supporting this project. read more…

One-on-one coaching session with a private client. read more…

In the morning, presentations for testers on Testing Deep and Shallow, and for managers on How To Get What You Want from Testing; and in the afternoon, a workshop on risk analysis. read more…

In the morning, a workshop introducing Rapid Software Testing principles; and in the afternoon, a workshop on risk analysis. read more…

“Shift Left or Squish Right—Testing in a Shifting World”—a track talk at the Øredev Developer Conference in Malmö, Sweden. read more…

A day of in-house training on risk analysis. read more…

A course, a mind-set, and a skill set about how to do excellent software testing in a way that is very fast, inexpensive, credible, and accountable. The Rapid Software Testing Explored course is an intensive three-day, hands-on class, in which you do actual testing, working on exercises, puzzles, thought experiments, more … read more…

I presented a three-day Rapid Software Testing Explored class to employees of Quality Tech Lab in Yerevan, Armenia. The Quality Tech Labs folks took some video while I was there. And here's a review of the experience from Aramayis ("Fob") Hovhannisyan, the founder and CEO of the company. read more…

On the occasion of my first-ever visit to Bulgaria, three presentations set up by the South-East Europe Test Conference team.  September 28 was a one-day, pre-conference workshop on Analysis for Testers. The first official day of the conference, September 29, included a half-day tutorial on Critical Thinking for Testers. On more … read more…

A private three-day the three-day Rapid Software Testing Explored class class and a day of consulting for a corporate client. read more…

I gave two presentations of Shift Left or Squish Right: Testing in a DevOps Context at the ElevateDev'22 conference, organized by Genetec. read more…

Rapid Software Testing Explored (RSTE) is a four-day online seminar that explores and explains the Rapid Software Testing methodology. Through hands-on activities, exercises, and interactive discussion, we challenge assumptions and expose common misconceptions about testing practices. Then we show you a clear and powerful way to think about testing that more … read more…

This unique class introduces Rapid Software Testing, which is a context-driven methodology for testing any product that includes or involves software. Through hands-on activities and interactive discussion, we challenge assumptions and expose common misconceptions about software testing. Then we show you powerful new ways to think, to apply heuristic models, and to test responsibly and systematically, so that you focus on business risk and do the right kinds of deep testing that your project needs. read more…

Rapid Software Testing Explored (RSTE) is four-day online seminar that explores and explains the Rapid Software Testing Methodology. Through hands-on activities, exercises, and interactive discussion, we challenge assumptions and expose common misconceptions about testing practices. Then we show you a clear and powerful way to think about testing that allows more … read more…

5 PM CET • 6 PM SAST • 11 AM EST About this Webinar Software testing experts and creators of the Rapid Software Testing methodology, James Bach and Michael Bolton, join Director of Inspired Academy, Bas Dijkstra, as they discuss how to remain relevant as a software tester in a more … read more…

Rapid Software Testing Explored (RSTE) is a four-day online seminar that explores and explains the Rapid Software Testing Methodology. Through hands-on activities, exercises, and interactive discussion, we challenge assumptions and expose common misconceptions about testing practices. Then we show you a clear and powerful way to think about testing that more … read more…

A four-day RSTE class for North American time zones. read more…

Rapid Software Testing Managed Online, for people in Europe, the UK, and points east. read more…

Rapid Software Testing Explored Online, for people in Europe and the UK and places east of there. read more…

"Blitz Consulting" – an ask-me-anything session for the Commited community in Ukraine. read more…

A private session of Rapid Software Testing Explored Online, presented via Zoom for a corporate client in Toronto (but whose testers are far across the sea). read more…

A tutorial on Testing the Test Tools for the EuroSTAR testing conference. I presented set of heuristics for evaluating testing tools, written by James Bach and me. read more…

Rapid Software Testing Explored Online, daytimes for people in North and South America, and in the evenings for people in Europe, the UK, and Middle East. read more…

A private session of Rapid Software Testing Explored Online, presented via Zoom for a corporate client, with participants in New York and the UK. Online training is not the same as in-person classes, but there is the advantage of being able to be in two places at once. read more…

"What Is Good Testing in 2021?", a panel discussion with me, James Bach, and Eran Kinsbruner from Perforce Software, who hosted the webinar. read more…

A private session of Rapid Software Testing Explored Online, presented via Zoom for the same corporate client as for which I taught a class the week of July 26. read more…

Rapid Software Testing Explored Online, for New Zealand, Australia, Asia, and the Pacific. read more…

A private session of Rapid Software Testing Explored Online, presented via Zoom for a corporate client in the Toronto region. read more…

A private session of Rapid Software Testing Explored Online, presented via Zoom for a corporate client in Toronto. read more…

A one-hour session on testers' résumés (or CVs) for a private client, a recruiting firm in the United Kingdom. read more…

A 90-minute "Ask Me Anything" session for a private client in the United Kingdom. read more…

Rapid Software Testing Explored Online, for people in Europe, the UK, the Middle East, and India. read more…

Rapid Software Testing Explored Online, in the daytime for people in North and South America; and in the evenings for people in Europe, the UK, and Middle East. read more…

Commited is a testing community in Ukraine. They hosted an evening session of A Context-Driven Approach to Automation in Testing, for its Pro members. read more…

Rapid Software Testing Explored Online, for people in Europe and the UK, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and India. read more…

For the first time, the EuroSTAR folk presented EuroSTAR Summer Tutorials. I presented a one-day class on test reporting the Rapid Software Testing way, entitled What's the Story? Powerful Test Reporting. read more…

The Craft Conference, is based in Hungary and presented worldwide online. The conference hosted my one-day Rapid Software Testing Focused: Strategy workshop, split into two half-days, Tuesday and Thursday. read more…

The STAREast Virtual Conference continues with X-Ray Vision for Testers, a one-day workshop on analysis. read more…

For the STAREast Virtual Conference, the return of Critical Thinking for Testers, a one-day workshop on... critical thinking for testers. read more…

Rapid Software Testing Explored Online; a public class over Zoom. read more…

A private session of Rapid Software Testing Explored Online for a corporate client. read more…

A sold-out public offering of Rapid Software Testing Explored Online, presented via Zoom teleconferencing for people in North and South America read more…

A double live session—one for Indian time zones, and once for the Americas—for the ConTEST Conference. The topic: "Worlds in Collision", about the differences between the worlds of the tester, the developer, and the testing toolsmith. read more…

A private session of Rapid Software Testing Explored Online for a public-sector client in the UK. read more…

Rapid Software Testing Explored Online, presented via Zoom, for European, UK, and Indian time zones. read more…

An online presentation of the Rapid Software Testing Explored class for a corporate client. Interestingly, all of the participants in this class were developers. read more…

The EuroSTAR 2020 Online conference, at which I presented Answering Hard Questions: A Tester's Communication Clinic on November 17, and a keynote entitled Let's Talk About Problems. read more…

A four-day public Rapid Software Testing Explored online class. read more…

At HUSTEF, The Hungarian Software Testing Forum. I presented a half-day version of my Analysis for Testers class. The was also the premier of a keynote video on What's Wrong with Manual Testing. read more…

The STAR West Conference; unsurprisingly an online event. A full-day Critical Thinking for Testers tutorial, and a full-day session of X-Ray Vision For Testers: How to Analyze Things. read more…

An online presentation of Rapid Software Testing Applied with James Bach leading the class while I helped out. read more…

A one-hour Ask Me Anything session for the QA ATL Conference, organized by AQAA. read more…

Another online Rapid Software Testing Explored, for people in Europe and the UK (and very early risers in North America). read more…

A public presentation of Rapid Software Testing Managed Online! James Bach and I co-presented to a full house live via Zoom teleconferencing. read more…

Rapid Software Testing Applied online, with James Bach leading the class, while I helped out. read more…