Zhimin Zhan
Bio
Test automation & CT coach, author, speaker and award-winning software developer.
A top writer on Test Automation, with 150+ articles featured in leading software testing newsletters.
Stories (99)
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One Simple Test Automation Scenario Interview Question that Most Candidates Failed
This article is the most liked and popular article on my Medium blog, and one of the “IT Job Interview” series. During the interview for an automated tester role, after the four screening questions, I usually ask one scenario question (otherwise, too short, not respecting candidates). Personally, I don’t like long, brain-teasers or tricky questions. So, this only test automation knowledge question must be related to real work.
By Zhimin Zhan2 years ago in 01
While I don't do Free Test Automation Coaching, Motivated Testers Can Still Get Nearly-Free Help if They Are Really Serious About Test Automation, Part 1
This is an abridged version of my article on Medium (2023-06-26) Consulting or coaching services, as a business, of course, clients should not expect to get help for free. Yes, that is common sense. I have been receiving free coaching/mentoring requests since 2009, from my book readers, conference audience, former colleagues, former mentees, blog readers, and even LinkedIn contacts (i.e., can be total strangers).
By Zhimin Zhan2 years ago in 01
A Story of Fake Agile Expert Selling "Release Early, Release Often"
This is excerpt from the original article "Release Early, Release Often Clarified" on my Medium blog, 2022-10-20. Most IT professionals have heard IT executives talking about “Release Early; Release Often” a lot, typically in company's so-called town hall meetings. However, for most software companies, this phrase has become an ideal slogan, which is meaningless in everyday life. Therefore, it's unsurprising that impostors will discover ways to deceive IT executives. This article shares one faker that I personally witnessed.
By Zhimin Zhan2 years ago in 01
I Just Had a 2.5-month Vacation, Feeling Truly Free for the First Time.
This is an abridged version of my article on Medium I started working as a contractor Software Engineer in 2000. As the only income earner, with two young children and no parent/relatives around, financial stress has been there (paying for my son’s treatment consumed a large percentage of our savings, and this lasted a few years).
By Zhimin Zhan2 years ago in Motivation
Why I Don’t Use Selenium-Grid?
The abridged version of my article on Medium (2023-09-14) I am a big fan of Selenium WebDriver. I have been practising/coaching web test automation using raw Selenium WebDriver since 2011 (yes, when it was first released). Also, I published six books on Selenium, including “Practical Web Test Automation with Selenium WebDriver” and the Selenium WebDriver Recipes series.
By Zhimin Zhan2 years ago in 01
E2E Test Automation Learners’ Common Mistake in Coaching: Too Keen on Completing Work Test Cases
The original article was published on Medium, 2023-09-08 Yesterday, I had a 30-minute Test Automation Coaching session (for $1, limited to one per month, once per user) with one motivated automated tester, from Africa. It is my first time talking to an African automated tester, via Zoom. (I had one thank-you message from an Ethiopia tester, for creating TestWise IDE and making it freely useable.)
By Zhimin Zhan2 years ago in 01
