“Testers don’t like to break things; they like to dispel the illusion that things work.” – Kaner, Bach, Pettichord
When is World Tester’s Day celebrated?
World Tester’s Day is recognized on the 9th of September every year to mark the discovery of the first-ever bug in 1947.
The story behind World Tester’s Day
It’s been around 76 years since the first bug was found. On September 9, 1947, Grace Hopper, a computer scientist at Harvard University was testing the Mark II Calculator (designed by Howard Aiken), when she found a genuine little moth between the contacts of the electromechanical relay, Hopper removed the squashed bug and taped it to the project’s logbook with the notation: “first actual case of bug being found.” Hopper had carried out the first “debugging” and coined the term that would become synonymous with the identification and elimination of the frustrating glitches that cause computers to malfunction.
At that time, the tests were focused on the hardware because it was not as developed as today and its reliability was essential for the proper functioning of the software.
The term debugging was associated with the application of a patch for a particular bug as a phase within the stage of software development, and that is why the tests that were performed were only of a corrective nature by taking certain measures in order to make the program work and it was in 1949 when Alan Turing wrote his first article about carrying out checks on a program and then in 1950, in the article “Turing test”, he explains the situation of how a software must adapt to the requirements of a project and the behavior of a machine or a reference system must be indistinguishable.
However, according to the Yale Book of Quotations, the American inventor Thomas Alva Edison used the term ‘bug’ in a letter to Theodore Puskas in 1878 to describe a flaw in a system.
According to other sources the term bug was commonly used to describe faults in the system during Edison’s time and according to some reports this wasn’t even the first ever computer bug – “It was reported as the first bug in jest, as it was an insect. The term bug had been used as a label for problems in computers and other electrical systems for a long time before this. Grace Hopper did not find the bug. Bill Burke found the bug. Grace Hopper was the team lead and often told the story of its discovery.”
Though people have different assumptions for this day, it is important to visualize how the software testing stage has evolved and emerged from its absence to its continuous presence throughout the life cycle. Nowadays that has grown to a pretty big profession. Now there are Test Analysts, Test Engineers, Quality Analysts, Integration Test Engineers, Software Testers, Systems Integration Testers, Quality Assurance Analysts, Technical Test Specialist and so on. The interesting fact is that all these designations have risen from a single BUG.
Surely, every day is a Tester’s Day, however, it’s acceptable to have an exceptional day that makes testers around the globe share and team up and feel proud to be one. Congratulations to all the Software Testers around the world who test, who battle with different bugs and errors, know where the bugs are from and this definitely is not an easy job and every one of you deserves this day and should be proud of what you do.
Happy Tester’s Day to all! World Tester’s Day
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FAQs on World Testers Day
World Testers Day, also known as International Testers Day, is a global observance dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the contributions of software testers and QA professionals. It falls on the 9th of September each year.
World Testers Day celebrates the pivotal role that testers play in ensuring the quality, reliability, and functionality of software applications. It highlights their dedication to improving user experiences and preventing software issues.
No, World Tester’s Day is also known as International Tester’s Day, and it falls on 9th of September every year.
You can participate in World Testers Day by acknowledging and appreciating the testers in your organization or community. Consider sharing their stories, hosting webinars, or organizing events that highlight the importance of software testing.
No, World Testers Day is not limited to the IT industry. It is for anyone who recognizes the significance of software testing and quality assurance in ensuring the reliability and security of digital technologies.
Yes, you can use hashtags like #TestersDay, #WorldTestersDay, and #InternationalTestersDay to join the global conversation and share your appreciation for testers on social media platforms. You can also tag “Trending in Testing” on your social media posts and we’ll be happy to share it further with our audience.
While there are no specific themes, common activities include seminars, webinars, workshops, and social media campaigns that highlight the achievements and challenges faced by testers in the industry.
Software testing is crucial as it ensures that applications function correctly, are user-friendly, and secure. In the rapidly evolving tech landscape, testing helps maintain a high standard of software quality, boosting user satisfaction and trust.
Emerging trends in software testing include the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning for test automation, the adoption of DevOps practices, and the integration of testing into the CI/CD pipeline for faster feedback and release cycles.
