Software testing vs Programing?

Question

Which is the quickest route to the top provided you have sound knowledge of programing lang?

Answer 1

In a large organization, testing is a faster road to 1st, 2nd, and Director level management. That's becase good test engineers and managers are vital to getting the product out on time, with confidence, and without spending next years budget.

There are all kinds of software testers:

Unit test: You might end up writing API harness' and entire component validation test subsystems. Note this is programming intensive but, unlike primary feature development, also requires knowledge of test methodology in unit test as well as a system-wide technical perspective.

Feature test (black box/devtest): You might be writing automation scripts, helping to build or extend the automation system. You will be as intimately familiar with feature specs as the developer who implements them. You will know how to quantify test coverage and tie it to requirement specifications.

System test (Reliability, Performance, Stress, Interoperability, Scale, etc). You will know how customers use your products together and with third party solutions to solve real-world problems. You wil have a good sense of the markets your company is addressing; you will be tight friends with the technical Marketing team. You will excell at the application of test methodology to complex test scenarios to obtain quantifiable coverage and product-release readiness decisions. Your opinion will be sought.

I've seen test people zip up the management chain at several large corporations faster than the development chain. And remember, this doesn't have to be an either-or proposition. The most valuable team members have done both.

Answer 2

I would vote for Programming. Software testing does not cover all knowledge of individual programming language, only programming does.

But I don't agree with "usually programmers test their software themselves cus they have the best understanding of what it does and how it works." Cuz programmers understand their program too much and it is very easy to create blind spot.

Answer 3

Programming most definately. The reason i say this is because part (A vital part) of programming is software testing as i am sure you are aware. If you mean money wise... programming ;)

Answer 4

Err... not to sure what you mean.
Programming is better than just testing software, usually programmers test their software themselves cus they have the best understanding of what it does and how it works. Learn C++ its teh best, lol.