As organizers of the Pacific Northwest Software Quality Conference, we love that the usual yearly event brings so many like-minded people together to discuss software quality.
We see PNSQC as a chance to reconnect with old friends, meet new ones, learn about new ideas, and to provide answers to problems you may be struggling with. The conference is also a time to meet with your support network and get recharged for the daily challenges of work.
With social distancing and new challenges of daily life, we realize that the PNSQC community is more important than ever. And, though it looks like it will be some time before we can meet again in large groups in person, that doesn’t mean we have lost the ability to connect in other ways.
We hope that we can be here to support you and your work. Here are some ideas to connect with others in this community, so that everyone can thrive.
Support One Another
We started a Meetup group for people interested in software quality to have virtual events. We post webinars and information sessions there and have a few new online events in the works. We also have a LinkedIn Discussion Group and a Twitter presence, if you want to share ideas. These online platforms are where you can:
- Feel appreciated, through your contributions.
- Connect with other, like-minded people and talk about software and more.
- Receive and offer mentorship and camaraderie from peers and leaders in the industry.
- Vent your frustrations.
- And help out others who are having a bad day.
Share Ideas
The PNSQC Archives are a vital resource for new and experienced quality professionals. From technical papers to conference presentations to webinars, there are 37 years of information to help you improve software quality.
The PNSQC 2020 Board
Additionally, the PNSQC online community encourages you to:
- Test your theories and run them by your peers.
- Get advice and give advice, based on your collective experience.
- Learn new tips for solving problems.
- Make strides at work by implementing things you’ve learned.
Stay Motivated
This goes hand-in-hand with utilizing the community as a support system. Whether you’re the lone QA person on a team or one of many quality-oriented people at your company, there’s bound to be something you want to know more about. PNSQC has covered every possible quality-related topic, and there’s plenty to learn from.
- Accessibility: We’re taking this from an afterthought to the forefront of software builds.
- AI and Machine Learning: Leaders in this field have keynoted on this at PNSQC in recent years, tackling the rise of the machines and what it means for the future of testing.
- Automation: Beyond saving time, this makes you consider how you test and why.
- Internet of Things: These are supposed to make your life easier, but there’s a steep learning curve to these mobile- and app-driven hardware devices.
- People and Management: Become a better boss, work better on a team, and gain skills that will advance your career.
- Performance and Security: Don’t make the news for your company’s failures. Be prepared, and learn how to do it right.
- Processes, Practices, and Methods: From Scrum to Agile to Devops, different shops have different ways of doing things. Learn the differences, contrast, and compare, and see which is right for you and your workplace.
- Quality Engineering: See how leaders are making the best product from start to finish, in the most thoughtful way possible.
Reach Out
Get involved and join the PNSQC Community. We want to hear from you, and others do too.
- Connect with the PNSQC community on social media (Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook).
- Contact the PNSQC board if you are in a group that discusses testing, software quality, agile, and more.
- Volunteer to review a paper for 2020.
- Offer to help with organizing a webinar or other online activity.
If you’re having an issue, bring it to the community. If you have an answer, share it. If you’ve been brainstorming an idea and want feedback, ask for it.
Though we’re physically separated by distance, we’re digitally closer than ever. Stay connected, stay informed, and make some new friends along the way.
