Blog Post: How lack of testing can ruin lives

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diff --git a/content/blog/2023/the-hidden-cost-of-ignoring-browser-compatibility.md b/content/blog/2023/the-hidden-cost-of-ignoring-browser-compatibility.md
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+---
+title: "The Hidden Cost of Ignoring Browser Compatibility: Why Websites are Losing Business"
+publishDate: 2023-12-14
+---
+
+In the fast-paced digital era, a website is often the first point of contact between a business and its potential customers. However, many businesses are unknowingly losing valuable opportunities by neglecting a critical aspect of web development – testing their sites across different browsers. In this blog post, we will explore the repercussions of overlooking browser compatibility and how it can lead to a significant loss in business.
+
+# The Importance of Browser Compatibility:
+
+A recent study by StatCounter revealed that the global browser market is diverse, with Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge among the leading players. Ignoring the fact that users access websites through various browsers can result in a poor user experience for a significant portion of your audience. This oversight can lead to frustrated visitors, increased bounce rates, and, ultimately, lost business opportunities.
+
+## Diversity of screens
+
+With the proliferation of smartphones and tablets, users access websites from an array of devices and browsers. Failure to optimize a site for different screen sizes and browser types can result in a subpar user experience. [Google emphasizes mobile-first indexing](https://developers.google.com/search/mobile-sites/mobile-first-indexing), making it crucial for businesses to ensure their websites are responsive and function seamlessly across various browsers and devices.
+
+## Lost Conversions and Revenue
+
+When users encounter issues with a website in their preferred browser, they are likely to abandon it in search of a competitor with a more seamless user experience. Excluding 1 browser could mean that percentage of potential users not caring. StatsCounter gives you and indication of world trends but it is better to track it yourself on your own analytics. As we seen people move away from Chromium based browsers due to privacy changes that the chromium team are making, and the obvious Google “oops” trying to bring them back… it means there are going to be fewer people.
+
+## Reputation Damage:
+
+A poorly performing website can tarnish a brand's reputation. Users may associate a subpar online experience with the overall quality of a business, leading to negative reviews and word-of-mouth publicity. In the era of social media, a single disgruntled customer can share their experience with a vast audience, amplifying the damage to a company's image.
+
+# How easy is it to test in multiple browsers?
+
+With decent tooling, it’s just a simple case of mentioning the browser that you want on the CLI either through explicitly naming the browser or naming the environment that contains the browser. With the creation of [Selenium Manager](https://www.theautomatedtester.co.uk/blog/2023/selenium-mananger/) you don’t even need to have the browsers installed (unless you need Microsoft Edge but hopefully soon).
+
+You can get similar support with things like [pytest-selenium](https://pytest-selenium.readthedocs.io/en/latest/) and equivalents in other languages.
+
+Selenium based tools also work well with mobile browsers so that you can test your applications. Some tooling even sets up emulators for you!
+My team has built this and made it super simple with NightwatchJS
+
+{{< youtube nd1lhW4lRN0 >}}
+
+The lack of attention to browser compatibility can have far-reaching consequences for companies. From frustrated users and lost conversions to diminished search engine rankings and damaged reputation, the costs of ignoring this critical aspect of web development are significant. Cross browser testing is much easier today than it was years ago.
diff --git a/content/blog/2024/how-lack-of-testing-can-ruin-lives.md b/content/blog/2024/how-lack-of-testing-can-ruin-lives.md
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+---
+title: "How lack of testing can ruin lives - The technology problems behind the Post Office Scandal"
+publishDate: 2024-01-09
+---
+Software testing is a critical phase in the development lifecycle that ensures the reliability and functionality of a program. However, recent scandals involving the Post Office and Fujitsu have shed light on the serious problems that can arise when testing is not conducted rigorously or ethically. In this blog post, we will delve into the issues surrounding the software testing practices in the Post Office and Fujitsu scandal, and the broader implications for the software development industry.
+
+## The Post Office and Fujitsu Scandal
+
+The scandal involving the Post Office and Fujitsu revolves around the Horizon IT system, which was introduced in 1999 to manage financial transactions across thousands of post offices in the United Kingdom. The system, developed by Fujitsu, was intended to streamline operations and enhance efficiency. However, over the years, numerous postmasters were accused of financial discrepancies and even faced legal actions, leading to ruined reputations and financial ruin for over 800 people.
+
+It was later revealed that software glitches within the Horizon system were responsible for the inaccuracies in financial records. Shockingly, despite the evidence of software errors, the Post Office and Fujitsu continued to deny any wrongdoing for years. This highlights a significant problem in the software testing process – the lack of transparency and accountability.
+
+Since a lot of this story happened over 2 decades we have to think about how testing, and even continuous integration was just a new space when the HorizonIT software was initially being built.  Computer Weekly was the original group to publish the [story](https://www.computerweekly.com/news/366538096/Post-Office-scandal-cover-up-a-dark-chapter-in-government-corporate-and-legal-history).
+
+## Implications for the Software Development Industry
+
+The Post Office and Fujitsu scandal serve as a wake-up call for the software development industry. It emphasizes the importance of rigorous and independent testing to ensure the integrity of software systems. It’s really simple yet people still struggle with this. Do the following:
+
+- Set up testing from the start. Ideally this should be done with TDD since if you have never seen the test fail, how can you truly trust it.
+- Follow the testing pyramid as much as possible and remember quality is everyones job
+- Set up continuous integration systems
+- Setup telemetry systems. [OpenTelemetry](https://opentelemetry.io/) is a good choice here, and you can even get [Selenium Server to use it](https://www.selenium.dev/blog/2021/selenium-4-observability/).
+
+The Post Office and Fujitsu scandal serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of inadequate software testing. It highlights the need for a fundamental shift in the industry's approach to testing – one that prioritizes independence, transparency, and comprehensive evaluation. By learning from these mistakes and implementing robust testing practices, the software development industry can regain trust and ensure the delivery of reliable and secure software solutions.
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