2023 Last Minute Gifts For Software Testers

Finally getting round to Christmas shopping? Realising you haven’t got time to order something and get it delivered in time for the big day? No probs!

Here are a few ideas for thoughtful techy gifts that can be bought and shared instantly – no p&p or next day delivery charge in sight whoop! 🎁

Here are my top, and 100% unsponsored, tips:-

Books

There have been several stellar software testing books released this year. Available digitally (hello last minute.com) or in good old fashioned paper form.

• Ai Assisted Testing, MEAP, early release – Mark Winteringham (Dec ‘23).
  Mark’s latest release, a follow up to his excellent book Testing Web APIs (2022) – this hot-off-the press e-book focusses on practical ways to integrate and use AI as a tool to support effective testing. Disclaimer – I have reviewed this book, and can testify its a great read!
• Software Testing Strategies: A Testing Guide for the 2020s , Pakt, Matt Heusser, Michael Larson (Dec ’23). Looking forward to reading this book. Matt and Michael are very experienced folks with their fingers on the pulse of what is going on in testing and this is sure to be a knowledge-filled and insightful guide.
• Performance Testing Handbook, Leanpub, Mohamed Tarek (May ’23) – Mohamed is a friend of mine, and I was delighted to write the forward to this book. A really great practical guide to performance testing in your organisation.
• Finding your Mojovation, Leanpub, Neil Studd (May ’23) – Another book that was one of many who helped review. Neil brings his journalistic fluent writing and research style to bear on this book. Finding your mojovation has lots of incredibly relatable real-world insights from a software tester who has worked in the industry for many years.

Memberships

Often, us testers aren’t fortunate enough to work for an organisation with a huge personal training budget. So we miss out on anything that requires a subscription or paywall, which can make finding decent content a bit more tricky. Want to help?

• Buy a monthly/annual Ministry Of Testing Pro Subscription – MoT membership comes with access to so much stuff (discounted conference entry/free workshops/talks/articles etc. etc.) testers are sure to thank you for this gift that keeps on giving!
• Pluralsight monthly/annual learning platform subscription
• Udemy monthly/annual learning platform subscription

Other bits

Of course, most testers just want regular nice things as presents. But if you want to get something more generic, or even give them the choice of something to get that’s still thoughtful, maybe a voucher could do the trick?

• Home Office Stuff – stuff to make that home environment a bit nicer – think plants, posh stationary, maybe a small whiteboard or a cool picture. Designworks do some great bits.
• Gift Card – did you know you can get a Ministry of Testing Merch gift card? Now you do! Lots of cool SWAG on there including Testsphere cards, would Heu-Risk-it and all the hoodies and caps a tester could wish for.
• Postman Store / Red Bubble also have some fun themed t-shirts, hoodies and the like

Please note – I am not sponsored by any of these people or companies, they are just genuinely things I think are good.

Hope it helps put a smile on the face of a QA who deserves it. Feel free to add a comment to post your top prezzie tips.

Happy holidays.