Agile Cambridge 2010 – has attracted leading author and software testing guru Dr. James A.Whittaker (Google Inc.) as its first keynote speaker.

Dr. Whittaker is currently the Engineering Director over engineering tools and testing for Google’s Seattle and Kirkland offices. He holds a PhD in computer science from the University of Tennessee and is the author or coauthor of four acclaimed textbooks. How to Break Software, How to Break Software Security (with Hugh Thompson) and How to Break Web Software (with Mike Andrews). His latest is Exploratory Software Testing: Tips, Tricks, Tours and Techniques to Guide Test Design

Dr. Whittaker’s keynote Test Engineering at Google described how Google releases software many times every day while maintaining the highest standards of software quality. Dr.Whittaker will talk about test methodology, tools and innovation surrounding the discipline of quality assurance at Google where testers are far outnumbered by developers. Specifically he will present how the webapp-chrome-chromium stack is tested to ensure that Google apps work well on Chrome browser and Chromium operating system. During the talk he presents how Google treats testing activity much like a hospital triages emergency room patients and how game playing metaphors have inspired the development of next generation test automation tools.

Booking for the event is now open with a discounted booking period running to 31st August. Visit http://www.agilecambridge.net/ac2010/ for more information.

I’m very pleased with the final Agile Cambridge 2010 program. We received 42 speaking proposals, a very good number considering that is a first-time event. The quality of the session proposals was also excellent, and any of them could have made it into the final cut. For our other conferences there are usually some poorly thought-out proposals, so this was a refreshing change.

Keynote speakers for AC2010 are James Whittaker (Google) and Rachel Davies (Agile Experience). James is the author of several well-known books on software testing and Rachel is the author of the recently-released Agile Coaching book. James is making the trip from the US West Coast to be at the event.

The main programme consists of around 20 sessions covering topics across the software life cycle. The focus of the event is on sharing practical experiences of agile software development and this is reflected in the speaker line-up, most of whom have been applying agile principles in industry for many years, and in the conference format, which emphasizes hands-on learning and interactive discussion.

An early-bird booking period runs until 31st August. Visit the Agile Cambridge 2010 website for more information.

Thanks to Red Gate Software, InfoQ.com and Skillsmatter for supporting the event.