Software Testing and the Zola Parable

You hear a scream for help through the woods!

With a friend at your side, you storm to the nearby river to find a child floating helplessly downwards.

Without hesitation you both dive in. Fighting against the current you force your way to the child. Holding tight, you gradually pull the her to the shore.

Before you have time to recover, you hear another cry for help.

Again, without hesitation you both jump in to rescue the second child. Fighting again agains the strong current you reach the child. You’re already getting tired and with great effort you manage to pull her back to the shore. Your friend immediately begins CPR to help the lifeless child.

Just when the child begins to breathe and cough, you see a third struggling child adrift. The two of you can barely keep up at this pace!

Suddenly, when you’re about to jump in, you see your friend turn away and start running.

”Where are you going?!” you demand angrily!

”I’m going upstream to beat up the asshole, who keeps pushing these kids in!” he replies as he dissappears between the bushes.

The story was adapted from a public health parable commonly attributed to Irving Zola. The interesting thing about this story is that it…