When I talk about doing checking skillfully, I’m talking about not only the checks themselves (which are, as you point out, non-sapient), but also about the activities that surround the check.

I answer your questions by identifying the elements of checking at http://www.developsense.com/2009/09/elements-of-testing-and-checking.html.

Some cost-vs.-value issues are addressed at http://www.developsense.com/2009/09/tests-vs-checks-motive-for.html.

I look at some of the questions associated with skill at http://www.developsense.com/2009/11/merely-checking-or-merely-testing.html.

—Michael B.

Can you explain the meaning of doing checking skillfully?. As I understanding checking is a non sapient observation, confirmatory and a perfect candidate for automation.

If we split the tasks of designing a check and performing a check – skill part becomes necessary for design not (so much, if you will) for performing the check.

Taking the difference between test and check further – I think testing world will be better place if people start making this distinction. Also it will bring most of myths associated with “automation” to foreground.

Shrini