Testtalks | Automation Awesomeness | Helping You Succeed With Test Automation

In this episode, host Joe Colantonio sits down with Mark Creamer, President and CEO at Conformiq, to delve into the fascinating world of AI in test automation.  See how Conformiq can transform your testing process by requesting a free demo now at https://testguild.me/aidemo They explore how Gen AI and Symbolic AI are revolutionizing the generation and optimization of test cases, making testing processes more efficient and collaborative. Mark shares his two-decade journey in utilizing AI technologies such as natural language processing and vision recognition systems, highlighting the distinctions between older and newer AI methods. The conversation underscores how Gen AI's accessibility and user-friendliness are transforming testing. At the same time, Symbolic AI continues to provide deterministic and predictable test case generation, which is particularly valuable in regulated environments. Tune in to hear Mark's insightful perspectives on enhancing test automation through AI, leveraging system-level models f

Today, we're diving deep into the complexities of ETL testing with our esteemed guests, Chris Thompson and Mike Calabrese from RTTS. Register now for webinar on how AI helps ETL testing: testguild.me/aietl With over two decades of combined experience in data QA and automated testing, Chris and Mike will guide us through the intricacies of an actual data warehouse project plan. They uncover the challenges in data mappings, explore different transformation types, and discuss the critical role of a comprehensive mapping document. Chris and Mike also highlight the importance of rigorous data testing to prevent costly errors and ensure accurate decision-making. Join us as we explore the critical aspects of ETL testing and data project planning and gain invaluable insights from two industry veterans who have seen it all. This is a must-listen episode for anyone involved in data testing and looking to optimize their data transformation processes. I also recommend you check out our upcoming Webinar with RTTS on AI in

Today, we're delving into the exciting potential of generative AI in software testing with Mark Winteringham. Mark, an esteemed author and expert in the field, has penned his latest work, 'Software Testing with Generative AI,' which holds the promise of transforming our approach to testing and automation. In this episode, Mark takes us behind the scenes of writing his new book and discusses the challenges of researching a rapidly evolving field. He shares the importance of context, mindset, and technique when leveraging generative AI and provides practical, actionable insights on how to integrate AI into your testing processes effectively. We'll explore how AI agents and prompt engineering can enhance exploratory testing, discuss AI's role in UI automation, and delve into customizing large language models to fit specific business needs. Mark also emphasizes avoiding common pitfalls, like overreliance on AI and misunderstanding its capabilities. Whether you're a seasoned tester or new to the world of automatio

Celebrate freedom in automation with a 6-month free trial of ZAPTEST—your pathway to unleashing limitless potential in software testing. Try it now at testguild.me/zaptrial Today, we have a very special guest who embodies perseverance, innovation, and the American Dream. Alex "ZAP" Chernyak, the visionary founder of ZAPTEST, is joining us. In this episode, Alex dives deep into his incredible journey from growing up in Siberia to serving in the Israeli Defense Forces and ultimately making his dream come true in the United States. He shares invaluable insights on leadership, the importance of professional ethics, and the relentless pursuit of excellence — all essential for anyone in the automation field. We'll explore his work in test automation, including the creation of advanced algorithms and the unique offerings of ZAPTEST, such as their six-month free enterprise version and groundbreaking ability to automate any UI, even from hand-drawn pictures. P Plus, hear about his commitment to fostering a global team

In this episode, we dive into a major shift in the automation testing world: Playwright has surpassed Cypress in weekly downloads, marking a significant milestone in its journey. We delve into what this means for testers, offering insights into why Playwright is gaining such rapid popularity and how it compares to Cypress. We also shine a spotlight on the crucial role of the community, including a notable LinkedIn post by Filip Hric and comments from Diego Molina, which put this achievement into context with Selenium's continued dominance. You'll discover why now is the perfect time to supercharge your web automation skills with Playwright and get a glimpse of our new course, "Automation with Playwright: Mastering Web Automation with AI." This episode also delves into the broader implications of Playwright's rise, including potential challenges and opportunities for the testing community. Listen to the end for a sneak peek at the course content and find out how to stay ahead in the ever-evolving field of web

In this episode, Paul Grizzaffi, a senior principal automation architect at Nerdery, discusses his role and how he guides teams to effectively promote test automation and quality. We'll explore the importance of aligning testing and automation with each client's unique business goals and how Paul identifies and addresses their pain points. Paul also shares valuable insights into avoiding common pitfalls, such as excessive tests and data dependency, and the significance of treating automation projects like software projects through continual and periodic evaluations. We touch on the current state of AI in testing, its potential applications, and the critical need for human oversight. Discover how to help your teams make informed decisions about automation tools, evaluate opportunity costs, and stress the importance of quality over quantity in testing, all of which are directly relevant to your work in software development and automation.

Welcome to episode 500 of the TestGuild Automation Podcast! Today, we're diving deep into contract testing with our expert speakers, Marie Cruz and Lewis Prescott. Listen in to discover the challenges and innovative solutions for introducing contract testing for public and third-party APIs, where control is often limited. Marie and Lewis share their insights on the provider-driven and bidirectional contract testing approaches, emphasizing the importance of human communication between teams alongside automated tests. We also take a sneak peek into their book, "Contract Testing in Action," packed with practical guidance and now available with a special 40% discount until August 24th. Whether you're dealing with web, mobile, GraphQL, or event-driven services, this episode covers implementing contract testing across different types, integrating it into your CI pipeline, and the strategic shift from traditional integration tests to contract tests for early and reliable feedback. Join us as we uncover the intricaci

Welcome to the TestGuild Automation Podcast! In this episode, our host, Joe Colantonio, engages in a fascinating conversation with Benjamin Bischoff, an experienced software developer and test automation engineer.   Benjamin illuminates his preference for Karate UI testing and the evolution of his Selenium-based framework, emphasizing the need to use the right tool for the job. From JUnit 5 to Selenium BiDi, Benjamin provides valuable lessons on upgrading frameworks to enhance performance and efficiency. The discussion also touches on critical evaluation of tools, the fallacy of the one-size-fits-all approach, and the significance of continuous learning in automation endeavors. Importantly, Benjamin shares practical and actionable tips on maintaining a sustainable test framework and leveraging existing knowledge for successful rewrites.

In this episode, your host, Joe Colantonio, speaks with Robin Gupta to explore the crucial balance between automation and quality in test practices. Join us as we discuss the importance of meaningful conversations and detailed assessments before deciding on automation tools like Selenium, Playwright, or Cypress. We'll also delve into the basics of Selenium, the challenges for beginners, and the benefits of open-source versus vendor solutions. Robin also shares his knowledge of advanced techniques, including shadow DOM and the nuanced debate over page objects. We'll explore why essential open-source solutions can save you from reinventing the wheel and how to scale and distribute tests effectively. You'll also hear about Robin's new book on Selenium WebDriver for test automation, designed to be an approachable guide for beginners.   Don't miss out on key tips such as the "crawl, walk, run, fly" approach and continuous improvement strategies.

Today, we delve into the nuanced art of hiring software testers in an era where remote work challenges traditional recruitment norms. We'll explore Paul's insights on the crucial skills for testers, the evolving landscape of automation in testing, and the critical importance of honesty and skill demonstration in hiring practices.   Paul will also share some thought-provoking experiences and challenges in verifying candidates' identities and capabilities in virtual environments. Whether you are looking to hire or aiming to position yourself as an invaluable testing professional, this episode is packed with valuable advice and anecdotes from the front lines of software testing recruitment.  Don't miss out on these expert tips to elevate your hiring strategy or advance your testing career.

In today's episode, we're thrilled to have Tobias Müller, a software development veteran and an expert in autonomous software testing. With over a decade of experience in the field, Tobias brings a wealth of knowledge, especially from his work with TestResults IO, where he delves into the AI-driven aspects of testing. Join us as Tobias debunks common myths surrounding autonomous software testing. He clarifies the often misunderstood differences between automated and autonomous testing and expresses a healthy skepticism about the current capabilities of fully autonomous tools. Despite the challenges, Tobias sees a promising future where autonomous testing could significantly ease the testing process by harnessing vast data pools and sophisticated learning models. We delve into the dynamic nature of the testing landscape. We advocate for a synergy between human proficiency and AI to enhance testing efficiency without completely replacing the human element. We delve into the potential and limitations of AI in te

Today, Dan Belcher, co-founder of Mabl and a former product manager for monitoring and logging at Google, joins us as we explore the cutting-edge intersection of AI and mobile test automation. We'll delve into the growing trend of AI testing in business and discuss the critical switch from deterministic to non-deterministic testing protocols when dealing with AI language models. Get ready for an exciting announcement as Dan unveils the launch of Mabl for mobile. This groundbreaking tool will empower practitioners to validate their iOS and Android apps with unprecedented efficacy, revolutionizing how we approach mobile testing. Plus, we'll tackle the pressing questions about the shift from custom frameworks to vendor-based solutions, the increasing need for testing from the user's perspective, and the potential roles AI could play in optimizing the end-user experience. So, charge up your headphones and prepare for a deep dive into how AI's ability to understand context reshapes test automation. To see AI with

Welcome to the TestGuild Automation Podcast! I'm your host, Joe Colantonio, and Jon Robinson, chief storyteller at Nekst IT, ready to delve deep into the automation testing world. In today's episode, "The Four Phases of Automation Testing Mastery," we'll debunk the myth that automation is a cure-all solution and explore the intricacies and careful planning needed to succeed in test automation. Join us as we discuss practical strategic approaches including the 4-phase model—Discovery, Design, Develop, Deliver—and the importance of a maturity model to ensure your automation aligns with CI/CD integration. We'll highlight how automation serves as the backbone for regression testing, providing substantial long-term benefits and how pushing it later in the development process can minimize rework and costs. We'll tackle the challenges of test management in an agile world, and Jon will share his insights on the importance of storytelling in QA and how it can revolutionize how we test and communicate the value of our

In today's episode, we are excited to feature the incredible insights of Bas Dijkstra, an independent test automation consultant and trainer with a wealth of experience spanning 17 years in the field. Bas joins us to share his journey in developing restassured.net, a much-needed library for HTTP API testing in C#, inspired by his fondness for RestAssured and its absence in the C# arena. We'll explore not just Bas's innovations but his comprehensive take on the evolution of API testing, spotlighting the persistent issue of superficial testing due to various industry pressures and the triumphs of more accessible tooling. We'll explore why Bas favors code-based solutions like RestAssured.Net for scaling and integration over tools like Postman regarding API testing. Furthermore, Bas will shed light on the rising interest in Playwright – a modern automation tool he believes overcomes many of the limitations of Selenium through features like auto-waiting and synchronization. We'll delve into the importance of conte

Today, we're diving into the future of user story optimization and the art of turning those stories into actionable tests. Today, we have the privilege of being joined by Scott Aziz, the visionary founder of AgileAI Labs and a renowned BDD expert. We are also accompanied by John Smart, the creator of the Serenity framework, whose expertise in BDD is unparalleled. Together, we will delve into the powerful capabilities of the new AI tool Spec2test. Imagine a tool so refined that it not only assesses your user stories for ambiguities using an intricate 7-point framework but also offers AI-generated suggestions to enhance them. That's not all; Scott Aziz and BDD expert John Smart join us to discuss how Spec2test fosters essential iterative collaboration, paving the way for crisp, clear requirements and generating corresponding test cases right from the get-go. This is not just about meeting the standards of behavior-driven development; it's about exceeding them. With the tool's dual-edged sword of user story anal

I'm thrilled to have two titans in software testing, Matt Heusser and Michael Larsen, with us today. These veterans, with their wealth of experience and knowledge, are here to discuss their latest contribution to the testing community, their new book, "Software Testing Strategies." In today's episode, we will unpack the inspiration behind "Software Testing Strategies," exploring the trio of testing essentials: skills, strategy, and the nuances of day-to-day operations, including the politics that intertwine with the testing process. The authors will discuss their approach to addressing the complexities of software testing, finding the most effective tests among endless possibilities, and how their book aims to guide you through these challenges. Matt and Michael will also share critical insights into organizational dynamics, the value of adaptability in the testing realm, and the ethical considerations professionals face in their careers. Plus, we'll touch on the difficult journey of updating outdated systems

Today's special episode, "Robocon Recapp," is about the insights and highlights from Robocon 2024. We are privileged to have Tatu Aalto, a renowned maintainer of the browser library; Frank Van der Kuur, a distinguished Robot Framework trainer from BQA; and Mark Moberts, a well-known figure in the Robot Framework community, with us. In this episode, our guests will explore the enriching experiences of the conference—from the unveiling of the Market Square to the engaging sessions that sparked valuable discussions. We will explore the myriad contributions beyond programming, including documentation, testing, and being an active voice in the community through forums like the RobotFramework Slack channel. Throughout the Robocon, the spirit of collaboration and knowledge exchange was not just evident. Still, it was the driving force - whether it was addressing pitfalls in the framework, swapping tips on finding the right testing library, or even discussing Frank's and Tatu's interactive sessions that went beyond e

Today, we're diving deep into the world of automation testing, with a special focus on Netflix's innovative tool, SafeTest. Joining us is Moshe Kolodny, the senior full-stack engineer at Netflix who is behind this exciting new tool, which is bridging the gap between end-to-end and unit testing. SafeTest, a tool that's been making significant strides in the industry, has garnered widespread community support and impressive traction in a remarkably short time. As we delve into its capabilities, we'll discover how SafeTest seamlessly integrates with popular libraries like Playwright and Jest, offering robust testing capabilities without imposing intrusive dependencies. Moshe will delve into the philosophy behind SafeTest, underlining the importance of practical, iterative test writing and the pitfalls of over-engineering. We'll explore SafeTest's adaptability, which ensures test consistency across environments with Docker mode, and the bidirectional communication it enables between browser and Node.js, enhancing

In this episode, we're diving deep into the world of performance engineering with our esteemed guest, Dylan van Iersel, an experienced IT consultant and co-founder of Perfana. We'll explore the intricate relationship between software performance and business outcomes and how tools like Perfana can democratize and simplify the process of performance testing. Performance is more than just a technical concern; it has direct implications for customer satisfaction and the bottom line. Dylan illuminates the importance of integrating performance testing within the CI/CD pipeline, using Perfana to serve as a quality gate and provide actionable insights through automated analysis and dashboard visualizations. We'll also discuss the evolution of performance engineering in a cloud-native, containerized landscape, the challenges of scaling performance testing across agile teams, and why the "shift left" approach in identifying issues early is crucial for today's development processes. For teams looking to embrace perform

In this episode, Dave Piacente, a senior community manager in developer relations and community expert at Applitools, joins us to talk about redefining test automation. There are a common set of techniques seasoned test automation practitioners know to be the pillars of any successful automated testing practice that can fit into most (if not all) team contexts. But some things have either been left out or are described in ways that are disadvantageous for the industry simply because we need to talk about it from the perspective of the fundamentals used to craft them. By reasoning from first principles, we can unearth a more impactful definition of test automation that can act as a compass and help supercharge everyone's test automation practice - while also understanding how to navigate the uncharted waters of new technologies that challenge existing paradigms.