Andrew Knight, popularly known as automation panda, was recently interviewed on the Modern Web Podcast by host Rob Ocel. Andrew, a software quality champion, developer advocate, and test automation expert, shared his insights and experiences in the interview. He spoke passionately about testing and the importance of improving software quality. Andrew discussed the challenges he faced early in his career and how he recognized the opportunity to enhance software stability, readability, and speed through effective testing.
The conversation then shifted to the current state of testing in various tech communities. Andrew highlighted the wide variation in testing practices across companies, irrespective of programming languages or tech stacks. Smaller companies often lacked proper testing processes, while larger companies relied on traditional testing approaches that were deeply ingrained.
Advancements in web testing frameworks and tools were another topic of discussion. Andrew acknowledged the long-standing availability of functional testing, which simulates user interactions with a website. However, he pointed out the emergence of newer tools like Cypress and Playwright, which provide a modern developer experience, making web testing more accessible, efficient, and enjoyable. Andrew also emphasized the importance of addressing user experience and visual aspects of testing, where human evaluation remains crucial but can be supplemented by visual testing tools like Applitools.
The interview concluded with a glimpse into the future of autonomous testing. Andrew highlighted that while autonomous testing could never completely replace human exploratory testing, it held potential in understanding the behavior of software applications. The vision was to train autonomous agents to recognize established workflows, adapt to specific applications, propose test cases based on observed behaviors, and potentially execute these behaviors autonomously. This approach would allow developers to focus more on designing desired behaviors and less on implementing specifications.
Throughout the interview, Rob Ocel and Andrew Knight discussed the trade-off between investment and return in software testing. They reflected on the value of maintaining extensive test coverage and questioned its significance compared to the effort required to sustain it. Andrew emphasized the importance of focusing on valuable behaviors and understanding customer needs when prioritizing testing efforts. They also touched upon the idea that not all edge cases or hypothetical scenarios warrant investing time and resources in testing if they have minimal real-world impact.
Other topics covered in the interview include Andrew's talk on the eight Software Testing convictions, inspired by Japanese woodblock prints, which emphasize intentional design, accessibility, and the value of quality in software development. The discussion also revolved around the value of personas, engaging with real users to understand their needs and prioritize testing efforts accordingly. The interview highlighted the delicate balance between investing in quality and delivering value in software development and testing, with a focus on valuable behaviors and iterative learning from user interactions.
Host
Rob Ocel, Software Architect at This Dot Labs
Guest
Andrew Knight, Principal Developer Advocate at Applitools
This episode is sponsored by This Dot Labs.
S09E06 Modern Web Podcast- Managing a Developer Team with Jem Young from Netflix
S09E05 Modern Web Podcast - The State of Angular with Mark Thompson
S09E04 Modern Web Podcast - The Future of Automotive App Development with Naoki Ogishi
S09E03 Modern Web Podcast - Software Development in the Cloud with Mike Nikles & Geoffrey Huntley
S09E02 Modern Web Podcast - Modernizing React Apps with Paige Niedringhaus & Mark Erikson
S09E01 Modern Web Podcast - Partytown with Adam Bradley
S08E020 Modern Web Podcast - The Future of the Terminal & Fig with Brendan Falk
S08E019 Modern Web Podcast - The Future of Blockchain & How To Get Involved Today With Nader Dabit
S08E018 Modern Web Podcast - Staying Curious with Michael Chan
S08E017 Modern Web Podcast - Blockchain curious? It‘s easy & JS Developers should start learning!
S08E016 Modern Web Podcast - Quasar with Luke Diebold
S08E015 Modern Web Podcast - RxJS Updates 7.0 - 7.3 in 30 min. with the Core Team! & What's Next for RxJS 8
S08E014 Modern Web Podcast - Elm with Richard Feldman
S08E013 Modern Web Podcast - Misko Hevery, Creator of Angular & his new project Builder.io
S08E012 Modern Web Podcast - Modern CSS & Accessibility with Stephanie Eckles
S08E011 Modern Web Podcast - Scaling your Impact & Automation Using Cypress with Gleb Bhamutov
S08E010 Modern Web Podcast - Web Components Are Lit with Justin Fagnani
S08E09 Modern Web Podcast - Sides Projects with Shawn Wang
S08E08 Modern Web Podcast - Fireside Chat with Ionic Core Team - Adam Bradley & Liam DeBeasi
S08E07 Modern Web Podcast - Managing Component Architecture with Debbie O'Brien
Join Podbean Ads Marketplace and connect with engaged listeners.
Advertise Today
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Insight Story: Tech Trends Unpacked
Zero-Shot
Fast Forward by Tomorrow Unlocked: Tech past, tech future
The Unbelivable Truth - Series 1 - 26 including specials and pilot
A Prairie Home Companion: News from Lake Wobegon