A Coffee Chat with Cristian, VP of Engineering at TestQuality
The landscape of software testing is dotted with diverse professionals—each bringing unique skills and perspectives to the table. We continue our Monday Member Spotlight series by sipping a virtual coffee with Cristian. With years of hands-on experience not just as a developer but also in a leadership role,Cristian provides invaluable insights into the strategic and technical aspects of software testing. So grab your cuppa, and let's explore his unique perspectives.
The Testing Philosophy of a Developer-Turned-Leader
Cristian laughs when we call him a software developer with a ‘testing mindset.’ “Well, I see software testing as an integral part of development. We build; therefore, we test. Simple as that,” he says. This seems straightforward, but in his eyes, it's a philosophy that too many skip over.
Cristian laughs when we call him a software developer with a ‘testing mindset.’ “Well, I see software testing as an integral part of development. We build; therefore, we test. Simple as that,” he says. This seems straightforward, but in his eyes, it's a philosophy that too many skip over.
The idea is to integrate testing as early as possible in the development cycle. This isn’t a ‘nice-to-have’; it’s a necessity.
The 'Shift-Left' Movement
Cristian has been an advocate of 'shift-left testing', a term that emerged as a new mantra in DevOps and Agile environments. “The idea is to integrate testing as early as possible in the development cycle. This isn’t a ‘nice-to-have’; it’s a necessity. Early testing can help us minimize the ‘bug debt’ that we might accrue over the life of a project.”
Cristian has been an advocate of 'shift-left testing', a term that emerged as a new mantra in DevOps and Agile environments. “The idea is to integrate testing as early as possible in the development cycle. This isn’t a ‘nice-to-have’; it’s a necessity. Early testing can help us minimize the ‘bug debt’ that we might accrue over the life of a project.”
To Automate or Not To Automate
While test automation has been the game-changer in the industry, Cristian puts forth a caveat. “Automation is not a silver bullet. It's a tool in our toolbox. There are scenarios where manual testing is not just relevant but crucial. You can't automate empathy or the ability to perceive nuances in user experience.”
While test automation has been the game-changer in the industry, Cristian puts forth a caveat. “Automation is not a silver bullet. It's a tool in our toolbox. There are scenarios where manual testing is not just relevant but crucial. You can't automate empathy or the ability to perceive nuances in user experience.”
Automation is essential for businesses to stay up with the rapid development of their field. It's getting more difficult and expensive to overlook the possibilities and advantages offered when manual testing methods are eliminated. Constant changes are occurring in the software testing industry. The software testing industry will be dominated by these hot topics in the coming years.
Companies need to keep up with the ever-evolving standards for testing, and they should follow the newest developments as soon as they become available. Accepting these advances is the only way to maintain a competitive edge.
The Importance of Communication: More Than Just App Dashboards
When asked what he thinks is often overlooked in software testing, Cristian points to communication. “No matter how advanced our tools get, the need for clear and effective communication among team members never diminishes. TestQuality’s dashboards make this a lot easier by giving everyone a snapshot of what’s happening at any given moment.”
When asked what he thinks is often overlooked in software testing, Cristian points to communication. “No matter how advanced our tools get, the need for clear and effective communication among team members never diminishes. TestQuality’s dashboards make this a lot easier by giving everyone a snapshot of what’s happening at any given moment.”
TestQuality's dashboard shows the progress of your testing and the number of defects or bugs
ROI and Beyond
Cristian has a pragmatic view of ROI in automated testing. “ROI isn’t just about financial metrics or man-hours saved. It's also about the quality we deliver, the bugs we prevent, and the user experience we enhance.”
Cristian has a pragmatic view of ROI in automated testing. “ROI isn’t just about financial metrics or man-hours saved. It's also about the quality we deliver, the bugs we prevent, and the user experience we enhance.”
The Future is Hybrid
As someone who has seen the software testing industry's many transformations, Cristian bets on a future where automated and manual testing coexist. “AI, machine learning, these are fabulous tools, but human intuition and experience are irreplaceable. I see a future where these elements complement rather than replace each other.”
As someone who has seen the software testing industry's many transformations, Cristian bets on a future where automated and manual testing coexist. “AI, machine learning, these are fabulous tools, but human intuition and experience are irreplaceable. I see a future where these elements complement rather than replace each other.”
Conclusion and What's Next at TestQuality: A Strategic Vision
We wind up our coffee chat with Cristian excited to explore what the future holds at TestQuality. “Innovation is the cornerstone of our work here. The tools we're developing promise to revolutionize the way testing integrates with the overall development cycle, and I couldn't be more thrilled to be a part of this.”
And there you have it! A glimpse into the testing world according to Cristian—a developer with a keen eye for detail and a pragmatic approach to software testing. Stay tuned for our next Monday Member Spotlight. Until then, keep testing and keep innovating!
We wind up our coffee chat with Cristian excited to explore what the future holds at TestQuality. “Innovation is the cornerstone of our work here. The tools we're developing promise to revolutionize the way testing integrates with the overall development cycle, and I couldn't be more thrilled to be a part of this.”
And there you have it! A glimpse into the testing world according to Cristian—a developer with a keen eye for detail and a pragmatic approach to software testing. Stay tuned for our next Monday Member Spotlight. Until then, keep testing and keep innovating!