Fiona Nic Dhonnacha

The AutomationSTAR Call for Speakers is open until January 31st – have you sent in your submission yet?

This year’s conference takes place in Vienna, 9-10 October. We are looking for test automation engineers, developers, architects, QA, and team leaders to take to the AutomationSTAR stage, and share your experiences with an incredible audience: a community keen to learn & improve their own projects.

Remember, this is not a general testing conference; it is completely focused on test automation. Nobody is doing test automation exactly the way you are, so share your own personal journey. How will you create engaging discussions, facilitate active learning, and inspire others? Your knowledge can make a big impact.

It’s Europe’s biggest test automation event

Last year’s conference was bigger than we ever anticipated, with over 450 attendees from all around Europe coming together for two days totally dedicated to all things test automation. We’re scaling up even more for 2024, with more learnings, more networking opportunities, and even more fun!

The programme team, chaired by Ryan Volker (Germany); along with Janna Loeffler (USA), Geosley Andrades (India) will dedicate their time to creating a truly epic line-up of speakers for the programme. Check off your goal of speaking at a conference by being part of the biggest test automation event in Europe.

Submission types

Here’s what the programme team is looking for:

Half-Day Tutorials: 3 hour expert masterclasses. Popular tutorials can be large (possibly up to 100 people). Exercises need to be easy to explain, understand and perform to be practical.

Workshops are 90-minute sessions. We prefer sessions that engage the class and have substantial workshop or hands-on content. These sessions are intended to be educational and experiential.

Track Talks are 45-minute sessions with 30 minutes of presentation/talk, followed by 15 minutes of Q&A and audience discussion

All submissions should be relevant to test automation in software development and testing. Our attendees have requested more technical content, so this is a key focus for 2024. Check out all the details for the Call for Speakers and see what topics will help you form a great submission.

AutomationSTAR 2023 speaker Geosley Andrades shares his thoughts on test automation practices, and gives an insight into what you can expect at his talk, ‘Unlock New Possibilities in Test Automation with ChatGPT’.

1. How did you get into testing?

I embarked on my journey in the field of testing under somewhat serendipitous circumstances. Initially, I entered the realm of IT as a .NET developer. However, the year 2008 brought with it a challenging wave of economic recession, which prompted me to make a strategic career choice. It was during this pivotal moment that I decided to delve into the world of testing. Over the years, I have not only embraced this profession wholeheartedly but have also found immense passion and fulfillment in the journey it has offered me

2. What was your Test Automation Eureka moment?

As a relative newcomer to the field with just one year of experience, I was entrusted with the task of building my first test automation framework from scratch. To my astonishment, this framework not only benefited my team but was also adopted as the preferred choice across other teams within my organization. This transformative experience ignited my deep passion for test automation and set me on a course of continuous growth and innovation in the field.

3. If you had the power to change one widely accepted practice in testing, what would it be, and why do you think it needs to change?

I would advocate for a shift from primarily UI testing towards a more comprehensive approach, encompassing deeper layers like APIs, databases, and integrated systems. This change is necessary because, in many organizations, testing often remains superficial, focusing only on the UI, leaving underlying issues undiscovered until later stages.

4. Some argue that traditional testing methods are obsolete in the age of Automation. Do you believe there’s still value in manual testing, or is it a dying practice?

There is undoubtedly enduring value in human-driven exploratory testing, and I firmly believe that it is far from a dying practice. While automation tools have advanced significantly and streamlined many testing processes, they lack the critical element of human judgment, intuition, and creativity. Unlike tools, humans possess the cognitive capacity to evaluate, recognize patterns, make nuanced decisions, think critically, interpret results, observe subtle issues, and adapt to evolving scenarios. As a result, human-driven exploratory testing remains a vital component of the testing landscape, complementing Automation and AI-driven techniques. It ensures the discovery of complex and context-specific defects that can be challenging for tools to identify.

5. What can attendees expect to gain from your presentation or workshop at the AutomationSTAR conference?

As AI’s prominence continues to grow, it’s a consensus that AI won’t replace testers, but testers who harness AI’s power definitely will. In my presentation, we will embark on a journey to uncover innovative approaches through which ChatGPT (Generative AI) can empower testers and augment their skill set. Furthermore, I will delve into the significance of educating ourselves about this Generative AI technology and adopting it as an invaluable tool, reframing it from a perceived threat. The moment has arrived for us to embrace AI and redirect our focus toward the facets of our roles that deliver the most value.

6. What’s the biggest message you have for AutomationSTAR Attendees?

With its dedicated focus on Automation, AutomationSTAR offers a unique opportunity for everyone in the testing community. Featuring an array of automation-related topics presented by world-class speakers, the conference promises a wealth of knowledge and networking opportunities. As a speaker myself, I’m eagerly anticipating not only sharing insights but also learning and connecting with the automation community. I encourage all of you to participate in this celebration of our craft and leverage this event to propel your test automation careers to new heights. See you there!

It’s your last chance to get tickets to the AutomationSTAR Conference in Berlin, 20-21 November. The enthusiasm from the community is incredible – tutorials are sold out, and our new Conference Only tickets are being snapped up! Get your tickets now.

This selection of recommended talks has been compiled by Chris Loder, Programme Chair of the 2023 AutomationSTAR Conference in Berlin, 20-21 November.

Hi again, everyone!  After my last blog post about what I as an “advanced automator” would attend, I was asked to write another from the perspective of someone who is fresh and new to this wonderful world we are all lucky to be a part of called test automation.  I will also add the same caveat that I did in my last post, if I don’t mention a particular talk, it doesn’t take anything away from it as ALL of the talks on the program are AWESOME!!!

Newbie Chris’s Hypothetical Agenda for AutomationSTAR 2023.

Day 1

• Tutorial: As a programmer at heart, but a newbie to automation, I would probably choose Andy Knight’s tutorial Awesome Web Testing with Playwright.  But if I didn’t have the programming background, I’d probably be attending Anne Kramer’s tutorial Getting Started with Visual Test Design for Automation.
• Keynote Number 1: For this, I’d rush into the hall for the Keynote to get a good seat and ensure I don’t miss anything.  Janna is a great speaker and I look forward to her keynote Streamlining Your CI/CD Pipeline with Test Automation.
• Lunch: First thing for conference newcomers to know, it’s all about the food!! Be sure to enjoy some lunch to get fueled up for the great afternoon ahead! And it’s a great opportunity to network with fellow attendees and to take a moment to visit some of the great vendors that are present in the expo hall.
• First Track Session: Just like I mentioned in my advanced agenda, I would be interested in attending Sophie Küster’s talk The Impostor’s Guide to Tooting Your Own Horn.  Who of us hasn’t felt like an impostor at some point in our careers.  But if I wasn’t’ feeling up for some soft skills instruction, I would then most likely choose to attend Gunesh Patil’s talk Behold MBT: A Guide To Improved Coverage, Collaboration, Mindset & You.
• Break: Like the program says, mix and mingle in the Expo Hall.  Grab a snack and a drink and do a little more networking.  And don’t forget those vendors!
• Second Track Session: As always, it’s hard to decide.  But since AI is all the rage these days, I would most likely attend Marek Lof’s talk Do We Automate Everything for AI Testing!? But if my programmer side is winning on this day, I would then probably be attending Christoph Wolf’s talk Unit Testing for Test Automation Engineers.
• Expo Party: Who wouldn’t want to enjoy “bites, beers and games!” ?  This is another great opportunity for meeting new people and doing some excellent networking.  And this takes place in the Expo Hall, so all of the vendors will be there for you to see demos and learn about their various services and tools and answer any questions you may have. Oh, and did I mention the bites and beers?  Don’t worry, there are non-alcoholic options as well. (Yes, I know I copied this from my other blog post, but I honestly couldn’t think of a better way to put it. 😊)

Day 2

• Morning Keynote: Again, be sure to get there early and get a great seat.  Ryan Volker is a great speaker and his talk with Bastian Schürmann about their team’s journey from Confusion to Clarity is not to be missed!
• Day 2 Track Session 1: Like I mentioned in my previous blog post, my inner 8 year old that dreamed of going to space would be attending Andrew Brown’s talk Apollo 13 and the Dangers of Automation Bias.
• Break: Grab a coffee and a snack and continue to build up my network.  Or take time to visit some of the vendors if I haven’t already had a chance.
• Day 2 Track Session 2: As a new automation developer, Andrew Knight’s talk What Framework should I use for Web Testing? would be where I’d go.
• Lunch: Remember I mentioned the food?  Yeah, more of it today for lunch!  And of course, networking as always.  These connections you make today could benefit you for years to come. 
• Day 2 track Session 3: Like I said in my advanced blog post, it’s all the rage.  So my new automation self would be attending Geosley Andrades’ talk Unlocking New Possibilities in Test Automation with Chat GPT.
• Break: Just like in the morning, it’s a great chance to meet some new people while getting a beverage and a snack.  Oh, and be sure to check out the vendors while there since this is the last chance to do so.
• Lightning talks: Several speakers, each with 5 minutes to share a mini keynote!  Sign me up!!  Always a great opportunity to hear a little something on several topics in one go.
• Final Keynote: Be sure to get every last minute from the conference and be front and center for Marie Cruz’s keynote about “intersectionality”.  It’s going to be great!
• Closing remarks: This is where that program chair guy Chris gets up and closes out the conference.  I hear he’s a great speaker, so I better not miss that! 😉

As I mentioned previously, this is just one combination of talks and everyone’s journey will be different. Whichever path you choose, there is a wealth of knowledge to be gained at AutomationSTAR 2023 and I hope to see you there!

Regards,

Chris

Chris Loder – AutomationSTAR 2023 Programme Chair