AutomationSTAR

Test Automation Conference Europe

Track Talk W5

From Vibe Coding to AI Partnership

Wayne Rutter

15:55-16:40 CET, Wednesday 4h November

Are you ‘vibe coding’ with AI, crossing your fingers and hoping the generated code works? There’s a better way.

Drawing from real experiences at Plandek and personal projects, this talk explores how software development is fundamentally shifting from writing code to orchestrating AI tools. You’ll discover why your testing background might be your secret weapon in the AI augmented development era.

Wayne will share his journey from experimenting with LLMs to implementing robust testing frameworks around AI-generated code, transforming chaotic “vibes” into reliable, production-ready software. Through practical examples, you’ll see how skills in testing, architecture, and task decomposition are becoming more valuable than memorising syntax or mastering specific languages.

You’ll learn:

-How to move beyond copy-pasting AI suggestions to working collaboratively with LLMs through structured testing approaches.

-Practical frameworks for validating AI-generated code that catch issues before they reach production.

-Why your testing mindset gives you an advantage in spec driven engineering and code orchestration.

-Real examples of building full-stack features where AI handles implementation while you focus on architecture and quality.

Whether you’re a tester curious about development, a developer sceptical about AI tools, or a leader wondering how to guide your team through this transition, you’ll leave with actionable strategies for confidently building software in partnership with AI. The future isn’t about being replaced by AI it’s about leveraging your testing and architectural skills to orchestrate it effectively.

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What you will Learn

  1. Before using AI to generate production code, establish your testing infrastructure to validate outputs automatically
  2. Apply your testing mindset to spec driven engineering: be specific, provide examples, and verify results systematically
  3. Recognize that skills in edge case thinking, validation, and quality assurance are now competitive advantages in AI-augmented development

Session Details

  • Intermediate
  • 30 minutes
  • 15mins Q&A
  • Real-World Impact & Storytelling
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Session Speaker

Wayne Rutter

Plandek, United Kingdom

Wayne Rutter is a Platform Architect at Plandek with over a decade of experience spanning software testing, development, and architecture. Currently leading the transformation of Plandek's data architecture while championing AI-augmented development practices, Wayne has hands-on experience integrating LLMs safely into development workflows. His career journey from the Royal Air Force through QA leadership roles to senior engineering positions gives him a unique perspective on how AI is reshaping software development at every level. Wayne previously spoke at UKSTAR in 2019 about ML models in testing and has since expanded his focus to practical AI implementation strategies.

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