Modern Web

S10E18 Modern Web Podcast- Software Testing Strategies and Real User Engagement with Andrew Knight

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.

 

S10E17 Modern Web Podcast- Exploring Svelte 4 with Kevin Åberg Kultalahti: Performance, Compatibility, & Web Component Support

In this episode of Modern Web, Tracy Lee and Adam Barrett talk with Kevin Åberg Kultalahti of Svelte Society to discuss the long anticipated release of Svelte 4. Listen in as they explore the exciting technical enhancements that Svelte 4 brings to the table, including its reduced package size, enhanced web component support, and optimized performance.

Svelte 4 introduces a revolutionary approach to web development by compiling components at build time rather than relying on a runtime framework. This means smaller bundle sizes, faster loading times, and improved performance for your applications. We delve into the technical details of how Svelte achieves this impressive feat, providing practical examples and insights into the inner workings of the framework.

Compatibility is a key concern for any web development framework, and Svelte 4 addresses this head-on. With improved web component support, Svelte 4 enables seamless integration with existing codebases and allows developers to leverage the power of Svelte in combination with other frameworks or libraries. Our discussion explores the compatibility aspects of Svelte 4, highlighting its flexibility and ease of adoption for both new and existing projects.

Whether you're a seasoned developer looking to stay at the forefront of web development trends or a newcomer eager to explore the latest innovations, this episode offers valuable insights and practical examples that showcase how Svelte 4 can revolutionize your web development workflow. Don't miss out on this opportunity to unlock the true potential of Svelte 4 and take your projects to new heights. Tune in now and discover the power of this cutting-edge framework!

Guest:
Kevin Åberg Kultalahti, Svelte Society @kevmodrome

Hosts:
Tracy Lee, CEO of This Dot Labs @ladyleet
Adam L. Barrett, Software Engineer at This Dot Labs @adamlbarrett

Sponsored by This Dot Labs

S10E16 Modern Web Podcast- What’s All the Hype Around Signals? ft. Ben Lesh & Ryan Carniato

In this episode, Rob Ocel is joined by Ben Lesh (RxJS Core Team Lead) and Ryan Carniato (Principal Engineer at Netlify, Creator of SolidJS) to discuss Signals. They talk about what Signal are, why they're suddenly so popular, how Signals differ from Observables, and whether Signals (or Observables) should be integrated into the web platform. They also cover how engineers should think about the "Signals hype", and how Signals are implemented differently from framework to framework.

Guests
Ryan Carniato - Principal Engineer @Netlify, Creator of @solid_js, and the CEO of Signals - @RyanCarniato
Ben Lesh - RxJS Core Team Lead, and the CEO of Observables? - @BenLesh

Host
Rob Ocel - Architect and Engineering Lead @ThisDotLabs - @robocell

S10E15 Modern Web Podcast- Automated Testing with Playwright ft. Debbie O’Brien

In this episode, Rob Ocel is joined by Debbie O'Brien (Senior Program Manager at Microsift and Playwright Developer Advocate) to discuss automated testing with Playwright! They talk about the evolution of the testing pyramid, how to write Playwright with the Playwright recorder, and some of the upcoming features of Playwright to deal with Shadow DOM, frames, selector issues, and so much more! 

Guest
Debbie O'Brien: Senior Program Manager at Microsoft and Playwright Web Developer Advocate. @debs_obrien

Host
Rob Ocel: Architect and Engineering Lead at This Dot Labs. @robocell

S10E14 Modern Web Podcast- What is an Engineering Manager Anyway? with Rick Conrades

In this episode, Rob Ocel is joined by Rick Conrades, Engineering Manager at This Dot Labs, to discuss software development and engineering management! They discuss how to identify and mitigate risks, how to make difficult technology tradeoffs, and how to "manage up"! Finally, they share tips for all software engineers about relating to engineering managers, and the surprising challenges that engineering managers face with their teams.

Guest
Rick Conrades, Engineering Manager at This Dot Labs

Host
Rob Ocel, Software Architect and Engineering Lead at This Dot Labs

Sponsored by This Dot Labs

S10E13 Modern Web Podcast- The Day-to-Day of Developer Advocacy with Sam Julien

In this episode, Jesse Tomchak is joined by Sam Julien, Director of Developer Advocacy, for Auth0 at Okta. What is the day to day of someone in developer advocacy outside of what we see from blog posts and conference talks? Sam is passionate about helping developers become the best versions of themselves through Tiny Experiments book, and his current newsletter, Developer Microskills. We dive into the idea of self taught developers, developer productive that is actually effective, sustainable progress, and so much more.

 

Guest
Sam Julien - Director of Developer Advocacy, Auth0 at Okta

Host
Jesse Tomchak - Architect and Engineering Lead at ThisDotLabs - @robocell

 

Developer Microskills newsletter (https://developermicroskills.com)
Sam's website (http://www.samjulien.com/)
How to Finish What You Start article (https://www.samjulien.com/how-to-finish-what-you-start)
Guide to Tiny Experiments book (https://learn.samjulien.com/guide-to-tiny-experiments)
Getting Started in Developer Relations book (http://www.gettingstartedindevrel.com)

 

Sponsored by This Dot Labs

S10E12 Modern Web Podcast- State Machines for your Mind with Jenny Truong

In this episode, Rob Ocel is joined by Jenny Truong, Head of Operations and Developer Relations at Stately, to talk about state machines, XState, and mental health. They discuss the challenges and opportunities of starting a company from an open-source project, the benefits of user research and how Stately has used it to develop their new stately studio, and they extensively discuss Jenny's recent talk at AgentConf on looking at moods, burnout, and stress through the lens of state machines. Finally, they talk about the fun of being a doughnut connoisseur.

‌Guest
Jenny Truong- Head of Operations and Developer Relations at Stately 

Host
Rob Ocel - Architect and Engineering Lead @ThisDotLabs - @robocell

 

Sponsored by This Dot Labs

S10E11 Modern Web Podcast- Maintaining a Successful Open-source Project with Dominik Dorfmeister

In this episode, Rob Ocel is joined by Dominik Dorfmeister (Frontend Tech Lead at Adverity and Maintainer of TanStack Query), to talk about open-source software, TanStack Query, and more! They discuss the rapid growth of the TanStack, how Dominik first became involved as a core team maintainer and the challenges he's faced, the future of the TanStack and data-management as a driving force in front-end framework development, using TanStack in other frameworks, and the joys of skiing.

Guest
Dominik Dorfmeister, Frontend Lead at Adverty and Maintainer for TanStack Query

Host
Rob Ocel, Software Architect and Engineering Lead at This Dot Labs

Sponsored by This Dot Labs

S10E10 Modern Web Podcast- Building the TanStack with Tanner Linsley

In this episode, Jesse Tomchak is joined by Tanner Linsley of smash hits like TanStack Table, Query, and Router, for a discussion about Tanner's latest project: TanStack Start. Tanner discusses the problems he’s trying to solve, how building on existing ideas in the community has accelerated development pace, and how he went about solving it in a very "TanStack" fashion.

Guest
Tanner Linsley, Co-Founder at nozzle.io and Creator of TanStack

Host
Jesse Tomchack, Software Architect at This Dot Labs

 

Sponsored by This Dot Labs

S10E09 Modern Web Podcast- Being Yourself, For Fun And Profit ft. Trecia Kat

In this episode, Rob Ocel, is joined by Trecia Kat, to talk about breaking into tech, building a social media following, and finding community. They discuss how to find a niche through being yourself on social media, choosing between DevRel and engineering career paths, CSS, and even their hopes and fears for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

 

Guest

Trecia Kat, Self-Taught Developer and DevRel Engineer

 

Host

Rob Ocel, Engineering Lead & Software Architect at This Dot Labs

 

Sponsored by This Dot Labs