Can you handle these truths about automated testing? In this episode, Nikolay Advolodkin reveals the hard-hitting truths he's discovered throughout his 16-year career in software engineering. From the common misuse of Cucumber to selecting the wrong automation tools, he talks about how these mistakes can lead to wasted effort, unnecessary complexity, and lost resources. He also explains why automating everything can backfire and how flaky tests destroy trust in automation. Tune in so...

You don’t want to make these mistakes in software development! In this episode, Nikolay shares the six most significant lessons from his 16-year career. From wasting time on over-engineering to relying too much on UI tests, he breaks down real examples that slow down processes and cost companies money. Tune in so you don’t fall to the same fate. CONNECT WITH NIKOLAY ADVOLODKIN 🌎 WEBSITE: https://ultimateqa.com &n...

These automated testing beliefs might be sabotaging your tests! In this episode, Nikolay debunks the seven biggest myths about automated testing. From the misconception that “more tests mean better quality” to the fallacy of “automation replacing manual testing,” Nikolay shares hands-on experiences and examples from his 16 years of experience. You’ll learn how to optimize your automated tests, avoid costly mistakes, and streamline your testing processes for better efficiency and reliability. ...

Nikolay lost over $75,000 in cryptocurrency after falling victim to one of the most sophisticated scamming operations he’s ever seen. In this episode, Nikolay breaks down what happened and why he didn’t catch on until it was too late— even as a seasoned software engineer. You’ll learn exactly how the scammers bypassed his two-factor authentication and tricked him into using fake URLs. But more importantly, find out how YOU can avoid falling for the same traps and secure your accounts. RELEVA...

Do security tests and APIs leave you confused? Expert Bas Dijkstra makes API testing look easy and shares the essentials every dev ops professional needs to know. You’ll learn how to spot and fix common API vulnerabilities, including sneaky JavaScript injections to the all-too-common broken object-level authorization. With hands-on demos and practical advice, you'll discover how to fortify your APIs against real-world threats. But that's not all—Bas also gives us a sneak peek into his upcomin...

How do you build lightning-fast websites with Astro and React? In this episode, Nikolay teams up with Cassidy Williams, a developer advocate and educator with a flair for making complex concepts fun and accessible. Watch as Cassidy attempts to build an Astro website in 60 seconds, integrates React for interactivity, and shares tips on optimizing performance. Along the way, she shares her favorite productivity tools, discusses the power of community, and offers invaluable career advice for dev...

Remember to always believe in yourself, never give up, and to conquer every challenge that comes your way. That’s the mantra Nikolay has for himself. In this special episode, we're flipping the script. Jason Baum, host of neighboring podcast, Test Case Scenario, takes over as the host to interview Nikolay about his life and career. You’ll learn the motivations that have fueled his journey from a young immigrant in the U.S. to a leading voice in the world of test automation. From the ind...

What happened with CrowdStrike and how can we make sure that we avoid another catastrophe? Nikolay sits down with BJ Muse of Muse Umbrella to understand more. With extensive expertise in cyber liability engineering, BJ is the perfect guest to discuss the infamous CrowdStrike incident that caused the global outage that affected over 8 million Windows machines. Tune in to see how Nikolay and BJ break down what happened and complete an automated testing diagram that could have saved billions o...

Ever wondered how to master mocking in JavaScript and elevate your automated testing skills? In this episode of Test Automation Experience, Nikolay sits down with Artem Zakharchenko, a renowned expert with over 3 million downloads of his Mock Service Worker. Artem unveils the secrets behind his success and takes us through his journey at Epic Web Dev, sharing insights from his comprehensive workshops on testing fundamentals and advanced mocking techniques. CONNECT WITH ARTEM ZAKHAR...

What does automated testing look like when paired with AI? In this episode of Test Automation Experience, host Nikolay Advolodkin is joined by special guests Daniel Huynh and Paul Palmieri of LaVague.AI, a pioneering web automation tool designed to harness the power of AI and computer vision for test automation. LaVague leverages Behavior Driven Development (BDD) spec files to generate robust and reusable Selenium test code automatically. Tune in to learn about LaVague's unique ability ...

Ever wondered how to stand out in the crowded tech job market? In this episode of the Test Automation Experience, Beau Carnes, Teacher and Software Developer from freeCodeCamp, shares his top strategies for becoming an in-demand developer. As we dive into his journey of becoming a successful software developer, Beau shares invaluable advice on overcoming common fears, the importance of persistence, and practical steps to build a standout resume. Learn how creating content, engaging with...

Does software engineering ever feel like trying to tame a mythical beast? One day, everything is smooth sailing, and the next, your code throws an error like a dragon spitting fire. In eight minutes, Nikolay unpacks fifty core software engineering concepts with easy-to-understand metaphors to help you wield your coding skills like a battle-tested knight. ❓What did you think of the show? Leave your anonymous feedback: https://forms.gle/Df5sDABiNMQn4YSj7 CONNECT WITH NIKOLAY ADVOLODKIN...

Is it possible to prioritize quality AND speed? In this episode, we dive into the importance of personal responsibility in software development. Cory House, a seasoned React and JavaScript consultant, shares how to balance speed and quality, manage relationship dynamics within teams, and advocate for quality code. Cory also offers technical advice for web development. He discusses common developer mistakes in React, TypeScript's benefits and trade-offs, automated tools to manage c...

How can contract testing boost your efficiency? Stay tuned to find out! Contract testing is a hidden gem. It combines the strengths of unit tests and integration tests, allows for safe deployment, and promotes better team communication – but not many testers know about this game-changing approach. Marie Drake, Senior Developer Advocate at Grafana Labs, and Lewis Prescott, Test Specialist at IBM, put their great minds and collective experience together to write Contract Testing In Action; a bo...

We didn’t expect this from ChatOps! Keep watching until we implement an AI assistant for data filtering in under 60 seconds! This episode is all about productivity. Andrew Zigler, Developer Advocate at Mattermost, shares his top tips for using tech to improve your efficiency. Andrew explains ChatOps – a chat-based collaboration with automated workflows to make work easier and faster – and shares examples of how it’s enhanced his productivity. He also shows how to embed AI into chat plat...

Learn how to AI-proof your job and prepare for the future of test automation! In this episode, we’re sharing a highlight reel of our conversations with these industry leaders: Marie Cruz, Senior Developer Advocate at Grafana LabsSimon Stewart, Software Engineer at AppleKent Dodds, Software Engineer Educator at Kent C. Dodds Tech LLCFilip Hric, DevRel at Replay.ioGleb Bahmutov, Senior Director of Engineering at Mercari USAndy Knight, Principal Architect at Cycle LabsBoni Garcia, Associate Prof...

Oops, we brought down the company internet! What happens when you build a team that's engaged, committed, and watching each other’s back? You develop more usable, stable software. BJ Muse, Principal Technical Architect at Google, shares his passion for fostering cultures where teams take ownership of the products they develop. He discusses choosing a cloud service provider, QA strategies using AI tools, and managing testing noise — all while building, testing, and deploying a React app alongs...

Keep watching until a robot plays Angry Birds! It’s insane! Jason Huggins, Creator of Selenium, Co-Founder of Sauce Labs, and Founder & CEO of Tapster Robotics, demos game-changing robots that can swipe, tap, and even insert credit cards in part two of our conversation. Jason shares how teaching a robot to play Angry Birds became a way to provide control over real devices with no limitations. He explains how Tapster’s robots complement Appium, shares the evolution of Tapster Valet, ...

Testing is a Goldilocks game. You don’t want too many tests, and you don’t want too few. You need to get it just right. Jason Huggins, Creator of Selenium, Co-Founder of Sauce Labs, and Founder & CEO of Tapster Robotics, shares how to find the perfect balance of testing. He reveals the worst automation mistake you can make, gives his best advice, and tells the stories behind Selenium and Sauce Labs. ❓What did you think of the show? Leave your anonymous feedback: https://forms.gle/Df...

Is the future of testing human-free? Tools like Devin are revealing AI’s impressive abilities to write code, and these technologies are growing exponentially. It’s hard to wrap our minds around what this means for the future, but Jason Arbon, CEO of Checkie.AI, shares his insightful – and slightly scary – predictions. In this conversation, Jason covers myths about AI, using new tech for testing, and the future of programming. ❓What did you think of the show? Leave your anonymous feedback ...