Tech Talks With Ioan Solderea

Ever since the world has tasted technology, the entire idea of innovation has taken a leap. From improved network arrangement to the introduction of dynamic applications and software technology have transformed the vision for the future.  

Considering the extensive potential that these technologies have to offer, quality assurance has become an imperative for tech giants across industries. Especially, when software testing and quality assurance has all the potential to fill the gaps of the industry, an expert approach could complement development lifecycles and nurture revolutionary tech.  

Since the path to digital transformation require access to precise knowledge and insights, we at BugRaptors are continuously working to expand our network reinforcing and reforming the concepts of quality engineering.  

This time, our in-house expert, Tushar Kashyap, Automation Manager, BugRaptors interacted with Ioan Solderea, Lead Quality Assurance Engineer at blu BEYOND Gmbh, Romania. He is a passionate QA with focus on quality and test automation with an industry experience of more than 10 years.  

He has experience handling various automation tools including QuickTest Professional, Selenium, Microsoft Coded UI, etc. Besides, he is a sharepoint QA tester with expertise on full system development lifecycle i.e., designing, development, implementation, test cases, test processes, user training, and client support.  

More importantly, Ioan has strong credentials complementing his history as a QA which include a degree in E Business, ISTQB certification, monitoring tools, ISTQB certification, and expertise of handling dynamic industry technology like Sharepoint and SAP.  

With that being said, let us quickly jump on the interactions that happened between Tushar and Ioan, while taking insights on his approach to software testing automation, end-to-end testing using cypress, and his strategy to success.   

Tushar: What does your current role entail? 

Ioan: As a QA lead, my current role involves leading a team of testers and ensuring that the software being developed is of high quality. This includes developing testing strategies, test plans, and test cases, as well as overseeing the execution of tests and tracking defects. I work closely with other teams, such as development and product management, to ensure that requirements are understood and that quality is maintained throughout the development cycle. 

Tushar: How to keep up with the change in the testing world? 

Ioan: Keeping up with the changes in the testing world can be challenging, but there are ways that I take to stay current and adapt to new trends and technologies: 

• Attend Conferences and Workshops: Attending industry conferences and workshops is a great way to stay up-to-date on the latest trends and technologies in the testing world. You can learn from experts, network with peers, and discover new tools and techniques. See Ministry of testing as an example https://www.ministryoftesting.com/events/testbash-spring-2023 
• Read Industry Publications: Reading industry publications such as testing blogs, magazines, and newsletters can help you stay informed about the latest trends and best practices. You can also follow influencers and experts on social media to keep up with their latest insights. For example https://www.lambdatest.com/blog/author/restertest/ 
• Take Training Courses: Taking training courses and certifications can help you stay up-to-date on the latest testing methodologies and tools. Many online courses and certifications are available, and some are even free. 
• Join Communities: Joining testing communities and groups on social media or other platforms can help you connect with other testers, share knowledge and experiences, and learn about the latest developments in the industry. e.g. Ministry of Testing.

Overall, staying up-to-date with the changes in the testing world requires a commitment to continuous learning and improvement. By adopting a growth mindset and actively seeking out new knowledge and experiences, you can stay current and adapt to the evolving needs of the testing industry. 

Tushar: What are the ways you suggest to reduce or optimize the costs associated with software testing automation? Please share your insights on this. 

Ioan: To reduce or optimize the costs associated with software testing automation, it is important to carefully evaluate the ROI of automation and prioritize tests that will provide the most value. This can be achieved by identifying tests that are repetitive, time-consuming, or require complex data sets. It is also important to choose the right automation tools and frameworks, and to leverage cloud-based testing platforms to reduce infrastructure costs. Additionally, it is important to continuously review and update automation scripts to ensure that they are efficient and maintainable. 

Tushar: How AI and ML can help speed the mobile app testing process? 

Ioan: AI (Artificial Intelligence) and ML (Machine Learning) can help speed up the mobile app testing process in several ways: 

Test Case Prioritization: AI and ML can be used to prioritize test cases based on their likelihood of finding defects. This helps testers to focus on the most critical areas of the application, reducing the testing time. 

Test Automation: AI and ML can be used to automate the testing process, reducing the manual effort required. Automated tests can be run repeatedly and quickly, ensuring that the app is tested thoroughly. 

Predictive Analysis: AI and ML can be used to analyze data from previous testing cycles and predict where defects are likely to occur in the current cycle. This helps testers to focus their efforts on those areas, improving the overall quality of the app. 

Performance Testing: AI and ML can be used to simulate large numbers of users accessing the application simultaneously. This helps to identify performance issues early on, reducing the risk of issues occurring in production. 

Bug Detection: AI and ML can be used to detect and categorize bugs automatically. This reduces the manual effort required to identify and categorize bugs, making the testing process faster and more efficient. 

Tushar: How important is it to have a strategy before choosing a framework? 

Ioan: Having a strategy before choosing a testing framework is essential to ensure that the framework aligns with your organization's goals, objectives, and requirements. Here are some reasons why having a strategy is important: 

Efficiency: A testing framework is a set of guidelines and tools that facilitate the testing process. A strategy helps you identify your testing needs, priorities, and goals, which will guide you in choosing the right testing framework. This ensures that you can develop, maintain, and execute tests efficiently and effectively. 

Scalability: Your testing needs may change over time as your product evolves, and your testing framework should be able to accommodate these changes. By having a strategy in place, you can select a testing framework that can scale up or down as needed. 

Integration: A testing framework must integrate with other tools and technologies used in your organization's development process. By having a strategy in place, you can ensure that the testing framework can integrate seamlessly with other tools and technologies, which can save time and effort. 

Cost-effectiveness: Choosing the right testing framework can help you save costs by reducing the time and effort required for testing. By having a strategy in place, you can identify the most cost-effective testing framework that aligns with your organization's budget and goals. 

Consistency: A testing framework helps to ensure consistency in the testing process, which can improve the quality of the product. A strategy helps you define the testing process, ensuring that it is consistent and aligned with your organization's goals and objectives. 

Tushar: How end-to-end testing in cypress is different from selenium? 

Ioan: Both Cypress and Selenium are popular end-to-end testing frameworks used to automate browser-based tests. However, there are several differences between the two frameworks, including: 

• Architecture: Cypress is built on a different architecture than Selenium. Cypress runs directly in the browser, whereas Selenium interacts with the browser using the WebDriver API. This architecture makes Cypress faster and more reliable than Selenium. 
• API: Cypress has a simpler and more intuitive API compared to Selenium. Cypress provides a set of commands that interact directly with the DOM and allow you to test your application's behavior, whereas Selenium requires you to write code using a more complex set of APIs. 
• Debugging: Cypress provides built-in debugging tools that make it easy to debug tests. You can use Cypress to debug your tests using Chrome DevTools, which allows you to set breakpoints and step through your code. Selenium, on the other hand, requires you to use third-party tools like Firebug or Chrome DevTools for debugging. 
• Cross-browser testing: Selenium supports cross-browser testing, whereas Cypress currently only supports Chrome and Firefox browsers. However, Cypress plans to add support for other browsers in the future. 
• Speed: Cypress is faster than Selenium due to its unique architecture. Cypress runs tests in the same run loop as the application, which allows it to provide faster feedback and speed up the testing process. 

 
I wrote a blog about a comparison between Cypress and Webdriver IO, have a look and reach out to me and tell me what you think about it. 

Tushar: An important philosophy/book you recommend for being more successful and productive. 

Ioan: One book that I highly recommend for being more successful and productive is "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" by Stephen Covey. This book provides practical guidance for developing habits and behaviors that can improve personal effectiveness and achieve goals. 

Tushar: How can our readers connect with you online? 

Ioan: If you want to reach me then there are usually 3 ways to achieve this.  

• You can either connect to me on linkedin and send a message 

• Contact me via my youtube channel. But only after you have liked or subscribed a video 🙂 

• Ask a question at Ministry of testing. I check the board each day and I will definitely answer if I think I can help 

 
At BugRaptors, we aim to harness value by leveraging revolutionary technologies. And since it is QAs, developers, and business analysts who can complement the digital transformation goals, stay connected with us for more QA tech talks.     

 For more information, reach us through info@bugraptors.com