TestGuild Automation Podcast

Lars Holmberg, Founder and CTO of Locust, shares his expertise in performance testing and observability. He explains why Python is the preferred choice for AI-assisted load testing, highlighting Locust's flexibility and massive concurrency capabilities. They delve into the importance of observability for identifying performance bottlenecks and outline common mistakes teams make. Lars also discusses how integrating Locust with CI/CD and GitHub Actions streamlines the testing process, while offering insights into the future of testing with AsyncIO and GIL improvements.

Explore the intriguing world of automation testing trends for 2026. Discover why 72.8% of testers prioritize AI yet remain skeptical. Learn how integration chaos hampers success and why new roles like AI auditor are emerging. Delve into the concept of 'vibe testing' versus 'vibe coding,' and the demand for actionable examples in the community. Understand the crucial impact of compliance and security on QA, while also recognizing that human oversight remains essential in AI testing as we move forward.

This is a special end-of-year episode of the Automation Testing Podcast. With family in town and a busy holiday season, Joe didn't want to skip a week without checking in and saying thank you to the TestGuild community. In this short episode, Joe shares: A huge milestone as the podcast approaches its 13-year anniversary Why the Automation Testing Podcast is moving from Sundays to Tuesdays starting in 2026 How loyal listeners can still get $100 off a full 5-day Automation Guild 2026 pass A sneak peek at TestGuild IRL — live, in-person events coming next year Gratitude for the listeners, YouTube community, and sponsors who make TestGuild possible If you're a software tester, automation engineer, or QA leader looking ahead to 2026, this episode lays out what's coming — and how to stay connected. Discount code: 100GUILDCOIN (https://testguild.me/podag26) Questions or ideas? Email Joe directly at joe@testguild.com As always — test everything, and keep the good.

AI is transforming how software is built, but testing AI systems requires an entirely new mindset. Don't miss AutomationGuild 2026 - Register Now: https://testguild.me/podag26 Use code TestGuildPod20 to get 20% off your ticket. In this episode, Joe Colantonio sits down with Imran Ali to break down what AI testing really looks like when you're dealing with LLMs, RAG pipelines, and autonomous QA workflows. You'll learn: Why traditional pass/fail testing breaks down with LLMs How to test non-deterministic AI outputs for consistency and accuracy Practical techniques for detecting hallucinations, grounding issues, and prompt injection risks How RAG systems change the way testers validate AI-powered applications Where AI delivers quick wins today—and where human validation still matters This conversation goes beyond hype and gets into real-world AI testing strategies QA teams are using right now to keep up with AI-generated code, faster release cycles, and DevOps velocity. If you're a tester, automation engineer, or QA leader wondering how AI changes your role,not replaces it,this episode is your roadmap.

What if understanding your codebase was no longer a blocker for great testing? Most testers were trained to work around the code — clicking through UIs, guessing selectors, and relying on outdated docs or developer explanations. In this episode, Playwright expert Ben Fellows flip that model on its head. Using AI tools like Cursor, testers can now explore the codebase directly — asking questions, uncovering APIs, understanding data relationships, and spotting risk before a single test is written. This isn't about becoming a developer. It's about using AI to finally see how the system really works — and using that insight to test smarter, earlier, and with far more confidence. If you've ever joined a new team, inherited a legacy app, or struggled to understand what really changed in a release, this episode is for you. Registration for Automation Guild 2026 Now: https://testguild.me/podag26

Performance testing has traditionally been one of the hardest parts of QA,slow onboarding, complex scripting, difficult debugging, and too many late-stage surprises. Try Gatling Studio for yourself now: https://links.testguild.com/gatling In this episode, Joe sits down with Stéphane Landelle, creator of Gatling, and Shaun Brown to explore how Gatling is reinventing the load-testing experience. You'll hear how Gatling evolved from a developer-first framework into a far more accessible platform that supports Java, Kotlin, JavaScript/TypeScript, and AI-assisted creation. We break down the thinking behind Gatling Studio, a new companion tool designed to make recording, filtering, correlating, and debugging performance tests dramatically easier. Whether you're a developer, SDET, or automation engineer, you'll learn: How to onboard quickly into performance testing—even without deep expertise Why Gatling Studio offers a smoother way to record traffic and craft tests Where AI is already improving load test authoring How teams can shift-left performance insights and catch issues earlier What's coming next as Gatling expands its developer experience and enterprise platform If you've been meaning to start performance testing—or scale it beyond one performance engineer—this episode will give you the clarity and confidence to begin.

Manual regression testing isn't going away—yet most teams still struggle with deciding what actually needs to be retested in fast release cycles. See how AI can help your manual testing now: https://testguild.me/parasoftai In this episode, we explore how Parasoft's Test Impact Analysis helps QA teams run fewer tests while improving confidence, coverage, and release velocity. Wilhelm Haaker (Director of Solution Engineering) and Daniel Garay (Director of QA) join Joe to unpack how code-level insights and real coverage data eliminate guesswork during regression cycles. They walk through how Parasoft CTP identifies exactly which manual or automated tests are impacted by code changes—and how teams use this to reduce risk, shrink regression time, and avoid redundant testing. What You'll Learn: Why manual regression remains a huge bottleneck in modern DevOps How Test Impact Analysis reveals the exact tests affected by code changes How code coverage + impact analysis reduce risk without expanding the test suite Ways teams use saved time for deeper exploratory testing How QA, Dev, and Automation teams can align with real data instead of assumptions Whether you're a tester, automation engineer, QA lead, or DevOps architect, this episode gives you a clear path to faster, safer releases using data-driven regression strategies.

Automation Guild turns 10 this year, and the 2026 survey revealed some of the strongest trends and signals the testing community has ever shared. Register now: https://testgld.link/ag26reg In this episode, Joe breaks down the most important insights shaping Automation Guild 2026 and what they mean for testers, automation engineers, and QA leaders. You'll hear why AI-powered testing is dominating every category, why Playwright has officially become the tool testers want most, the challenges that continue to follow teams year after year, and how testers are navigating shrinking teams, faster releases, and rising expectations. This episode gives you a clear, data-driven snapshot of why Automation Guild 2026 matters — and how this year's event is designed to help you stay relevant, sharpen your skills, and tackle the problems that keep slowing down teams. Perfect for anyone considering joining the Guild, planning their 2026 automation strategy, or just trying to make sense of the rapid changes happening in testing today.

Join Sarit Tager, VP of Product for Application Security at Palo Alto Networks, as she discusses the emerging risks of AI-generated code. With a rich developer background, Sarit dives into how vibe coding is changing workflows and the inevitable vulnerabilities AI can introduce. She emphasizes the importance of guardrails, secure prompts, and prioritizing genuine risks over false positives. Sarit also shares insights on balancing security with delivery speed and the evolving role of AI in protecting applications against new attack surfaces.

Discover four essential free tools that empower testers and automation engineers. Learn how to quickly find the right testing tools, assess automation risks, and ensure your site's accessibility. Joe Colantonio showcases a risk calculator that prioritizes testing blind spots and an accessibility scanner offering actionable insights. Plus, assess your team's automation maturity with a quiz designed to enhance performance. These resources streamline decisions and boost your testing effectiveness!