Exploring with Code: When Testing Stops Splitting in Two

In testing, the most valuable form of coverage is results: empirical, actionable, and current information that helps teams make decisions. This talk challenges traditional separations between test design and execution, and between manual and automated testing.

Instead of focusing on predefined test cases, the session explores how teams can focus on discovering information and capturing outcomes directly in automation alongside fixes. Test automation is presented not only as execution support, but also as documentation created through exploration.

Drawing on practical experience, the talk reimagines exploratory testing as a collaborative activity integrated with continuous delivery, continuous integration, and DevOps. It considers how testing can extend beyond reporting issues into debugging, repairs, and shared team practices, including exploration at unit level.

The session also reflects on how AI expands what is possible by supporting imagination and exploration. In this context, testing moves beyond finding bugs to exploring intent, value, context, alignment, and experience.

You will learn: 

• how exploratory testing can combine manual and automated approaches 

• how test automation can support documentation and shared understanding 

• how testing can extend beyond bug reporting into debugging and repair 

• how team collaboration changes when testing is no longer split into separate activities 

• how AI can support exploratory testing and broaden the focus of testing work