Taking Testing Seriously with James Bach

🎙️ In this episode of Tech & Test, I sit down with James Bach — one of the most influential and bold voices in software testing. With more than four decades in the craft, James brings a unique long term perspective on how testing has evolved, from his early days at Apple to the challenges of today’s AI-driven landscape. This conversation goes far beyond techniques and tooling. We dive into the thinking, the emotions, the history, and the shifting responsibilities that define what it means to be a tester today. 💬 What We Discuss 🔹 What has (and hasn’t) changed in testing since the 1980s — and why so many “new” ideas aren’t new at all 🔹 Why testers are still misunderstood, and the emotional cost of delivering uncomfortable truths 🔹 How testers manage boundaries, relationships, and the difficulty of switching off analytical thinking 🔹 Why independent evaluation matters more than ever — and why testers should inform, not own, release decisions 🔹 How AI is reshaping the craft: probabilistic testing, the rise of the toolsmith, “vibe coding,” and building rapid disposable testing utilities 🔹 A real story of a company that nearly replaced its entire testing team with an AI tool that didn’t work James also reflects on ideas from Lessons Learned in Software Testing, Secrets of a Buccaneer Scholar, and his latest book, Taking Testing Seriously. 🎧 Why Watch This Episode If you care about software testing, the future of quality, or the people who shaped the discipline, this conversation is packed with insight, history, and a healthy dose of challenge. James’s perspective is sharp, honest, and deeply relevant to anyone navigating today’s rapidly changing technical landscape. 👍 Like, subscribe, and share if the episode resonates. Books referenced: Lessons Learned in Software Testing Secrets of a Buccaneer Scholar Taking Testing Seriously