World Congress 2026 Europe - Virtual Stage

Old tools, new tricks

What this session covers

In software development, it’s tempting to chase the latest tools. However, some of the most effective solutions have been around for decades. In this talk, we’ll delve into the enduring value of timeless (testing) tools.

We’ll explore why established tools like Selenium, GNU Make, Maven, and Bash remain vital in today’s toolkit. Despite their age, these tools are adaptable, versatile, and reliable. I’ll share examples of how they’ve consistently addressed our testing and automation challenges, proving that sometimes, the “old” ways are the best.

While I also use AI tools in my daily work, this isn’t a rant against them. This session aims to encourage a deeper appreciation of familiar tools. By understanding their strengths, you can make more informed decisions and enrich your toolbox.

Let’s rediscover the power of the classics and see how they can work hand in hand with modern tools for a “best of both worlds” approach to software testing and development.

World Congress 2026 Europe - Virtual Stage

Related talks

Open session

Thoughts on (Modern?) Software Development - Observations From a 21-Year Journey

  • Alex Thurow

    Alexander Thurow Software Development & Consulting

    Founder

Open session

Using AI Without Losing Your Skills

  • Jen Callou

    JenCallou.de

    Founder

Open session

A Developer's Framework for Any Tool Migration

  • Sérgio Sancho Pinto

    Celfocus

    Software Development Engineer

Open session

JavaScript? No. Java Scripts! - Scripting with Java

  • Jens Knipper

    OpenValue

    Senior Software Engineer

All sessions at this congress