Testcontainers: needed, simple, powerful

Spoiler alert: this is a “from zero to hero” session. Assuming you’re familiar with programming (hopefully in Java), after this session you should be able to explain why Testcontainers are needed, simple and powerful 😉

The pyramids in Egypt were built in ancient times. We still admire them today, appreciating the craftsmanship and hard work of their builders. However, do we build houses from giant stone blocks today? Not likely, current times bring other needs and offer other technologies.

Pyramids of testing were also built some time ago. We admire legacy projects with a rich set of tests, but do we create projects today the same way we did 10-15-20 years ago? If not, why do we still want to test them the same way?

Maybe the shape of today’s projects' tests should no longer resemble a pyramid? Our needs are different, and the possibilities, thanks to the Testcontainers, have also advanced a lot.

If you have a feeling that integration testing can bring a lot to your project, but somehow you haven’t had the chance to get acquainted with Testcontainers so far, or you’re afraid that it’s just “magic for top developers”, this lecture is for you.

First, we’ll see why integration tests are mandatory for any modern system and what benefits they give your team and your product.

Next, we’ll see why Testcontainers is a perfect tool for this job: we’ll grasp some key concepts, debunk myths, to finish with more sophisticated scenarios and optimisation techniques.

So far this talk was hosted by Devoxx Belgium 2023.