QA & Test - much more than just Embedded Software Conference in Bilbao Spain.
This year, 2024 second part of the conference season for me was very interesting but much compressed as I visited 2 conferences that were totally new for me in a period of 10 days.
The first one was the 23rd edition of QA&Test in Bilbao Spain. I was always thinking that this is fully embedded software quality focused conference, but it is a much wider scope of aspects and great lineup from all over Europe. We even had small Polish block on the agenda where 3 Polish guys were presenting one after another on 2nd day, adding to that a keynote done by Paulina on first day, make for of us there. Extended with multiple great speakers from Netherlands, UK, Italy and India not to mention local stars from Spain.
What is QA&TEST conference
The QA&TEST conferences are a meeting point for the software industry. The first edition of QA&TEST Embedded was held in Bilbao in 2001, with the aim of spreading the latest advances and technological developments in testing and software quality. QA&TEST has developed around it an international community of professionals and experts in testing and software quality from sectors such as rail, aeronautics, medicine, banking, insurance or telecommunications. Software Quality Systems, organises QA&TEST since 2001.
When I think about that trip to Spain it is much more than just conferences, it is beautiful cities, great food and interesting culture. In Bilbao You are in Bask Country, and the organisers with their warmup event, speaker dinner, cocktail parties and all other events let You experience the city and the food. You can have an organised sight seeing great dinners in city centre, superb hotel, everything to have the networking going the easies way and to learn more about local culture.
Then You can go to the conference and get amazed by the speakers. Lots of wonderful sessions not only on the Embedded topic but much wider aspect, like sustainability by Bahareh Mohajer or leading multinational remote teams by Paulina Strychacz or Metrics and KPIs by Rafał Kimla and Grzegorz Koczot.
The lineup was great with experts from Ikea, Rockwell, Intel, GSSI, Sioux, TUV Nord, Andersen and many more.
One funny thing that can keep You motivated is that the weened of the best presentation get a beautiful local hat and glass statue, this year congratulations goes to Daniel Moka who did a great presentation on Mutation Testing.
This conference is not a huge one, it has I think around 150-250 attendees, half day of workshops split into 2 tracks and 2,5 days of presentations. Great cocktails and superb lunches. I have it now on my favourite list of all conferences in Europe and made great friends there. Hope to meet You again in near future and Thank You for the invitation it was a pleasure.
I did a small session on the 3rd day, inspired by local people to be connected to the community and put the Athletic shirt on as my sdupport for the club philosophy. I love that theu uselocal talent there and have success with it. I presented a session on the Dashboards and KPIs, slides attached:
