In this session, we'll explore why effective testing is the cornerstone of clean, maintainable software. Participants will gain insights into determining the appropriate amount and types of tests their projects genuinely require, clarifying common misconceptions around test coverage and revealing why striving for complete coverage can sometimes lead to pitfalls.

We'll discuss practical strategies for refactoring—transforming your code safely and incrementally to enhance its structure and readability without breaking functionality. Participants will understand the surprising truth behind the DRY (Don't Repeat Yourself) principle and why repeating yourself can be beneficial specifically in testing contexts.

Finally, attendees will learn how to sustainably maintain and systematically organize tests over time, avoiding common maintenance headaches and keeping their test suites robust and relevant. Join to transform your testing practices from a source of frustration into a path toward coding zen.

Note: This talk provides only a brief overview of automated testing basics. A foundational understanding of unit testing is recommended.

Dennis Oehme is the CEO of Garden of Concepts GmbH, where he develops successful software solutions for and with clients across diverse industries. His extensive experience spans cloud solutions, embedded systems, existing codebases, and greenfield projects. From established banks to innovative startups, from small teams to large enterprise projects, Dennis has worked with an impressive variety of technologies and development cultures.

Throughout his career, Dennis has consistently observed one universal truth: testing remains a significant challenge that must be deliberately learned and mastered.