Software testing has grown from manual checks to industrial automation. Tools changed, but the mindset stayed. The focus moves from scripts to models and now to AI that supports analysis, design, and execution. AI looks like a helper, not a job thief. It shifts effort to thinking, risk, and clear reporting. A shared body of knowledge, like common vocabularies and syllabuses, helped teams across industries work together. The craft needs basics, code skills, data sense, and soft skills. Community work and events add perspective and courage. The next step belongs to those who pair curiosity with discipline and let learning stay permanent.
In this episode, I talk with Tibor Csöndes about how testing grew up and where it goes next. We recorded live at HUSTEF in Budapest, a conference he helped shape. Tibor shares telco roots where automation was normal. Tools change, thinking stays. He sees AI as a third wave after CATG and model based testing. Helpful, not a job thief. Use it, or the testers who do will take your seat. ISTQB gave us a common language across industries. Learn the basics, automation, AI, and the human stuff like clear messages and critical thinking.
"You know that usually you will present the bad news and you have to know how to present the bad news. Because the bad news does not mean that you are the bad guy. Maybe you are the good guy who can find a real bug which can destroy your company or your product later." - Tibor Csöndes
Tibor Csöndes is a highly skilled Hungarian engineer and manager specializing in telecommunication and software testing. He's a veteran at Ericsson Hungary Ltd., R&D, having started his career there in 1997.
He currently works as a Line Manager (since 2009), handling people management and leading various engineering teams in areas like Component Development and MTAS&CSCF. Before his managerial role, he was a Test Architect and Senior Specialist, contributing to the TTCN-3 standardization within ETSI.
Tibor holds a PhD in Electrical Engineering from the Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME). He remains active in academia as an Honorary Associate Professor at BME, where he supervises students and researches using optimization methods to solve complex testing problems. He's a prominent figure in the industry as the President of the Hungarian Testing Board (ISTQB member board) since 2018. Critically, he is the Head of Organization for the well-known HUSTEF conference, a major identified event in the European software testing community.
During a special episode of “Software Testing Unleashed,” recorded live from the HUSTEF Conference 2025 in Budapest, Richie welcomed veteran tester and community leader Tibor Csöndes for a candid conversation about the transformation of the software testing profession. Both speakers highlighted not only the technical changes but also the importance of community, learning, and adaptability in the world of software quality.
Richie set the stage by describing the atmosphere of HUSTEF and the pivotal role Tibor played in building and sustaining the conference over the years. Diving into his personal history, Tibor reflected on entering the testing industry almost 30 years ago, at a time when software testing and development were markedly separate disciplines.
He recounted working in the telco industry, where test automation became essential much earlier than in other sectors due to strict protocol definitions. “Testing was meant for me test automation,” Tibor said, explaining how even as a student, he collaborated on building test automation tools. The early divisions between tester and developer roles were, in his experience, bridged only by those who worked in research or specialized tool development.
One recurring theme was the need to connect testers and developers. Richie pointed out that today’s agile processes encourage collaboration between these roles, something that Tibor saw as his mission two decades ago. “We have to break these long distances and bridges and we have to connect them to each other and let's work together,” Tibor emphasized. While progress has been made, it remains a continuing journey for the profession.
When asked about changes over the last 25 years, Tibor noted the dramatic evolution in tools. From proprietary programming languages and vendor-supported tools in the 90s, the industry moved through phases like computer-aided test generation (CATG) and model-based testing. These innovations often stumbled on complexity and limited accessibility.
Now, AI is coming to the forefront. “AI is better because it's much more widely used. … More testers can use it, much easier to use it, much more understandable,” Tibor said. But he cautioned that tools are only as good as the critical thinking and expertise behind them: “Help us and not replace us.”
Richie agreed, noting how AI makes modeling and requirement analysis easier but doesn’t substitute for the human element—the process of questioning, reflecting, and thinking critically remains key.
The conversation turned to learning and professional development. Tibor stressed the value of ongoing education, from attending conferences like HUSTEF to taking part in ISTQB training and certification courses. The ISTQB’s greatest contribution, he argued, is the establishment of a common language for testers and developers, helping standardize terminology and frameworks across industries.
As AI takes a bigger role in automation, testers must equip themselves with foundational theory, technical skills, and an openness to new tools. "Those testers will take our job who are using AI from those who don't use AI," he warned, emphasizing the need to stay current.
Technical skills alone aren’t enough. Tibor highlighted the critical need for communication skills, particularly when conveying difficult news, and personal qualities like curiosity and critical thinking. These soft skills, he suggested, are just as vital as knowing the latest tools.
The Hungarian Testing Board’s community-centric approach, exemplified by the Gustev Conference and local learning platforms, aims to foster connections and collaborative learning, expanding opportunities for testers to grow together. Upcoming initiatives like testing hackathons (“testathons”) are designed to bring in practitioners who might not otherwise participate in formal communities or standardization—diverse pathways to engagement.
Richie closed by echoing Tibor's vision: continued internationalization, openness, and making the world of software testing accessible to all. Whether you’re joining as a community member, seeking certification, or presenting at a conference, participation and shared learning remain the keys to an evolving and resilient profession.
The role of the software tester has changed significantly, but the core principles—critical thinking, ongoing learning, and community—remain. As tools evolve and AI becomes commonplace, testers who embrace new technology while holding onto these enduring skills will help shape the future of software quality for years to come.