Software testing sits between art and science. The lens of Leonardo da Vinci highlights habits that matter. Curiosity, close observation, and small experiments guide better choices than thick stacks of metrics. Uncertainty is not a bug. It is a signal to ask better questions. Clear storytelling and short reports help teams act. Empathy joins engineering to cut through noise and align goals. Work crosses disciplines and evolves with messy projects. Perfection blocks progress. Good enough at the right time can lift quality and morale. Logic needs imagination to create impact.
In this episode, I talk with Barış Sarıalioğlu about testing as art and science, through the lens of Leonardo da Vinci. We ask what a tester can learn from curiosity, observation, and experiments. Mona Lisa's smile shows how uncertainty beats 100 pages of metrics. We should aim for understanding, not bug counts. We talk about storytelling, simple reports that people can read, and mixing engineering with empathy. Testers work across disciplines, explore, and make sense of messy projects. Perfection is a trap. Good enough can be great. Balance logic and imagination, and you get impact that reaches beyond tools.
"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." - Barış Sarıalioğlu
With over 20 years of experience in IT and software engineering, Barış Sarıalioğlu specializes in navigating the complexities of digital transformation, innovation, and leadershipacross diverse industries.His expertise spans Digital Transformation, Agility, Artificial Intelligence, Software Development, User Experience, Design Thinking, Quality Assurance, and Software Testing, enabling him to deliver holistic, technology-driven solutions to businesschallenges. He has led global teams and managed cross-functional departments, including HR, Marketing, Sales, Legal, and Finance, aligning organizational goals with innovative strategies. His work spans industries such as telecommunications, banking, defense, aviation, automotive, insurance, e-commerce and semiconductors, contributing to high-stakes projects across Turkey, the U.S., Russia, Germany, China, and beyond.As a published author and keynote speaker at 100+ conferences in 50+ countries, He is dedicated to advancing software engineering and exploring the transformative power of technology on organizations and individuals alike.
Software testing might conjure images of test cases, bug reports, and relentless checklists. Yet, what if we took a page from the Renaissance—specifically from the genius of Leonardo da Vinci—and reimagined the tester’s role? In a recent episode of Software Testing Unleashed, host Richie and guest Baris Sarialologlu explored how testing is so much more than process and precision; it’s a dance between logic and artistry that deeply influences how we build— and experience— software.
Baris sheds light on the surprising parallels between da Vinci and the modern tester. Leonardo wasn’t confined to just one field—he was an inventor, artist, and relentless experimenter. Baris notes da Vinci as “not only an artist but also an engineer,” someone who wielded both logic and creativity with ease.
Testers, he says, operate similarly: “using the left side of our brain as well as the right side.” On one side, we use data and logic; on the other, imagination and empathy. To Baris, da Vinci embodies the ideal tester—curious, observant, interdisciplinary, and able to communicate findings in ways that influence and inspire.
“Testing is both an art and science. It’s like balancing logic with intuition,” Baris explains. Creativity is not a luxury in testing—it’s essential. Every project brings unknowns. “One part of our job is to implement things...the other part is to present it, to create communication around it.”
Reporting, especially, requires artistry. Facts and figures matter, but telling a compelling story with those results is how testers provoke action and understanding. Baris points to da Vinci’s use of subtlety and ambiguity—like the Mona Lisa’s enigmatic smile—as a lesson for testers: often, uncertainty in quality can’t be captured in raw metrics but emerges from a holistic view.
Perfection is a myth, Baris asserts. “All the software in the world would be imperfect from a perspective.” Instead of chasing flawless products, testers—and organizations—should seek continuous improvement and deeper understanding. Like da Vinci, who saw beauty in imperfection and pursued endless experimentation, quality professionals need to accept that problems will never entirely disappear.
This acceptance isn’t an excuse for sloppiness; rather, it fuels curiosity and problem-solving, Baris says: “If we reach perfection, I think that will be the end of the story. All the nice things in life come from problems.” In other words, it’s the pursuit of better—not perfect—that drives innovation in software and beyond.
One of da Vinci’s most famous quotes—“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication”—rings especially true for testers. Baris laments the tendency to bury insight under dozens of pages of metrics, losing the message in complexity: “The happiness comes from a simple report, maybe one small excerpt...not hundred pages of those things.”
To break through, testers should focus on communicating what truly matters, in a way anyone can understand. Simplicity in communication—not dumbing things down, but distilling meaning—is where the magic happens.
Artistry in testing isn’t about trading discipline for whimsy. Instead, it’s about blending the best of both worlds—rigor and empathy, clarity and creativity. “Testing is both an art and science,” Baris reminds us, “balancing logic with intuition.”
As you approach your next project, try channeling your inner da Vinci. Take notes like a historian, experiment like a scientist, and present your results like an artist. Embrace the unknowns, accept imperfection as fuel for growth, and aim for simplicity that clarifies rather than confuses.
In doing so, you’ll not only improve the quality of software, but elevate the role of the tester—to that of a creative leader and trusted storyteller within your organization.