Company
Date Published
Author
Guest This
Word count
1465
Language
English
Hacker News points
None

Summary

The Netherlands Enterprise Agency, also known as Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland or RVO, has undergone a significant transformation in its software testing approach with the help of Cypress, a popular testing tool. Prior to 2024, testing was not a formally recognized discipline within the organization, and it was often approached in a fragmented and informal way. However, with the official recognition of testing as a separate discipline in January 2024, RVO embarked on a journey to modernize its testing processes, led by Cypress Ambassadors Frits Van Der Sloot and Paul de Witt. They introduced a language-first testing strategy, which emphasized the use of TypeScript as a shared language for all testing efforts, regardless of the tool used. This approach enabled teams to simplify abstractions, reduce complexity, and focus on clarity and intention. As a result, RVO was able to eliminate unnecessary complexity, unify testing across legacy and greenfield systems, reduce its dependency on external consultants, and build a culture where quality is everyone's responsibility. By adopting Cypress and a language-first strategy, RVO has not only improved its testing processes but also modernized the way it thinks about testing altogether, with a significant reduction in consultancy fees and a shift towards long-term internal ownership of quality processes.