Anna Mountford, Author at T-Plan

A bundle of orange spaghettit on a black background representing spaghetti testing in IT test automation

The Cost of Complexity: How Image-Based Testing Solves the Spaghetti Automation Crisis

We’re all familiar with “Spaghetti Code”: source code that is unstructured, difficult to maintain, and tangled like a bowl of pasta. However, a less discussed but equally damaging phenomenon is plaguing Large-Scale Test Automation and Robotic Process Automation (RPA). We call it “Spaghetti Testing.” Spaghetti Testing occurs when automation suites grow without a unified architecture.

Anna Mountford February 9, 2026

Digital human with orange lighting going through it.

Vibe Coding is Taking Over: Why Hybrid Visual Test Automation is the Future

Software development has fundamentally changed. We’re moving past the era of writing precise syntax line by line and entering the age of “vibe coding” – where developers act as architects of intent rather than bricklayers of code. You describe the outcome, the “vibe”, and an AI model handles the implementation. It’s a productivity shift that

Anna Mountford February 5, 2026

Hands typing on a laptop keyboard with a digital lock hologram, concept of cybersecurity on a bokeh lights background.

Defence

The Air-Gap Paradox: Architecting Non-Invasive QA for Mission-Critical Systems

In the world of mission-critical software, where failure is not merely a bug but a potential catastrophe, the greatest obstacle to automation is not technology: it is security. For sectors such as aerospace, defence, and medtech, we face a fundamental contradiction known as the Air-Gap Paradox. It is the architectural reality that the systems requiring

Anna Mountford February 4, 2026

Fiery Gaze: Intimate Portrait of a Human Eye created with Generative AI technology

Beyond the DOM: Why Agentic AI Requires a Visual-First Approach to Test Orchestration

The conversation around AI in software development has rapidly evolved from simple code generation to the far more ambitious concept of Agentic AI. We are moving towards systems that do not just follow instructions but reason, plan, and execute tasks autonomously. This paradigm shift holds immense promise for quality assurance, yet a critical chasm prevents

Anna Mountford February 4, 2026

RPA and Testing: Should there be a divide in 2026?

RPA

RPA and Testing: Should There Still Be a Divide in 2026?

For many years, testing and robotic process automation (RPA) were treated as separate disciplines. Testing focused on validating applications and managing risk. RPA focused on automating repetitive business processes to improve efficiency. Each had its own tools, teams and ways of working. That separation once made sense. Today, it is becoming increasingly difficult to justify. As organisations

Anna Mountford January 22, 2026

Software Testing

Who Owns Testing Today? Shared Responsibility Across QA, Automation and RPA

Ownership used to feel clear. QA teams planned it, executed it and carried responsibility for quality. Other roles contributed, but accountability was understood. Today, that clarity has shifted. Automation is everywhere, delivery cycles are shorter and responsibility for quality now spans QA, development, operations and the business itself. Testing happens across pipelines, platforms and processes,

Anna Mountford January 22, 2026

Blog highlighting the top UI and image based automation tools in 2026

Guides

Top UI and Image Based Test Automation Tools in 2026: An Updated and Pragmatic Comparison

UI automation has evolved rapidly over the last year. The rise of AI assisted testing, the continued shift toward hybrid application architectures and growing pressure for cross platform coverage have all reshaped the automation landscape. With so much change, now is the ideal time to revisit the question many organisations are asking in 2026. What

Anna Mountford December 8, 2025

T-Plan AI launch banner showing AI code generation and visual automation

Introducing T-Plan AI: From Concept to Automation in Seconds

AI has rapidly shaped the conversation around software testing in 2025, but many teams are still searching for practical ways to use it without losing control, accuracy or repeatability. That is why we are excited to introduce T-Plan AI, a new capability that brings the speed of AI-powered code generation together with the reliability of

Anna Mountford November 24, 2025

How AI Has Evolved Through 2025: A Balanced Look at Its Role in Testing

Over the past year, AI has dominated conversations across the software industry. Predictions of fully autonomous QA, instant test generation and self-healing automation filled headlines, while fears around job displacement added fuel to the hype. As we move further into 2025, that excitement has begun to settle. Organisations are evaluating AI more realistically and with

Anna Mountford November 13, 2025

CAD GUI automation design computer with design on the screen

UI testing

When Automation Meets Artistry: How Visual Test Automation Enables Creativity and Precision

Precision and creativity are often viewed as opposites, yet the most advanced industries today depend on both. Whether in engineering, architecture, gaming, healthcare, or defence, success increasingly relies on the balance between technical accuracy and visual excellence. The software that supports these image-heavy and design-led environments is complex and highly interactive, demanding a new kind

Anna Mountford October 20, 2025

Blog