Conference contributions: practice, experience, innovation
Most recent
Past, Present, Future: The PHPUnit Story
Discover the lessons and surprises from 25 years of developing PHPUnit.
I most recently delivered "Past, Present, Future: The PHPUnit Story" at the PHP Conference Odawara on .
Upcoming
April 2026
Debugging Performance in PHP
I show you how to diagnose and resolve performance bottlenecks in PHP applications, from visualizing execution and measuring costs to pinpointing slow code and spotting regressions with confidence.
The first time I present "Debugging Performance in PHP" will be at SymfonyLive Berlin on .
May 2026
From Events to Insights: Testing and Documenting Event‑Based Software
Turning your tests into powerful, visual documentation of behavior for your event-based software.
The next time I present "From Events to Insights: Testing and Documenting Event‑Based Software" will be at the PHP User Group Frankfurt am Main on .
June 2026
An evening with Sebastian and Stefan
Stefan and I put real code under the microscope in a live, public code review. Bring yours for direct feedback on structure, testability, and maintainability.
The first time I present "An evening with Sebastian and Stefan" will be at the Symfony User Group Berlin on .
Test-Driven Security
I argue that PHP security flaws result from missing tests and shows how PHPUnit can help you prevent common vulnerabilities such as SQL Injection or XSS.
The first time I present "Test-Driven Security" will be at the International PHP Conference on .
Turbo-Charging Your PHPUnit Suite
Turbo-charge your productivity: discover how to make your test suite blazingly fast!
The first time I present "Turbo-Charging Your PHPUnit Suite" will be at the International PHP Conference on .
Modern PHP Development
This presentation reveals how to harness the ongoing evolution of PHP syntax as well as the rise of advanced developer tools for cleaner code, stronger testing, and ultimately higher-quality applications.
The next time I present "Modern PHP Development" will be at the Head in the Cloud Summit on .
July 2026
Accelerating development without losing control
AI-assisted development promises speed, but speed without control breeds technical debt and fragility. This hands-on workshop shows PHP developers how to build the automated safety nets that let you move faster because you trust your quality controls, not in spite of them.
The first time I present "Accelerating development without losing control" will be at the Web Summer Camp on .
Already delivered
Testing with(out) dependencies
This presentation clarifies effective strategies for using PHPUnit's test doubles to write robust, maintainable unit tests, highlighting practical techniques and common pitfalls to avoid.
I most recently delivered "Testing with(out) dependencies" at SymfonyOnline on .
30 Years of Code, 25 Years of Tests: A Journey Through Code and Community
Explore how PHP and PHPUnit transformed from humble beginnings into pillars of modern web development.
I most recently delivered "30 Years of Code, 25 Years of Tests: A Journey Through Code and Community" at the International PHP Conference on .
So you think you know PHPUnit
This presentation reveals practical tips and hidden gems in PHPUnit, helping developers of any experience level unlock its full potential and elevate their daily workflow.
I most recently delivered "So you think you know PHPUnit" at DrupalCon on .
Testable Database Interaction
This presentation reveals practical best practices and proven design patterns for database interaction, focusing on how to build testable software and effectively test your database code.
I most recently delivered "Testable Database Interaction" at the International PHP Conference on .
PHPUnit 10-12: What to know and what to forget
This presentation is your guide to mastering what's new, how to get ready for the future, and which outdated PHPUnit features you can finally leave behind.
I most recently delivered "PHPUnit 10-12: What to know and what to forget" at betterCode() PHP on .
PHPUnit for Shopware Developers
Find out why PHPUnit is an indispensable tool for your development workflow.
I most recently delivered "PHPUnit for Shopware Developers" at the Shopware Community Day on .
PHPUnit 10 for Symfony Developers
In this presentation, you will experience new features, big and small, in action and see how they can support you to effectively and efficiently test your software.
I most recently delivered "PHPUnit 10 for Symfony Developers" at SymfonyCon on .
Event-Based Testing
In this presentation, you will learn best practices for testing software built on architectural patterns such as Event Collaboration and Event Sourcing.
I most recently delivered "Event-Based Testing" at betterCode() PHP on .
The PHP Stack’s Supply Chain
This presentation offers a comprehensive look at the PHP software stack's supply chain. We explore not only critical security challenges, but also the vital issue of funding Open Source development.
I most recently delivered "The PHP Stack’s Supply Chain" at FrOSCon on .
Fearless Dependency Upgrades
This presentation highlights practical strategies for upgrading dependencies confidently in projects with strong automated testing, as well as solutions for teams without test automation.
I most recently delivered "Fearless Dependency Upgrades" at the International PHP Conference on .
In preparation
Beneath Every Good Test Pyramid: A Strong Oracle
Your test pyramid might look perfect on paper, but without strong oracles, it is simply a castle built on sand. Are you measuring what actually matters to your users, or just counting tests?
In preparation.
From Best Practices to Regulation
How voluntary best practices become professional expectations — and then legal requirements. What the EU Cyber Resilience Act could mean for the future of PHP development.
In preparation.
From Examples to Invariants
Write one property. Test infinite cases. Find edge cases automatically with property-based testing.
In preparation.
From Mother Sauces to Testable Software
Mother sauces, brigade systems, and testable code: discover why genius is the enemy of scalability.
In preparation.
Supply Chain Security in the PHP Ecosystem
Do you know what ends up in your vendor directory, and why? Composer has turned the dependency resolver into a supply chain security checkpoint. This talk shows how it works, where it helps, and where it can bite.
In preparation.
Two-Way Streets: Building Trust Between Language and Ecosystem
PHP tests its ecosystem. Its ecosystem tests PHP. How bidirectional validation builds trust and accelerates innovation safely.
In preparation.
Your tests are lying to you
Your tests pass. Your coverage is high. Your CI is green. But would they catch a bug?
In preparation.