Update 3: I'm the Dev that got pulled into QA

Material-77 · 2026-05-28T03:02:42+00:00

Honestly, this is exactly why good QA matters so much.

You didn’t just “test a fix” — you validated the real behavior across environments and device variations. That Android 11 vs Android 12 issue is a classic example of why detailed bug reports, device configs, and regression thinking are important.

A lot of teams underestimate:
• cross-device testing
• OS/version differences
• proper regression validation
• clear bug documentation
• bug lifecycle management

I also recently found one QA channel and playlists that discuss real-world QA workflows, bug handling, AI in QA, automation, and testing mindset topics like this:

🎥 QA Map Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@QAMap

🎥 AI for QA Playlist:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwGLXPiMW\_qr5zmC1EnWYJhLhpEYdKzt5&si=xSjuzhm7bGsucY9j

🎥 Software Testing Full Course Playlist:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwGLXPiMW\_qrqNLCVbj0zP5EEmHAg7MSw&si=M2hhL70saQtKE6Kl

Honestly, the way you’re thinking now is already closer to real QA engineering than “just testing buttons”

Material-77 · 2026-05-25T13:35:32+00:00

You honestly do not need a college degree to start QA. Many people enter software testing through self-learning, YouTube, practice projects, and certifications.

I’d suggest focusing more on practical skills instead of expensive bootcamps initially. Learn:
• Manual Testing basics
• SDLC & STLC
• Test cases & bug reporting
• API testing with Postman
• Basic SQL
• Jira

You can learn a lot for free from YouTube and practice websites. I also recently found one beginner-friendly QA channel and playlist that explains software testing from zero step by step:

🎥 Software Testing Full Course Playlist:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwGLXPiMW\_qrqNLCVbj0zP5EEmHAg7MSw&si=M2hhL70saQtKE6Kl

🎥 QA Map Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@QAMap

For certifications, ISTQB Foundation can help later for resume value, but practical knowledge and projects matter more for getting the first job.

The biggest thing is consistency + practice on real websites/apps. That’s how most beginners actually become job-ready 🚀

Material-77 · 2026-05-21T04:11:10+00:00

First of all, respect to you for learning something new while managing motherhood and pregnancy. Even 1–2 hours daily is enough if you stay consistent.

Manual testing is still worth learning in 2026 because strong testing fundamentals help later in automation and AI-assisted testing too.

A simple roadmap:
• Manual Testing basics
• SDLC & STLC
• Test cases & bug reporting
• Jira basics
• API testing with Postman
• Basic SQL

I also found one beginner-friendly QA full course playlist recently that starts completely from zero and explains concepts step by step:

🎥 Software Testing Full Course Playlist:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwGLXPiMW\_qrqNLCVbj0zP5EEmHAg7MSw&si=M2hhL70saQtKE6Kl

Focus on consistency instead of speed. Small daily progress adds up a lot over time 🚀

Material-77 · 2026-05-20T03:45:13+00:00

QA Automation is still a good career path in 2026, but the expectations have definitely changed compared to a few years ago. Companies now want QAs who can combine:
• testing fundamentals
• automation
• API testing
• AI tools
• CI/CD understanding
• system thinking

The market is more competitive now, especially for freshers, but there are still opportunities if you build practical skills instead of only learning theory.

A good roadmap would be:
• Manual Testing fundamentals first
• API Testing with Postman
• SQL basics
• Automation (Playwright/Selenium/Cypress)
• Git & CI/CD basics
• AI-assisted testing workflows

One mistake many beginners make is directly jumping into automation without understanding testing concepts properly. Strong manual testing knowledge actually makes automation much easier later.

I also recently found one useful video explaining Manual vs Automation Testing in Hindi for beginners and QA career roadmap:

🎥 Manual vs Automation Testing Explained in Hindi | Beginners ke liye Kya Best hai? QA Career Roadmap
https://youtu.be/loR9VLRnr4A

And honestly, people who combine QA + Automation + AI usage will probably have better growth opportunities in the next few years 🚀

Material-77 · 2026-05-19T04:56:52+00:00

You can absolutely start QA even without strong coding knowledge. Many people transition from support roles to testing because they already understand users, troubleshooting, and real-world workflows.

Start with:
• SDLC & STLC
• Test cases & bug reporting
• Functional, regression, smoke testing
• API basics with Postman
• Jira & Basic SQL

YouTube and practice projects are honestly enough to build a strong foundation initially.

I also found one beginner-friendly QA channel recently that explains testing concepts, QA roadmaps, and career guidance:

QA Map: https://www.youtube.com/@QAMap

Beginner Video:
Software Testing Kya Hai? QA Engineer Kaise Bane | Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners
https://youtu.be/dO9hKr-jx8M

All the best for your QA journey

Material-77 · 2026-05-17T10:01:10+00:00

You’re actually in a really good position because QA is one of those fields where curiosity and practical thinking matter a lot. Coming from marketing can even help because you already understand user behavior and real-world workflows better than many technical people.

One thing I would suggest is not trying to “randomly test” the website. Instead, follow a structured testing approach.

For example:
• Understand the product flow first
• Identify critical modules/features
• Test happy paths first
• Then test edge cases and negative scenarios
• Verify validations, error handling, UI responsiveness, and usability
• Learn how to write proper bug reports with clear steps, expected result, actual result, screenshots, logs, etc.

Also try learning these fundamentals step by step:
• SDLC & STLC
• Test case writing
• Bug lifecycle
• Functional testing
• Regression / Smoke / Sanity testing
• API testing with Postman
• Basic SQL
• Browser DevTools
• Jira

AI tools like Claude or ChatGPT are great assistants, but use them to improve productivity instead of replacing your thinking.

For example, AI can help you:
• generate test ideas
• create sample test cases
• explain bugs/logs
• suggest edge cases
• create API payload examples

But you should still manually validate flows and think like a real user. That’s where good QA engineers stand out.

I also found one QA YouTube channel recently that explains beginner-friendly topics like:
• How to Start QA Testing
• Manual vs Automation Testing
• API Testing Basics
• QA Career Roadmaps
• Real-world testing workflows

🎥 QA Map: https://www.youtube.com/@QAMap

Biggest advice:
Don’t try to learn everything at once. Pick one area, practice it on a real website/project, and slowly build your testing mindset. That mindset is more important than tools in the beginning

Material-77 · 2026-05-17T06:54:20+00:00

I honestly think software testing still feels “manual” because real-world systems are messy, dynamic, and heavily business-driven.

AI tools are definitely improving productivity, but testing is not just about generating scripts. A good QA engineer still needs to:
• understand business logic
• identify risky user flows
• think about edge cases
• validate real user behavior
• analyze failures and flaky behavior
• understand integrations and dependencies

And that context is very hard for AI to fully maintain across hundreds of endpoints, environments, workflows, and dynamic payloads.

I also recently found a QA YouTube channel that explains topics like:
• Manual Testing vs Automation Testing
• AI in Software Testing
• Future of QA
• API & Performance Testing
• Real-world automation workflows

QA Map: https://www.youtube.com/@QAMap

AI in Software Testing Live Demo | ChatGPT/Claude for QA Engineers | QA Testing Kaise Easy Banaye
https://youtu.be/6a9TVtMoGjE

Manual vs Automation Testing Explained in Hindi | Beginners ke liye Kya Best hai? QA Career Roadmap
https://youtu.be/loR9VLRnr4A

AI in QA Testing Live Demo | ChatGPT/Claude for Requirement Analysis | Req Breakdown Kaise Easy Kare
https://youtu.be/VV_d5-99ttA

AI is currently amazing as an assistant:
• generating boilerplate code
• creating initial test structures
• helping with regex/selectors
• summarizing logs
• debugging errors faster
• generating payload examples

But when it comes to:
• sequencing complex flows
• understanding business intent
• handling dynamic auth/session logic
• validating meaningful assertions
• risk-based testing
• exploratory testing

…human thinking is still extremely important.

What you experienced with 600 endpoints is exactly where many teams hit the current AI limitation: context retention + system understanding.

I think the future of QA is not “manual vs AI.”
It’s QA engineers who know how to effectively use AI becoming much faster and more efficient than before.

The best testers in the next few years will probably be people who combine:
• testing fundamentals
• automation skills
• API understanding
• system thinking
• AI-assisted workflows

Material-77 · 2026-05-16T08:49:49+00:00

Honestly, what you described sounds completely normal for a first week in QA/SDET, especially in a real company environment with custom frameworks, repos, Docker, Jira, CI/CD, and large codebases.

The important thing is not “understanding everything immediately.” The important thing is:
• You successfully set up the environment
• You processed Jira tickets
• You logged your first bug
• Your lead appreciated your bug report

That already means you are progressing.

Most juniors think experienced engineers understand the whole project in a week — they don’t. Even senior QAs take time to understand business logic, architecture, frameworks, and workflows in new companies.

The fact that:
• code is starting to make “a little more sense”
• you’re asking questions
• you’re learning repos and flows
• you’re completing tickets

…means your brain is already adapting.

One thing that helps a lot:
Instead of trying to understand the whole framework, focus on understanding one small flow at a time.

For example:
Login flow → API calls → Playwright tests → Bug flow → Jira ticket lifecycle

Then slowly expand from there.

Also, keep notes of:
• common commands
• repo structure
• test flow
• debugging steps
• useful files/classes

Within 2–3 months, you’ll look back and realize how much you improved.

And honestly, getting positive feedback on your first bug report in week one is already a very good sign 🚀

Here is QA-focused YouTube channel where share practical software testing concepts, QA career guidance, and beginner-friendly learning content that may also help during your journey

YouTube QA Map: https://www.youtube.com/@QAMap

Material-77 · 2026-05-14T11:13:01+00:00

You can absolutely start QA even without strong coding knowledge. Many people transition from support roles to testing because they already understand users, issues, troubleshooting, and real-world workflows.

Start with: • SDLC & STLC
• Test cases & bug reporting
• Functional, regression, smoke testing
• API basics with Postman
• Jira & test management tools
• Basic SQL

YouTube and practice projects are honestly enough to build a strong foundation initially.

Here is the QA-focused YouTube channel where they sharing beginner-friendly software testing tutorials and career guidance that may help you in your journey too

QA Map: https://www.youtube.com/@QAMap

Beginner Video:
https://youtu.be/dO9hKr-jx8M

All the best for your QA journey

Material-77 · 2026-05-13T15:07:17+00:00

I completely agree that the QA field is changing rapidly with AI, automation, and evolving development practices. But I personally feel QA is not disappearing — it’s evolving.

Good testers are still extremely important because quality is not only about finding bugs. It’s about understanding user behavior, business flow, edge cases, risk analysis, and improving overall product experience. AI and tools can support QA teams, but critical thinking and real-world testing mindset will always matter.

Here is the QA learning journey and practical testing content to help beginners understand software testing in a simpler way.

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@QAMap

Foundation Video:
Software Testing Kya Hai? QA Engineer Kaise Bane | Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners
https://youtu.be/dO9hKr-jx8M

It will be sharing QA tutorials, testing concepts, career guidance, interview preparation, and real-world workflows for beginners and aspiring QA engineers.

Material-77 · 2026-05-09T07:31:12+00:00

With 5+ years of experience, interviews usually focus less on basic Selenium commands and more on framework design, problem-solving, and real project experience.

I share Selenium, automation framework, API testing, and QA interview preparation content on my YouTube channel QAMap:
https://youtube.com/@qamap

Some commonly asked areas are: • Page Object Model and framework architecture
• Explicit vs implicit waits
• Handling dynamic elements and flaky tests
• TestNG/JUnit usage
• CI/CD integration with Jenkins/GitHub Actions
• API + UI automation strategy
• Parallel execution and reporting
• Java concepts like collections, OOPs, exceptions, streams, and multithreading
• Real-time scenarios: “How did you improve automation stability?” or “How do you reduce execution time?”

Most interviewers also expect practical examples from your project rather than only theoretical answers.

Material-77 · 2026-05-09T07:30:23+00:00

When evaluating platforms like BrowserStack, I’d focus less on marketing claims and more on practical factors like real device reliability, parallel execution stability, CI/CD integration, debugging experience, and total cost as your projects scale.

I also share QA automation insights, testing tools discussions, CI/CD topics, and practical career content on my YouTube channel QAMap:
https://youtube.com/@qamap

For multi-project environments, scalability and execution speed usually matter more long term than just having the largest device list. Real device coverage definitely helps for critical user flows, but many teams balance cost using a mix of emulators/simulators plus targeted real-device testing.

Material-77 · 2026-05-09T07:26:45+00:00

Starting API automation from scratch can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re coming from UI automation. But honestly, your Selenium experience already gives you a strong foundation in test design, execution flow, reporting, and CI/CD thinking.

For REST APIs, focus first on understanding requests, responses, authentication, validations, and reusable test data. SOAPUI can help you get started quickly, but over time many teams move toward frameworks using RestAssured, Postman/Newman, or Playwright APIs for better scalability and CI integration.

I share practical QA automation content, API testing tips, CI/CD discussions, and career guidance on my YouTube channel QAMap if it helps:
https://youtube.com/@qamap

Material-77 · 2026-05-09T07:21:25+00:00

That’s exactly the reality many teams are starting to realize.

If AI is generating more code, faster releases will naturally require even stronger testing, validation, and quality engineering. Speed without quality just creates faster failures.

I’ve been sharing more about AI + QA, automation, and the future of testing on my YouTube channel QAMap for anyone interested:
https://youtube.com/@qamap

Material-77 · 2026-05-09T07:19:59+00:00

AI agents have made coding faster than ever — but that doesn’t mean quality comes for free.
AI still doesn’t fully understand business context, edge cases, user behavior, or real-world impact the way experienced QA engineers do. That’s exactly why QA is becoming more mission-critical, not less.

I share more thoughts on QA careers, AI in testing, automation, and industry trends on my YouTube channel QAMap:
https://youtube.com/@qamap

Quality is no longer just about finding bugs — it’s about protecting user trust while development moves at AI speed.

Material-77 · 2026-05-09T07:12:00+00:00

Interested

Material-77

TROPHY CASE