Roadmap for a Test Engineer (QA/QC)

A comprehensive guide to becoming a professional Software Quality Assurance and Testing Engineer.

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Phase Main Topic Content & Tools Product Goal
1 Fundamentals of Testing
  • Levels & Types of Testing
  • 7 Principles of Testing
  • Test Documentation
 Write a basic test plan for a simple login functionality.
2 Test Case Design
  • Equivalence Partitioning
  • Boundary Value Analysis
  • Exploratory Testing
 Design test cases for a user registration form using BVA and EP.
3 Core Technical Skills
  • Programming: Python/Java
  • Web & API: HTML, CSS, Locators
  • Databases: Basic SQL
 Write a simple script in Python/Java to print "Hello, QA!".
4 Web UI Automation
  • Selenium WebDriver / Playwright
  • Page Object Model (POM)
  • Waits and Assertions
 Automate a login test case using Selenium or Playwright.
5 API Automation
  • Postman
  • Automation with Code
  • Schema Validation
 Use Postman to send a GET request and verify the response status.
6 Version Control
  • Git Basics
  • Branching & Merging
  • GitHub / GitLab
 Create a new branch, make a change, and create a pull request on GitHub.
7 CI/CD Integration
  • GitHub Actions / Jenkins
  • Report Integration
 Set up a simple GitHub Actions workflow to run automated tests on push.
8 Performance Testing
  • Performance Concepts
  • JMeter / k6
 Run a basic load test against a sample API using JMeter.
9 Mobile Testing
  • Appium
  • Emulators & Simulators
  • Device Farms
 Set up Appium and inspect elements on a mobile app using an emulator.
10 Advanced Topics
  • BDD & Gherkin
  • Basic Security Testing
  • Containers (Docker)
 Write a simple feature file using Gherkin syntax.

Core Mindsets for a QA Engineer

1. Think Destructively

Your job isn't just to confirm that things work, but to find how they break. Cultivate a curious and skeptical mindset to uncover hidden bugs by exploring edge cases.

2. Be the User's Advocate

You are the last line of defense for the user experience. Empathize with users to understand their needs and expectations, ensuring the final product is high-quality and intuitive.

3. Precision and Detail-Orientation

Quality is in the details. A good tester is meticulous, documents bugs clearly and concisely, and ensures that nothing slips through the cracks.

4. Communicate to Collaborate

Finding a bug is only half the battle. Communicating it effectively to developers and stakeholders without placing blame is crucial for a collaborative and productive team.