QA Tech Stack 101

Understanding your tech stack is the first step toward becoming an effective tester. In this post, we’ll break down the essential tools, compare manual vs. automated testing, and explain why testing environments and browser diversity matter.

🔧 What Tools Do QA Engineers Use?

Depending on the project the set of technologies may vary, but for example in most cases test automation engineers may partially use the same technologies and tools as manual test engineers, so it is important to understand the basic kinds and types of technologies that a novice engineer will have to work with.

• Jira Bug tracking and project management system that most of not only QA engineers but all teams work with. In this system, QA engineers can report bugs, track the progress of bug fixes, and check for implemented changes.

• Postman Application for working with API requests. Despite the extensive functionality provided by Postman, beginners using this technology can explore all the required parameters of API queries, as well as reproduce the requests used by the application under test.

• TestRail / XRAY Tools for tracking and managing test cases. In these applications, QA engineers can create, modify and maintain sets of test cases, change their statuses and combine them into complete test plans for the areas required for testing. It is worth mentioning that such tools make the process of testing much easier.

• DevTools The developer panel that is present in every browser. Thanks to it, QA engineers can fine-tune browser environments, view API requests sent by the application, etc. This is an indispensable tool for performing manual testing, and it is one of the most used tools in this sphere

• Git / GitHub / GitLab Although most people at the beginning of their careers will conflate the concept of GiHub & GitLab directly with Git as if it were the same technology, in fact GiHub & GitLab are services that work through the use of Git Git is a version control system that allows to manage all changes made to tracked files, while GiHub & GitLab are services that extend the functionality of Git making the process of developing a product collaboratively much easier. It is important to note that manual test engineers may not use these technologies as often as automation engineers, but understanding these technologies and services is important to expand professional skills that directly affect the quality of testing.

• CI/CD Tools (Jenkins, GitHub Actions) Used to run your automated tests as part of the software delivery pipeline—ensuring that each code update is verified before deployment.

• BrowserStack / Sauce Labs Cloud-based platforms that provide real devices and browsers for cross-browser and mobile testing without needing to maintain your own hardware lab. Each tool plays a unique role in your QA process. As you grow in your career, you’ll build familiarity with the ones most relevant to your team and tech stack.

🧪 Manual Testing vs Automated Testing

Both manual and automated testing are fundamental parts of QA. Knowing when to use each is key.

• Manual Testing is typically the first step in any QA effort. It involves using the application like a real user would—navigating the UI, entering data, and verifying the results. This is especially useful for exploratory testing, UI validation, and one-time checks.

• Automated Testing comes in when you have repetitive tasks—like regression tests or smoke tests—that need to be run consistently. Automation allows you to write scripts (using tools like Selenium or Playwright) that can test the application quickly and reliably.

Pro tip: Manual testing uncovers issues you weren’t expecting. Automation ensures the issues you already know about don’t come back.

The most effective QA engineers use both methods strategically—leveraging the speed of automation while relying on manual testing for nuanced, human-centered insights.

🌍 Understanding Environments and Browsers

Your application may behave differently depending on where – and how – it’s being used. That’s why testing across various environments and browsers is essential.

Testing Environments typically include:

• Development (Dev) – Where developers build and initially test their code.

• Staging (Pre-prod) – A nearly identical replica of production, used for final validation.

• Production – The live version that real users interact with. Each environment can behave slightly differently, especially when it comes to data, performance, or integrations.

Browser Compatibility is another layer of complexity. Not all users are on the same browser or device:

You should test on Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, and across Windows, macOS, iOS, Android.
Mobile responsiveness is critical—use tools like BrowserStack to simulate real devices.
Failing to test across environments and browsers can lead to bugs slipping through the cracks – especially for layout issues, inconsistent behavior, or browser-specific glitches.

The QA tech stack is your toolkit for ensuring software quality. Whether you’re writing test cases, checking APIs, automating regression suites, or verifying UI designs on multiple browsers – each tool and method plays a role.

By learning how to balance manual and automated testing, and testing thoroughly across environments, you’ll set yourself up for success as a QA professional.

Stay curious, explore new tools, and always test with the end user in mind.

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