The Tale of Two QE Developers: Sam vs Andy - Part I

As we approach the birthday of Edgar Allan Poe on October 7th, the master of the macabre whose works like The Raven and The Tell-Tale Heart still send chills down our collective spines, I find myself reflecting on his talent for highlighting the profound contrasts of human nature. Poe’s stories often depict characters on diverging paths—choices that define their destinies. Inspired by this narrative style, let me share a modern tale from our world of Quality Engineering, a tale of two developers—Sam and Andy—whose career choices mirror the stark contrasts found in a Poe story.

Once upon a time in the land of Quality Engineering, two developers, Sam and Andy, embarked on vastly different journeys in their careers. They worked at the same company, shared the same office coffee, and even parked their cars next to each other every day. But that’s where the similarities ended. Sam and Andy, two QA masterminds, were about to become the embodiment of contrasting futures in a rapidly evolving tech landscape.

Sam: The Stalwart of Selenium Frameworks

Sam was a legend in the office. His reputation as a hardcore Selenium developer preceded him; he was known for his unyielding commitment to the "old ways." Sam’s magnum opus was a custom test automation framework that he had meticulously crafted over the years. It was his pride and joy—a patchwork quilt of scripts, brittle integrations, and hard-coded workarounds that only Sam truly understood. He was the gatekeeper, the king of his codebase, and in his mind, the savior of QA.

But there was a problem.

Sam’s framework, while once celebrated, had become the albatross around the company’s neck. Maintenance costs skyrocketed. Releases slowed to a crawl. The business needs were outpacing the capabilities of Sam’s beloved code, and when the company looked to modernize, Sam’s response was as reliable as his archaic framework: “Why change what works?”

Except it didn’t work. Not anymore.

New features couldn’t be tested fast enough. Flexibility was non-existent. Innovation? That was something other companies did, not Sam’s team. As the company watched its competitors zoom ahead with sleek, agile, AI-driven approaches, Sam doubled down on his “back in my day” mantra, clutching his framework like a ship’s captain going down with the vessel.

The boardroom whispered. The CFO cringed at the upkeep bills. And eventually, Sam’s stubborn refusal to adapt was seen for what it was: not just a technical deficit but a strategic liability. And in the world of modern QE, liabilities don’t get promotions. They get… reassigned. Sam was quietly moved to a back-office role—still working on that framework, of course. Only now, no one cared.

Andy: The Visionary of AI Automation

Andy, on the other hand, was always looking ahead. Where Sam saw scripts, Andy saw systems. Where Sam saw costs, Andy saw opportunities. Andy’s philosophy was simple: QE wasn’t just a function to catch bugs; it was a strategic pillar that could drive the company’s innovation. And innovation, Andy believed, was the only way forward.

Andy was early to spot the rise of AI and automation tools like Functionize. He understood that QE needed to evolve from being a reactive, maintenance-heavy process into a proactive, agile force that could keep up with—and even accelerate—business growth. He pitched the idea of integrating new AI-driven test agents, which would cut testing time, reduce errors, and most importantly, align QE with the company’s strategic goals.

Of course, there were skeptics. “We’ve always done it this way,” Sam would mutter, polishing his dated scripts. But Andy wasn’t fazed. He led pilot projects, demonstrating how new technologies could slash testing time by 60%, improve accuracy, and enable the team to focus on higher-value tasks. Andy’s approach was to think big, act strategically, and never stop adapting.

The executives took notice. Productivity soared. The cost of maintaining Sam’s dinosaur framework was now a glaring line item in budget meetings. Andy was no longer just the forward-thinking QE guy—he was a company asset, a strategist who understood that technology could be a competitive advantage, not just a line item on a spreadsheet.

The Inevitable Endgame

When the dust finally settled, the company had its reckoning. Sam, with his outdated framework and refusal to adapt, was seen as a roadblock to progress. He was reassigned to “legacy support,” a cushy euphemism for being sidelined. Andy, however, was promoted, his vision recognized as the future of the company. Not long after, Andy found himself in the CIO’s office—not as a visitor but as its new occupant.

Sam, meanwhile, was still fiddling with his scripts, wondering why no one came to him for advice anymore. As Andy oversaw a sleek, agile QE operation that propelled the company to new heights, Sam was left behind, a monument to a bygone era when stubbornness could still get you by.

The Moral of the Story?

QE isn’t about sticking to what you know; it’s about knowing when to let go. Sam’s path was paved with good intentions but marred by his refusal to evolve. Andy’s path was uncertain at first but guided by a belief that QE could - and should - be at the heart of innovation.

In the end, one became a relic, and the other a revolutionary. Because in the race to the future, it’s not the code that makes the developer; it’s the vision.

Functionize: The Future of Quality Engineering

Ready to leave outdated frameworks behind and embrace the future of Quality Engineering? Functionize offers an Agentic Automation Platform designed to accelerate testing, reduce costs, and transform QE into a strategic powerhouse. Whether you're looking to supercharge productivity, future-proof your processes, or turn your QA team into a competitive advantage, Functionize provides the tools you need to evolve. Don’t get stuck in the past like Sam—be the Andy of your company. Join the wave of forward-thinking organizations that see QE not just as a necessity, but as a driver of innovation. Upgrade your automation strategy with Functionize, where the future of Agentic Test Automation begins today.

‍Stay tuned for Part II, where we’ll catch up with our old friends Sam and Andy. In true “Choose Your Own Adventure” style, we’ll explore how their choices shape their futures in the ever-evolving world of QE… Will they adapt or fall behind? Let’s find out!