During a recent internal presentation I introduced Playwright, a Microsoft-supported end-to-end (E2E) testing framework, into a client project—and how it can be leveraged across future DevIQ engagements.
How it Started
The idea originated while I was working with Douglas County, where the team sought ways to add value beyond the initial deployment. The project lacked automated end-to-end testing, so I explored Playwright to strengthen quality assurance and streamline validation after each release.
My success caught the attention of Eric Brown (LinkedIn) and Jerry Colwell (LinkedIn), who encouraged me to present my findings and demonstrate the tool’s potential, which I did in October 2025 to the entire DevIQ company.
What Playwright Does
Playwright enables developers to automate browser-based workflows and simulate user interactions – ensuring that critical pages and reports render correctly after code changes or under heavy load.
It’s comparable to tools like Selenium or Cypress, but is backed by Microsoft, supports multiple programming languages (Java, .NET, Python, etc.), and runs anywhere Node.js is available.
Why It Matters
- Technology Agnostic: Works with any web application, regardless of backend stack.
- Reliability: Automatically verifies that essential website functions remain intact after deployments.
- Efficiency: Reduces manual testing and late-night emergency fixes.
- Reusability: Can be implemented both internally and within client environments as a scalable QA enhancement.
| Playwright Pros | Playwright Cons |
| Confidence in Refactoring | Not Designed for Load Testing |
| Improved Developer Empathy | Limited Mobile Device Testing |
| Realistic Test Coverage | Steeper Learning Curve for Advanced Features |
| Helps QA Workflows | Resource Usage |
| Metrics and Monitoring | Ecosystem Still Growing |
| Documentation of User Flows | Debugging in CI Can Be Tricky |
| Catching Environment-Specific Bugs | Limited Support for Legacy Browsers |
Business Value
During the session, Josh Roemer (in sales) asked if this framework could also benefit clients directly.
The answer: YES. DevIQ can package Playwright-based testing as a custom QA automation service – a valuable option for clients with active development teams or recurring stability concerns.
This proactive approach helps clients achieve greater reliability, reduced downtime, and improved customer experience.
Key Takeaway
My exploration demonstrates how proactive learning and experimentation can lead to real value for clients. Playwright represents another way DevIQ continues to improve software quality and strengthen trust through innovation.
