Playtesting-style QA for software that isn't a game

Game testers do not just check that features work; they play for hours, try to break things, and notice when something feels wrong. That mindset finds bugs that unit tests never will: a fader that drifts after ten minutes, a reconnect that leaves a stuck note, a layout that breaks on an older phone.

Pick a realistic goal ('play a full set with the wireless controller'), use real devices, and keep notes as you go. Then deliberately do the unexpected: rotate the phone, lock the screen, switch networks, double-tap everything.

Record each issue with exact steps to reproduce it. A bug you can reproduce is a bug you can fix and add a regression test for.

• Real devices, not just emulators
• Long sessions, not quick clicks
• Exact repro steps for every issue