Pros
Increased efficiency: Combining these roles can streamline the development process, as one person is responsible for both writing code and testing it. This can lead to faster development cycles and less time spent on handoffs between teams. Improved quality: Engineers who are responsible for both development and quality assurance have a deeper understanding of the codebase. This can result in better testing and fewer bugs in the final product. Enhanced sense of ownership: When engineers are responsible for both development and quality assurance, they have a greater sense of ownership over the final product. This can lead to increased motivation and higher quality work. Diverse skills: This role allows engineers to develop a wide range of skills, making them more valuable to the company.
Cons
Increased workload: Combining these roles can lead to a significant increase in the workload of engineers. This can lead to burnout and reduced productivity. Potential for bias: When engineers are responsible for both development and quality assurance, there may be potential for bias. They may be less likely to find bugs in their own code. Need for diverse skills: This role requires engineers to possess a wide range of skills, which can make it difficult to find qualified candidates. Possibility of a drop in specialization: By combining the two roles, it is possible that engineers may not be able to specialize as deeply in either of the two areas, which could lead to a drop in expertise.