Emmanuel's Substack

Easter eggs

Emmanuel Sanchez — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 04:37:58 GMT

One of my favorite parts of the software, are the ‘Easter eggs’, features that does not improve the software, only it is funny, only shows that the team has time and the trust to make jokes

I use AI as my coach — and it’s completely changed how I learn.

Emmanuel Sanchez — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 03:40:40 GMT

A few months ago, I started learning Blender. The problem? I didn’t even know what tools existed or what they were called.

So I changed my approach.

Instead of searching blindly, I share my idea with AI and get options back:

🔹 “You can do it this way — fast, but hard to modify later.”

🔹 “Or you can do it this way — more setup, but way more flexible.”

That’s the difference between hoping something works and actually learning what you need.

No more guessing. No more “let’s see if this sticks.”

Just intentional learning, one decision at a time.

How are you using AI to level up your skills? Drop a comment below 👇

#Learning #Blender #AI #SkillDevelopment #3D #ContinuousLearning #Tech

From POM to end-to-end purchase flows. Here's what a week of consistent practice looks like.

Emmanuel Sanchez — Sun, 05 Jul 2026 07:17:55 GMT

Last post I was figuring out constructor(private page: Page) and why classes beat functions for automation. Today I shipped a complete e-commerce test suite.

What's new since then:

- Refactored 5 login tests into a single LoginPage class -- no more repeated page.fill() calls. One loginPage.login() handles it all.

- Created CartPage.ts with generic methods like addToCart(dataTestId) using template literals -- one method works for any product.

- Split test files by functionality -- swag-labs-login.spec.ts and swag-labs-cart.spec.ts. Same pattern you'd see in a real enterprise repo.

- Built a full purchase flow test -- 15 steps from login to add to cart to checkout to fill shipping info to finish to verify "Thank you for your order!" to return to inventory. End-to-end in under 10 seconds.

- Added fillFirstnameLastnameZip() to the POM -- keeps checkout logic encapsulated while the test stays readable.

Current score: 8 tests, 2 Page Objects, 20/20 CI/CD passes on GitHub Actions. Every push auto-runs in ~90 seconds.

The difference between "I know Playwright" and "I can automate a business flow" is about 50 commits. I'm past the tutorial phase now -- this is framework building.

Repo: github.com/fede3mmanuel/qa-automation-practice

What was your "this clicked" moment in automation?

#QAAutomation #Playwright #TypeScript #TestAutomation #PageObjectModel #SoftwareTesting #CICD #GitHubActions

Stop Letting Your Courses Go to Waste — Use AI as Your Personal Learning Coach

Emmanuel Sanchez — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 03:38:58 GMT

We've all been there.

You buy a course. Then another. Then a book. Then a bundle. Before you know it, you have a digital library that would make a university jealous — and yet, you're still not sure what to study next.

Here's the hard truth: most of us are collecting knowledge, not building expertise.

But what if I told you there's a way to turn that scattered collection into a strategic, personalized learning roadmap? No expensive coach required. Just AI.

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The Problem: Course Titles Don't Tell the Full Story

Every course you purchase has a name. "Python for Beginners." "Advanced Leadership." "Data Science Bootcamp." But here's what those titles don't tell you:

• What 30% of that course actually overlaps with something you already know
• Which 20% contains the hidden gem that could transform your career
• How it connects to the seven other courses sitting in your library

We judge courses by their covers — and we miss the value hiding inside.

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The Solution: Let AI Be Your Strategic Learning Partner

Artificial intelligence has evolved far beyond search engines. Today, it can act as your personal learning strategist. Here's exactly how to do it:

Step 1: Catalog Everything
Gather every course, book, certification, and tutorial you own. Paste them into a single list.

Step 2: Define Your Destination
Be specific. Instead of "I want to be better at tech," try: "I want to become a senior data engineer specializing in real-time analytics pipelines."

Step 3: Ask AI the Right Question

Here's the prompt that changes everything:

"I want to become [YOUR PROFESSIONAL GOAL]. Here is a complete list of every course, book, and certification I already have: [YOUR LIST]. Based on this, what should be my NEXT THREE learning priorities? Consider: hidden connections between what I already own, gaps in my knowledge, and the most efficient path to expertise. Recommend specific courses, projects, or skills — and explain why each one matters for my goal."

Step 4: Execute with Intention
Don't just collect the recommendations — schedule them. Block time. Treat your learning like the strategic investment it is.

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Why This Works

When you use AI this way, something powerful happens:

✅ You unlock hidden value in courses you already own
✅ You eliminate redundancy — no more studying what you already know
✅ You build a coherent skill stack instead of random knowledge fragments
✅ You move from consumer to strategist in your own career

The professionals who will thrive in the next decade aren't the ones who consume the most content. They're the ones who curate their learning with precision.

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Your Move

Open your notes. List every course and book you own. Pick one professional goal that excites you. And ask AI to build your bridge between the two.

The roadmap is already in your hands. You just need to see it.

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What's the ONE skill you're trying to master this year? Drop it in the comments — I'd love to hear your goals. 👇

#ArtificialIntelligence #CareerDevelopment #LifelongLearning #ProfessionalGrowth #EdTech #FutureOfWork #LearningStrategy #CareerAdvice #AI #Upskilling