As a QA manager turned programmer, I've learned that involving QA from the start can prevent rework down the pipeline, ensuring projects are completed to the required specifications. Effective communication between developers and QA is key, as QA must ensure programming can successfully recreate issues found during testing. Setting project-specific cutoff dates for release can also help teams manage their workload and avoid last-minute rushes. Additionally, programmers should thoroughly test their code before sending it to QA and keep track of common errors to address them proactively. By working together and anticipating problems, developers and QA can streamline the software development life cycle and make the process smoother for everyone involved.