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authorLars Wirzenius <liw@liw.fi>2012-03-19 16:58:03 +0000
committerLars Wirzenius <liw@liw.fi>2012-03-19 16:58:03 +0000
commit2a3404c5939664f83c6ff14747b5ccf5030e4ac3 (patch)
tree32e3599122eda1140d5125eef835c03c1f294742 /automation.mdwn
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downloadgtdfh.liw.fi-2a3404c5939664f83c6ff14747b5ccf5030e4ac3.tar.gz
Add automation and checklist chapter
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+Automation and checklists
+=========================
+
+Hackers know how to program, and so can fairly easily automate anything
+that happens on a computer. This can be a great time saver. It can also
+be a great time waste. If something takes a lot of time and effort to
+automate, but doesn't actually take much time to do by hand, then it's
+probably not worth it. However, in many cases spending an evening to
+write some scripts to automate something is worthwhile not just to
+save time, but to not ever have to do it again. For example, instead
+of filling out timesheets by hand at work, writing a script that does
+them automatically based on the work laptop's suspend/resume logs,
+plus git commit timestamps, may not actually save much effort, but
+not having to deal with the bureaucracy can save you from a fate
+worse than ennui.
+
+Some things are possible to automate even without being able to
+program. For example, paying bills via direct debit, or putting
+money into a savings account by a standing order, can both make
+dealing with money much easier.
+
+For things that can't be automated (or which aren't worth the
+development effort for the AI), but you do repeatedly, it can be
+worth writing a checklist. Especially things you do less than once
+a week, or which you absolutely have to get right every time, a
+checklist can help a lot. The mere process of writing the checklist
+forces you to consider and review the process. When you're actually
+doing the task, especially if it is urgent or stressful, it can be
+nice to not have to think about each step every time you do the task.
+