From 2a3404c5939664f83c6ff14747b5ccf5030e4ac3 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Lars Wirzenius Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2012 16:58:03 +0000 Subject: Add automation and checklist chapter --- automation.mdwn | 30 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 30 insertions(+) create mode 100644 automation.mdwn (limited to 'automation.mdwn') diff --git a/automation.mdwn b/automation.mdwn new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e22e1bd --- /dev/null +++ b/automation.mdwn @@ -0,0 +1,30 @@ +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. + -- cgit v1.2.1