Hey there 👋🏼,

Automation is amazing—until it isn’t. Sometimes it’s like ordering a robot butler and getting a Roomba that keeps eating your socks. The truth is, automation only makes sense when you automate what’s already working. That’s why my latest release of Imdone (version 1.46.0) [link] has a few new features to help you smooth things out—before you hit the “automate everything” button.

Why Automation Matters (When Done Right)

Automation isn’t just about doing things faster; it’s about getting the busywork out of the way so you can focus on real work (or sneak in a coffee break ☕). But beware: automating broken processes just makes them faster… at breaking.

Here’s my golden rule: If it’s messy manually, it’ll be messier automated. Clean it up first, then hit the automate button.

High-Impact Areas for Automation

If you want to get serious about saving time, here are some smart areas to automate:

1. CI/CD Pipelines: Tools like GitHub Actions or CircleCI keep your deployments moving without you lifting a finger.
2. Project Management: Automate those annoying little tasks and reminders. (Hint: Imdone makes this easier—just saying! 😉)
3. Code Quality Checks: Linters like ESLint and Prettier stop bad code in its tracks—automatically.
4. Infrastructure Setup: Tools like Terraform let you spin up environments without breaking a sweat.
5. Notifications: Set up Slack bots to ping you only when it’s actually important (and avoid the “all hands on deck” panic at 2 AM).

Automation Resources Worth Exploring

If you’re ready to level up your automation game, these resources are gold:

• “The Pragmatic Programmer” by Andy Hunt & Dave Thomas: A classic read for developers, including great principles around when and how to automate.
• The DevOps Handbook by Gene Kim et al.: Learn how automation plays a key role in modern DevOps workflows.
• GitHub Actions Documentation: Get started automating your workflows right in your repos. Check it out here.
• Zapier’s Automation Guide: Zapier’s blog offers great tips on automating everything from tasks to email workflows. Explore here.
• Terraform Documentation: Learn how to manage infrastructure through code for reliable, repeatable environments. Start here.

Final Thoughts

The goal with automation isn’t just to save time—it’s about creating space for the work that actually matters. Whether it’s writing code, solving cool problems, or just enjoying a stress-free afternoon, the right automations can help you get there.

And hey—if Imdone 1.46.0 makes your workflow a bit smoother, I’d love to hear about it! Hit reply with a quick testimonial or tell me what you’re automating these days.

Until next time—may your scripts run smoothly and your deployments never fail! 🚀

— Jesse