I'm usually stuck updating configurations across three different web consoles every time we deploy new services. It's the same repetitive 20 clicks, but the interfaces change constantly, causing my automation scripts to break. Has anyone else been through this, dealing with mundane console work because the tools evolve too quickly for automation to keep up? I'm curious – is there any automation you'd wish worked consistently?
5 Answers
I feel your pain! I've had to deal with Jenkins pipelines that were a chaotic mess. Scripts often failed due to outdated plugins, missing variables, or timeouts. It's sometimes just simpler to do things manually when the automation tools don't work reliably. At least you can troubleshoot more effectively that way.
Honestly, anything you find yourself doing more than twice should get automated. It's funny how we call it automation when we're still doing so much manually. Workflow management is more like it!
You might want to consider switching to API-based automation or using Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools like Terraform. They help you avoid those annoying UI pitfalls that break your scripts when interfaces change. It's definitely worth exploring!
Yeah, relying on UIs for automation is risky. APIs are usually more stable and less finicky!
Sometimes it just makes more sense to do things manually, especially if it's a rare task. I had a client where onboarding a new customer meant doing everything from scratch. It took less time to set it up manually than to create and test automated scripts that might not even be reliable!
Don't forget about web scraping libraries like Selenium! They can handle those pesky UI changes somewhat better, although it's not always a perfect solution. If your tools are frequently breaking, maybe reach out to vendors about offering a more consistent API. They might not be aware that many users are struggling.
Totally! Good tools can simplify our lives; the more we can get them on board, the better!
Exactly! Sometimes it's about figuring out what really matters, rather than just pushing a button.