My 30 years of dodging repetitive work with automation tools

The author reflects on a career-long journey towards automation, sparked by an early mentor who introduced them to macros to avoid repetitive tasks. Over the years, they explored various scripting languages like Perl and Python, and tools such as Yahoo Pipes and Google App Inventor, to streamline processes and enhance productivity. The author values tools that simplify tasks without extensive coding, like the now-defunct Yahoo Pipes and Node-RED for IoT. They share experiences with different platforms, including IFTTT and FeedHenry, for integrating services and creating applications without deep technical involvement. Most recently, they discovered Tines, a tool that efficiently replaces cumbersome scripts and integrations, offering a streamlined, cloud-hosted solution that aligns perfectly with their long-standing automation goals. Tines has reinvigorated their passion for automation by significantly simplifying tasks that previously required complex coding, ultimately allowing them to focus on creative solutions without the burden of writing code.