Ad Hoc Builds
Ad hoc builds refer to the practice of creating software builds on an as-needed basis, typically outside of a formal, automated build process. This approach is often used for testing, debugging, or deploying specific versions of an application without going through the full continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipeline. It allows developers to quickly generate builds for immediate use, such as sharing with testers or clients, but can lead to inconsistencies and lack of traceability if overused.
Developers should use ad hoc builds when they need to rapidly test a feature fix, create a build for a specific environment (e.g., a demo for a client), or debug issues that require a custom configuration not covered by automated builds. This is common in agile development cycles where quick iterations are necessary, but it should be limited to avoid bypassing quality checks and version control practices that ensure software reliability and maintainability.