Ad Hoc Configuration

Ad hoc configuration refers to the practice of making temporary, one-off changes to a system's settings or parameters without following a formal, documented process. It is often used for quick fixes, testing, or debugging in development and operations environments. This approach can lead to inconsistencies and maintenance challenges if not properly managed or reverted.

Also known as: Ad-hoc config, Temporary configuration, One-off settings, Quick config, Adhoc config

Why learn Ad Hoc Configuration?

Developers should use ad hoc configuration when they need to quickly test a hypothesis, debug an issue, or apply a temporary workaround in a development or staging environment. It is particularly useful in agile workflows where rapid iteration is required, but it should be avoided in production systems to prevent configuration drift and ensure reliability.

Learning Resources

• docs: What is Ad Hoc Configuration?
• tutorial: Configuration Management Best Practices
• video: Ad Hoc vs. Managed Configuration in DevOps
• book: Infrastructure as Code: Managing Servers in the Cloud