Ad Hoc Scripting
Ad hoc scripting refers to the practice of writing small, quick, and often temporary scripts to solve immediate problems or automate specific tasks without extensive planning or formal development. It typically involves using scripting languages like Python, Bash, or PowerShell to handle data manipulation, file operations, or system administration on the fly. This approach prioritizes speed and flexibility over long-term maintainability or scalability.
Developers should use ad hoc scripting when they need to quickly automate repetitive tasks, debug issues, or perform one-off data analysis without investing time in full-scale software development. It's ideal for scenarios like log file parsing, batch file renaming, or testing APIs, where the focus is on immediate results rather than production-ready code. This methodology saves time in development workflows and is common in DevOps, data science, and system administration.