Ad Hoc Workflows
Ad hoc workflows are informal, unstructured processes that are created on-the-fly to handle specific, non-recurring tasks or situations, often bypassing standard procedures. They are typically improvised by individuals or small teams to address immediate needs, such as troubleshooting, data analysis, or one-off projects, without formal documentation or automation. This approach contrasts with predefined, repeatable workflows and is common in dynamic environments like software development, research, or emergency response.
Developers should use ad hoc workflows when dealing with unique problems, rapid prototyping, or situations where standard processes are too rigid or time-consuming, such as debugging complex issues, exploring new data sets, or handling unexpected system failures. They are valuable for fostering creativity and agility but should be limited to non-critical or temporary tasks to avoid technical debt and maintainability issues, as they lack the consistency and scalability of formal workflows.