Hand Tooling
Hand tooling is a software development methodology that emphasizes manual, hands-on work with tools and processes, often involving custom scripts, command-line interfaces, and direct manipulation of code or systems. It focuses on developer control, flexibility, and deep understanding of underlying technologies, rather than relying heavily on automated or GUI-based solutions. This approach is common in tasks like system administration, DevOps, data processing, and legacy system maintenance.
Developers should learn hand tooling when working in environments that require high customization, troubleshooting complex issues, or managing systems where automated tools are insufficient or unavailable. It is particularly useful for DevOps engineers, system administrators, and developers dealing with legacy code, as it enables precise control and adaptability in scenarios like debugging, performance tuning, or integrating disparate systems. For example, using command-line tools like grep, sed, or custom shell scripts to process log files or automate deployments.