Utilities for your own business.
WHAT THESE ARE
Small programs solving a specific internal problem.
EXAMPLES
Reformatting an export for another system Checking data for errors before import Generating recurring documents Combining reports from several sources
WHY THEY ARE VALUABLE
They remove repeated manual work and the errors it produces.
WHAT TO KEEP THEM
Small, focused, and documented.
WHAT TO PROVIDE
Clear usage instructions Sensible defaults Helpful error messages
WHY ERROR MESSAGES MATTER
The user is frequently not the author.
WHAT TO AVOID
Tools only the author can run Undocumented assumptions about input Hard-coded paths
WHAT TO ESTABLISH
Where it lives Who maintains it What happens when it breaks
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
An internal tool becoming business-critical without anyone deciding it should.
WHAT TO DO THEN
Treat it properly: version control, documentation, tests, and a second person who understands it.
WHAT TO REVIEW
Whether each tool is still used.
