The case for automation.
WHAT MANUAL DEPLOYMENT LOOKS LIKE
Someone connects to the server Uploads files Runs some commands from memory or a note Hopes
WHAT GOES WRONG
A step is forgotten Steps happen in the wrong order The person who knows is unavailable Nobody can say what was deployed Environments drift apart
WHAT DRIFT MEANS
Two servers that should be identical, gradually differing, because changes were made by hand.
WHAT THAT PRODUCES
Problems occurring on one server and not another, with no explanation.
WHY AUTOMATION HELPS
It performs the same steps every time It is documented by existing It can be run by anyone It can be tested
WHAT AUTOMATION IS NOT
A guarantee of correctness.
An automated wrong process is wrong faster.
WHAT TO DO FIRST
Write the manual steps down, exactly.
WHAT THAT REVEALS
Every step nobody remembered.
WHAT TO AUTOMATE NEXT
That written process, step by step.
