Automation as Personal Practice: Building Skills Through Purposeful Projects
There's something deeply satisfying about turning spare time into a deliberate practice of automation mastery. Rather than treating automation as purely utilitarian, I've discovered that approaching it as both craft and theory creates a rich feedback loop for skill development.
My practice spans multiple domains: building automations for funds, studying automation theory, and finding creative ways to automate personal hobbies. Each project serves dual purposes - solving immediate problems while expanding technical capabilities.
Key Points
- Automation can be both practical and educational when approached as personal practice
- Combining theory study with hands-on building creates deeper understanding
- Hobby automation projects offer creative freedom while building real skills
- Tools like Magi CLI demonstrate how fun projects can advance technical growth
Context
This reflects on a personal approach to skill development where automation becomes the medium for continuous learning. The mention of fund automations suggests professional-grade complexity, while hobby projects like spell-casting CLIs show the playful side of technical exploration.
Related Thoughts
The concept of "building something fun that also grows my skill" suggests an intentional practice philosophy - choosing projects that serve multiple masters: enjoyment, utility, and capability expansion. This approach transforms spare time from consumption to creation.