Building it yourself is the third thing I try

In a recent reflection on software development workflows, the author outlines a three-step strategy for managing technical friction. First, they attempt to use existing tools as-is. Second, they try to contribute fixes or improvements upstream to those tools. Only as a third resort do they build a custom solution. The author illustrates this process through their experience with a project management tool, noting that they spent seventy-one minutes building a custom version before realizing it did not fit their specific needs. By analyzing why the custom build failed, they were able to extract valuable design patterns to improve their own workflow without the burden of maintaining a complex, unnecessary tool. The piece emphasizes that building from scratch is an expensive, permanent commitment that should only be undertaken when external solutions prove insufficient, ultimately advocating for a thoughtful approach to technical ownership and maintenance.