One of the biggest traps in automation is confusing workflows with systems.
A workflow:
- solves a single task
- often works once
- usually breaks under real usage
A system:
- accounts for failure
- can be monitored
- can be maintained
- keeps running when you are not there
Most people stall because they keep stacking workflows without designing the system around them.
The difference is not tools. It’s thinking in terms of:
- inputs
- outputs
- failure modes
- recovery
- long-term ownership
This is the level I focus on when I build automation.
I’ll unpack this more over time as I share real builds.