Choose the best language for the job, because coding really slows down when even the simplest things are awkward to express. Sometimes, this can be handled by

Choose the best language for the job, because coding really slows down when even the simplest things are awkward to express. Sometimes, this can be handled by writing a simple tool or file format for code generation, as opposed to using a new language. Make sure perl and python are both in your toolbox. While it's useful to spend some time looking for existing solutions, don't be afraid to build things. Your version will often be good enough, and quicker to integrate than a 3rd party solution. Besides, you usually learn something in the process, which will only make you better at coding, and speed up your next project.