The article describes strategies to help when developing in weird languages. But they're helpful ideas for other contexts, too. When working with external syst

The article describes strategies to help when developing in weird languages. But they're helpful ideas for other contexts, too. When working with external systems or unfamiliar configuration formats, the same forces are at play. For instance, TFA suggests sitting down with a pot of coffee to read the language docs sequentially (they were written by a hermit). This is also a great way to try to familiarize yourself with a mystery system. The author recommends paying attention to building your workflow, since you'll be figuring things out as you go and the cost of forgetting details is high. I've found the same to be the case when working on integrating unfamiliar systems: early investments in automation and testing pays dividends.