In today's the-Automators' Podcast Jackie Sztuk and Joe Glines discuss some questions you should answer before automating a process.  Understanding the ramifications of these questions will greatly affect the script you create!

1. In today's the-Automators' Podcast Jackie Sztuk and Joe Glines discuss some questions you should answer before automating a process
   
   1. Who will be running the script?  
   2. Will a GUI help?  (Especially if others are to run it)
   3. How many computers will it run on? 
       a. will the files be in the same location?  
       b.  do the computers have the same OS?
       c. Does each user have admin rights? 
   4. Write "high-level" pseudo code of what will have to be done at each step
   5. Determine where decisions need to be made.  Do you need user input / users to make decisions
   6. Break each task down into small chunks / parts
   7. Write pseudo code of each micro step
   8. Consider breaking up your automation into pieces that can be done now (for quick win) and added to over time
   9. Review entire process- if happy
       a. Consider other similar scripts you can borrow from
       b. How will you be automating each program?  (COM, ACC, Controls, Send/PostMessage, API, Image Search / Keystrokes / mouse clicks)
       c. Decide on a level of accuracy / errors you’re willing to accept
   10. Are you using the best source?  Can you get the data from somewhere better?
   11. Search the forum / Stack overflow / Reddit / YouTube / the-Automator for examples
   12. Ask friends if can't find examples (and it's complex)
   13. Start writing actual code
   
   

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