<ul><li>The article discusses the concept of 'Shadow I.T.' where unauthorized tools are created to increase productivity.</li><li>Author shares a personal experience of breaking company rules to develop tools for their team.</li><li>Despite rule-breaking, the tools improved efficiency and were later used company-wide.</li><li>The author challenges traditional reasons for strict architectural rules, such as business continuity and licensing concerns.</li><li>The article argues in favor of nurturing creativity and innovation, rather than stifling it with excessive regulations.</li><li>Shadow I.T. is described as a signal to focus on Developer Experience and address pain points within the organization.</li><li>Recommended actions include looking for sources of friction, rewarding innovation, and embracing effective tools regardless of implementation stack.</li><li>Leaders are advised to track Developer Experience and prioritize empowering their teams for long-term productivity.</li><li>The article encourages leaders to be curious about Shadow I.T. efforts and consider the underlying reasons for employees bypassing official processes.</li></ul>

The First Rule of Shadow Tooling

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