Building blocks or custom code: what fits when
Both have their place. How we decide whether a process is built from building blocks or as custom software.
Building-block tools such as n8n are strong. Triggers, conditions, integrations: a lot of it is built in hours instead of weeks, and the flow stays visible to everyone. Where that is enough, it is the right choice.
At some point the logic becomes complex, data-heavy or very specific. Then we write the flow as custom code, mostly in Python or Rust. That gives full control over error cases, speed and operation, including locally and without ongoing licence costs.
The real work lies in the decision: what is a flow of building blocks, what belongs in custom software? We make it deliberately, because it decides how maintainable the whole thing still is in two years.