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I'm mostly satisfied, but I have often written my own utility apps for exactly the reasons you said, customization and control. For example, I wanted a file backup utility and found one that almost did what i wanted, but not quite, so I wrote my own. It's one of the nice parts of being a developer.
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Last year I wrote a file search utility for Windows that lists file properties for found files and exports the list to Excel.
In general I write utilities for 2 reasons:
1) Existing tools do not do what I want/need.
2) For fun. I like programming. 
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We have a batch file that we use to do our daily backups that is run by Windows task scheduler. I'm sure you could add some more lines to do the archive part. Not much to the command:
sqlcmd -S .\ -E -Q "USE master EXEC master..sp_BackupDatabases @backupLocation='E:\SQLBackups\', @backupType='F'"
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Yep, this is currently how it's being done, and it works fine...but I really wanted some advanced features like:
0: hot/warm/cold (off premise) backup locations
1: zipped (with optional password) archives
2: automatic housekeeping of archive folders (based on a limit for each folder or 0 for unlimited)
3: multiple databases
4: multiple configurations/jobs
5: command-line switch to select a job and auto-run
6: advanced logging
I also wanted something that I could potentially offer to clients who don't have a dedicated dba. It's all working now...just tried it out on the server...worked the first time!
It's a good start for the week!
"Go forth into the source" - Neal Morse
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Nice job
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Have you seen dbatools? They really take most of the works out writing scripts (I've replaced my own backups scripts with them).
Backup-DbaDatabase – dbatools
Common sense is admitting there is cause and effect and that you can exert some control over what you understand.
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I have a couple of web pages I wrote javascript for that I find useful:
- Pomodoro Timer, for motivation against boring tasks
- A sort/filter (remove dupes), and inlist generator for sql queries.
(how many times do you get like 500 IDs you have to scan for data against, but they should be in a comma list, quoted or not quoted? Me every week!)
Programs
- Always on top (for pinning a window I am referencing)
- Enable copy/paste into a command window (Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V)
- A Simple clock that floats on my secondary monitor, so when I record meetings, there is always a visible clock in the recording. (My note taking tool has F5 key that drops a date/time stamp down to the seconds. This allows me to see something in my notes, and EASILY advance to it. Like an external bookmark. Mostly because I can't get traction with the software maker to allow bookmarks in their meetings!)
What's great is that we have this ability to do this stuff.
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I wrote my own helper app that I keep adding little things to:
Features it has:
- Hover over tray icon to see IPconfig data
- Equation evaluator with history and settable variables
- Aotumatic converstion tool, from dec / hex / binary / BCD
- Calendar with three month view from Tray
- WebServer to allow download of files from any directory (port 81)
- Keyboard wedge app that opens a URL to my machine which allows key data to be sent into any program (Think like a USB barcode reader scans a barcode as text)
But my MO is to dig deep to see what others have done first.
<hr>
"Qulatiy is Job #1"
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Kirk 10389821 wrote: What's great is that we have this ability to do this stuff
 Exactly! Thanks for sharing!
"Go forth into the source" - Neal Morse
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A clipboard manager. Loads of them out there, but not exactly working the way I wanted, to store everything in specified folders according to data type or certain applications, and perform other little personally desired functions on clipboard events.
Oh yeah, also a shorthand utility that works across all Windows programs, instead of just Word.
(Many years ago in DOS I was using the commercial program PRD+, and then "Shorthand for Windows", which was perfect, but when they stopped supporting it at Windows 7 I think it was, but being very dependent on it, I had to write my own copycat version, with some adjustments.
"Shorthand" seems to be available again, but now my own is sufficient.
p.s., that sql restore utility sounds really good... ... ...
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mycenean wrote: that sql restore utility sounds really good
Thanks! The hardest part is getting the registry entries correct. Maybe it's something I could post as a tip...probably not enough in it for an article.
"Go forth into the source" - Neal Morse
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Once I was working on a client system remotelly and had a couple of remote desktops on their network. I used to work on both of them as the RDP client didn't let me extend one to both my screens, so I created a network enabled clipboard to share the clipboard between N number of systems 
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I have a freely available SQL Server Source Control package available on my site, http://blackfalconsoftware.com
I built it as a commercial product but it appears that no one was interested in purchasing it so I made it freeware...
Steve Naidamast
Sr. Software Engineer
Black Falcon Software, Inc.
blackfalconsoftware@outlook.com
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 Thanks!
"Go forth into the source" - Neal Morse
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If you try my software out, please let me know what you think of the application.
You can contact me through my website's contact form.
Steve Naidamast
Sr. Software Engineer
Black Falcon Software, Inc.
blackfalconsoftware@outlook.com
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At work I tend to develop my own, in my role as the DSJB(*). The packaged solutions to most problems are either poor fits or too expensive in terms of money, learning curve, or both. I've developed our own automated backups (our build servers essentially mirror each other), product build process, and so on. The backups are the simplest, mainly batch files and RoboCopy. The build process is a Windows service written in C#. It extracts source from source control, compiles as necessary, builds installer(s), creates installation media images, and creates an archive ISO of the entire build.
(*) Departmental Sh!t-Job Boy
I'm a lot more inclined to use an available app for things at home. A few times I've started on a project at home to do a simple thing, and it got out of hand  .
Software Zen: delete this;
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Sometimes yes, it's good to write something very tailored to your own needs; but it's also a great way to learn a specific technology in depth, with no risk of writing cr@p that'll end up on a client system. Occasionally it turns out that what you've created is genuinely useful not just to you but to others as well, and can end up as a second income stream.
Some of my side projects/utilities over the years have included:
- a TCP-based message tool to send messages over the local network only, via a Systray popup (later enhanced and sold to one client)
- a forum summary email parser that could reconstruct forum threads for local browsing / searching
- the above included a utility to read MS OutlookExpress .DBX files - later made this a standalone tool and sold several hundred licenses
- a little systray icon that showed minute-by-minute earnings based on hourly rate; a motivator when working on any deadly dull client job
- a little JScript tool that converts hourly / daily / weekly / annual rates/salaries, incl. working weeks; very useful when talking to agents when discussing rates and they use some weird basis and you need to know instantly if it's any good...
- an MS-Access [spit] based tool to record and track contract vacancy applications, with instant lookup / cross reference by agent / agency / client / role - again perfect when on phone to agent so you can identify which vacancy is which, and which ones need chasing up
- a webform interface to a little DLL that encapsulates an interface to the UK Companies House webservice - useful for checking out company directorships and links, following a thread of connections
Plus I guess you could include libraries that have developed over the course of many projects, such as error / performance logging modules etc.
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I wrote a script that sends my network's public IP to a AWS server via a web request, and I setup a subdomain that links back to that IP so I don't have to pay for DDNS or anything like that.
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I go mostly with existing things but build an own tool every now and then, mostly for the reason that existing tools can be feature monsters instead of doing one thing quickly and simply.
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"North Korea was the state that we believe was involved in this worldwide attack on our systems," he told BBC radio. Keyword "believe"; wikileaks is pointing to the NSA, with even Microsoft[^] being furious about that fact. Now Britt is pissed that the sold weapons were actually used.
Bastard Programmer from Hell 
If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^]
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Eddy Vluggen wrote: Keyword "believe"; wikileaks is pointing to the NSA, with even Microsoft[^] being furious about that fact
Huh?
As phrased it suggests that you are proposing that the NSA was the one doing the attacking.
The MS article is pointing out that the vulnerability used in the attack came from the NSA, not that the NSA did it.
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jschell wrote: The MS article is pointing out that the vulnerability used in the attack came from the NSA, not that the NSA did it.
Built by the NSA.
Bastard Programmer from Hell
If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^]
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i want to believe...
Caveat Emptor.
"Progress doesn't come from early risers – progress is made by lazy men looking for easier ways to do things." Lazarus Long
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