There are some really powerful Mac automation tools out there, but it can be difficult to know where to start. In Part 1 of this Mac automation series, we introduce some basic automation principles and some key ideas for developing a systems thinking mindset.

We also take a look at five common automation tools for the Mac (TextExpander, Hazel, Keyboard Maestro, Automator, and AppleScript). For each tool, we go through its strengths and weaknesses and explain what situations they are best suited for, so you can start to recognize opportunities for automation in your own everyday use.