Have you discovered a method you like?
* Keep a list of your favorite small automation solutions handy. Let this be your Swiss Army Knife (Dr. Who screwdriver)
* Use a single function with dynamic dispatch pattern to manage all micro-services at each separate runtime of your application. Everything can be managed, distributed, and monitored from a single location like a network switch.
* Take the extra time and keystrokes to write code defensively. If you want to be fast that means continuously moving forward and not regressing. Slow is smooth, smooth is fast.
* Invest in test automation early. If it executes slowly, its worse than irrelevant. I have my browser test automation for my application down to 7-9 seconds for just under 300 points of evaluation.
* Over prioritize application execution speed. If its slow for you it will be slow for your users. The slower it gets the more distracted, as a developer, you will become and the less you will accomplish. (I got my personal OS GUI to load in the browser as fast as 80ms on old hardware).
* De-prioritize large frameworks and reliance on third party libraries where possible. Consider this luggage at the airport. You have to always carry it with you, which limits your mobility and constricts your freedom of movement. Worse, it eliminates your ability to pivot and experiment.