A technique to study self-inductive Josephson-junction array dynamics is proposed. It allows one to better understand the role of both the self-induced flux and the small self-inductance limit, to speed up numerical calculations, and to study the relation between frustration and phase locking. The technique is tested on two different example models, the island model and the strip model. The strip model is new and it should be used when analyzing data taken from circuits which realize it.