I've got a list of side projects to get on with. I've made little progress in the last year, and suspect its burn out to blame - I'm just constantly exhausted.
I think if you have the energy, this is awesome fun. It might even get to the point where one of them makes some decent income.
But if you don't, like me, just realise that there is a reason for that, and it's OK. You need rest and relaxation, and it's OK to prioritise that.
I used to think my youthful energy was gone forever. Then about 3 months ago I had an idea for a project I truly believed in. I was able to write code for 16 hours straight, day after day, for most of the last 3 months. And it's not exhausting, it's rejuvenating. I feel like a young man again, despite my gray hairs! (I was planning on releasing it today actually, but this weekend I had an epiphany that requires a half rewrite for significant gains, which might add another few weeks.)
I think it's more the drive or the interest, instead of the energy.
I miss walking out of Borders with a PHP book dreaming of the websites I would build, or walking out of Best Buy with a iPad, imagining new games to create.
Side projects lately feel the same as creating a blog: why bother, no one is ever gonna read it? And it’s not going to make much money or gain you karma.
I've diagnosed myself with a lack of motivation, not a lack of energy. (Which is also what "burnout" refers to, by the way)
I could, in theory, spend six months writing Uber for dogs. But why would I? That hardly feels worth it. Or I could try to implement AF_ONION in the Linux kernel. Also doesn't really feel motivating. Or (let me check the list) port libsodium to WUFFS. Write a framework for interactive tablet applications (at least on the pinetab2). Try to compile something by telling an LLM to pretend it's gcc, just for laughs. Set up an IRC botnet (the legal kind). Write an SSH honeypot. Set up an MQTT server so I can log my own location via an app on F-Droid. All stuff that seems slightly interesting but not enough to actually do it. And what seems interesting enough to focus on it for a few months to the exclusion of all other possibilities? Nothing at all.
Just today I wanted to post a link to a meme in IRC, but all the Google results were on garbage sites like Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, and Imgur. I could go build a meme hosting site where you just have direct links to images. Maybe it would even be the best one. That's how Imgur got started. Still doesn't feel worth doing.
I have - and still - struggle with this. My (unsolicited) advice:
1. just start anything NOW. Don't worry about getting organized or the correct order; just go. The act of working creates momentum; early on moving is more important than progress.
2. today's good enough > tomorrow's perfect. I found an OSS project for something I was going to build to help me capture "personal content". It's rough and not exactly what I was after but good enough. I've built (less than) half a system to help me with my job on top of PocketBase. Maybe someday I'll finish it (or even add another feature - #1 above has lots of ideas captured!) but until then I get value today.
3. Find something that has ongoing personal value: I help an animal rescue and pay the ongoing costs to run the system I built more than 10 years ago. Dropping $20/month to $5/month is possible but not a big enough motivation for a significant new version. The looming tech debt and support load might be over the rest of this year though!
4. Recognize that the incomplete part of side projects is a feature not a bug. Curiosity and exploration almost always end in specific dead ends, but the illumination gained can be used throughout your life. It's largely the act not the explicit output.
Meh, just change your personal definition of "finished" and everything gets easier :)
I too struggled with the feeling of not completing things, until I realized I didn't actually want to "finish" projects in the sense of "have paying users" but instead wanted to learn something new, try out some design/architecture or just solve a personal problem.
So for the last few years, my "finished" ratio is much higher, as I got the value I wanted out of almost every project I started.
I don't see this as a bad thing. Most people make side projects for fun, trying knew things, solidifying knowledge, etc.
I mean, if you have a goal of starting a SaaS and you've spent years starting and stopping a bunch of projects that you never follow through on then yeah, you should improve on that. But that's not most people with a bunch of unfinished side projects.
Maybe someone can make a curated wiki page of people's unfinished and/or abandoned projects so everyone can put theirs there? (Oh wait, that's just github.)
That’s the first thing I thought about too. OP how do you sell your side projects? Does people just reach out or are you actively looking for people interested in buying?
Agreed that the number sold is high! Although of the sold ones I clicked on 3/4 were no longer online at all, so I would guess the amounts sold for vary widely.
I finally have four ideas that I think worthy to build that I would like to monetize. All would be well within my abilities to build. No vision of grandeur that I'd retire from any of them and if I made $100 from one site I'd be ecstatic.
Two are simple games, one a directory and one a utility type site. No AI, no sign-up, no affiliate marketing, no upselling, just simple sites with ads.
However, my "paralysis by analysis" affliction is strong.
> However, my "paralysis by analysis" affliction is strong.
The solution is to remember that nothing is perfect, and that all code is eventually thrown away and replaced. So just start writing code and have fun!
I think you have the motivation wrong. The cost-benefit economics work if you want to have fun building something, learn a lot and share it with others. It doesn't work if the goal is to make up to $100/month selling ads; getting a part-time job would be a better path. In this scenario not finishing your side project is the correct decision, and not starting an optimization of that.
It's listed under 'sold' but the domain doesn't seem to work right now.
I'd think it's something that gets traction in the media every so often. That can lead to a spikes in traffic that you can potentially monetize. It's a basic site so it wouldn't take much to maintain. So, I guess there's value.
Create public project, have a contact-form/email somewhere on the website, if someone is interested in buying it, they'll reach out to you and you discuss the details. Isn't much more magic than that :)
Microacquistions maybe? I haven't looked much into it and I don't want to link to a random $$$ website, so instead here's the subreddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/microacquisitions
that's awesome! I've had many many side projects launched in the past 2 decades, but the only one still going is my books site https://thegreatestbooks.org
I created it 17~ years ago mostly as just a tool for myself and now it gets roughly 8 million views a month.
The hardest part of any side project is actually launching it and making it somewhat production ready. I always spend the vast majority of my time dealing with devops/deployment issues/tasks
Very impressive “Sold” list! I’ve created a similar portfolio site for myself, but haven’t added a “Sold” section. Seems obvious, so I think that’ll be in my next update. Link below for reference:
I just put out the first version once it feels usable (very important) and try not to overthink it. I add features later if it still feels fun or useful.
Nice work, particularly the amount you've sold! I keep a similar timeline of projects on my website, going back to 2004 (older stuff going back to 1990 is there, but not as organised) https://www.gingerbeardman.com
How does one pay taxes when selling minor side projects? I have never been a contractor/freelancer and I have never setup a company. This is the main pain in the ass for me when it comes to generating some side income. I'm in Europe, so it makes it worse I think.
It depends on the country the funds originate. Some countries have tax treaties each other. So it can be complicated. The easiest way is to get an accountant to deal with it. Then you can spend your valuable time building more stuff.
I once had a list similar in time and length. It was a great portfolio, but I slowly realized I just made it to remind myself I'm not a perpetually incapable imbecile. Deleting it and giving away those projects was so freeing. I had nothing left to prove to myself or anyone else. Now I can just write code for fun, code that I believed in. Not saying this is OP's motivation or anyone else's, but it was definitely mine.
PaulRobinson|9 months ago
I've got a list of side projects to get on with. I've made little progress in the last year, and suspect its burn out to blame - I'm just constantly exhausted.
I think if you have the energy, this is awesome fun. It might even get to the point where one of them makes some decent income.
But if you don't, like me, just realise that there is a reason for that, and it's OK. You need rest and relaxation, and it's OK to prioritise that.
90s_dev|9 months ago
I used to think my youthful energy was gone forever. Then about 3 months ago I had an idea for a project I truly believed in. I was able to write code for 16 hours straight, day after day, for most of the last 3 months. And it's not exhausting, it's rejuvenating. I feel like a young man again, despite my gray hairs! (I was planning on releasing it today actually, but this weekend I had an epiphany that requires a half rewrite for significant gains, which might add another few weeks.)
bluedino|9 months ago
I miss walking out of Borders with a PHP book dreaming of the websites I would build, or walking out of Best Buy with a iPad, imagining new games to create.
deadbabe|9 months ago
naeemnur|9 months ago
cmgriffing|9 months ago
You will be less productive than getting into a focus state off line. But 0.5x is still infinitely higher than zero.
On stream, you don’t get to randomly hop into a game or doom scroll social media or hackernews.
drish|9 months ago
immibis|9 months ago
I could, in theory, spend six months writing Uber for dogs. But why would I? That hardly feels worth it. Or I could try to implement AF_ONION in the Linux kernel. Also doesn't really feel motivating. Or (let me check the list) port libsodium to WUFFS. Write a framework for interactive tablet applications (at least on the pinetab2). Try to compile something by telling an LLM to pretend it's gcc, just for laughs. Set up an IRC botnet (the legal kind). Write an SSH honeypot. Set up an MQTT server so I can log my own location via an app on F-Droid. All stuff that seems slightly interesting but not enough to actually do it. And what seems interesting enough to focus on it for a few months to the exclusion of all other possibilities? Nothing at all.
Just today I wanted to post a link to a meme in IRC, but all the Google results were on garbage sites like Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, and Imgur. I could go build a meme hosting site where you just have direct links to images. Maybe it would even be the best one. That's how Imgur got started. Still doesn't feel worth doing.
jonplackett|9 months ago
But it would be so huge I can’t afford the hosting bill.
skeeter2020|9 months ago
1. just start anything NOW. Don't worry about getting organized or the correct order; just go. The act of working creates momentum; early on moving is more important than progress.
2. today's good enough > tomorrow's perfect. I found an OSS project for something I was going to build to help me capture "personal content". It's rough and not exactly what I was after but good enough. I've built (less than) half a system to help me with my job on top of PocketBase. Maybe someday I'll finish it (or even add another feature - #1 above has lots of ideas captured!) but until then I get value today.
3. Find something that has ongoing personal value: I help an animal rescue and pay the ongoing costs to run the system I built more than 10 years ago. Dropping $20/month to $5/month is possible but not a big enough motivation for a significant new version. The looming tech debt and support load might be over the rest of this year though!
4. Recognize that the incomplete part of side projects is a feature not a bug. Curiosity and exploration almost always end in specific dead ends, but the illumination gained can be used throughout your life. It's largely the act not the explicit output.
mickeyr|9 months ago
alentred|9 months ago
mfalcon|9 months ago
diggan|9 months ago
I too struggled with the feeling of not completing things, until I realized I didn't actually want to "finish" projects in the sense of "have paying users" but instead wanted to learn something new, try out some design/architecture or just solve a personal problem.
So for the last few years, my "finished" ratio is much higher, as I got the value I wanted out of almost every project I started.
nonethewiser|9 months ago
I don't see this as a bad thing. Most people make side projects for fun, trying knew things, solidifying knowledge, etc.
I mean, if you have a goal of starting a SaaS and you've spent years starting and stopping a bunch of projects that you never follow through on then yeah, you should improve on that. But that's not most people with a bunch of unfinished side projects.
90s_dev|9 months ago
giantg2|9 months ago
mattrighetti|9 months ago
liamkf|9 months ago
Still… it’s a pretty fun list!
fm2606|9 months ago
I finally have four ideas that I think worthy to build that I would like to monetize. All would be well within my abilities to build. No vision of grandeur that I'd retire from any of them and if I made $100 from one site I'd be ecstatic.
Two are simple games, one a directory and one a utility type site. No AI, no sign-up, no affiliate marketing, no upselling, just simple sites with ads.
However, my "paralysis by analysis" affliction is strong.
90s_dev|9 months ago
The solution is to remember that nothing is perfect, and that all code is eventually thrown away and replaced. So just start writing code and have fun!
skeeter2020|9 months ago
jasondigitized|9 months ago
whycome|9 months ago
I'd think it's something that gets traction in the media every so often. That can lead to a spikes in traffic that you can potentially monetize. It's a basic site so it wouldn't take much to maintain. So, I guess there's value.
EdA1|9 months ago
diggan|9 months ago
naeemnur|9 months ago
monsieurbanana|9 months ago
Bigpet|9 months ago
azhenley|9 months ago
Right now, I just have my blog + github as a messy portfolio of personal projects, but I like this much better.
naeemnur|9 months ago
wtf242|9 months ago
I created it 17~ years ago mostly as just a tool for myself and now it gets roughly 8 million views a month.
The hardest part of any side project is actually launching it and making it somewhat production ready. I always spend the vast majority of my time dealing with devops/deployment issues/tasks
hiAndrewQuinn|9 months ago
eastburnn|9 months ago
[1] https://www.itschrisray.com/
patapong|9 months ago
naeemnur|9 months ago
tiffanyh|9 months ago
naeemnur|9 months ago
msephton|9 months ago
naeemnur|9 months ago
mcteamster|9 months ago
naeemnur|9 months ago
dakiol|9 months ago
msephton|9 months ago
JoeDaDude|9 months ago
is_true|9 months ago
naeemnur|9 months ago
90s_dev|9 months ago
butlike|9 months ago
cnity|9 months ago
I too have noticed that these Cooper Black variants with a kinda 60s/70s retro style have become incredibly popular.
danvoell|9 months ago
anshumankmr|9 months ago
DustinBrett|9 months ago
williamsss|9 months ago
msephton|9 months ago
thih9|9 months ago
How do you deal with updates? I.e. how do you decide whether to maintain a product or move it to "dead"?
naeemnur|9 months ago
bix6|9 months ago
naeemnur|9 months ago
neonwatty|9 months ago
methuselah_in|9 months ago