8 ms·

My framework for building side projects as a solo developer

111 points by raunometsa 5y ago

Im_your_dada 5y ago
So this post is really an AD to promote your job site? Nicely done with the spam.
soneca 5y ago
Probably worth repeating here an old comment of mine for “side-project” disambiguation. The term "side-project" has a lot of possible interpretations: A - Hobby project to play with some tech just because you find it interesting B - Hobby project to play with some tech that might help your career in the future by learning it C - Homework project to learn about the tech you currently use at work D - For-profit project to hopefully earn some extra money on the side and keep it that way E - For-profit project to hopefully earn enough money that will allow you to quit your day job and make it your main job F - Portfolio-making projects to show at job-interviews as a junior developer The OP is about case E apparently (maybe D).
- jameshart 5y ago
  Also a somewhat flexible definition of the word ‘framework’ it seems.
- timw4mail 5y ago
  What about a tool for a personal use-case?
  - soneca 5y ago
    Good one, makes sense to be another option I think
- city41 5y ago
  I'd add "Hobby project because you want the idea to exist." That's where virtually all my side projects land. They are different from (A) in that using new tech is not required and may even be detrimental to the goal.
- valbaca 5y ago
  I really like this stepwise delineation of Avocation to Vocation, of fun-to-utility-to-profit. As others pointed out, there is "scratch your own itch" which usually falls between A and B. I also think that F would better fall somewhere right along B.
- pknight 5y ago
  Am I an odd case? Nowadays all my side-project code is to scratch an itch, fix a problem or create a solution I want to use that doesn't exist yet. I'm not motivated by the tech itself and the money is not a primary driver either.
- soneca 5y ago
  I can no longer edit my original comment, so here is an update (new case and rearranging order) following suggestions by the other comments: A - Hobby project to play with some tech just because you find it interesting B - Hobby project to create something you want to exist (e.g. a tool for personal use or for close friends, an art project with interesting results) C - Hobby project to play with some tech that might help your career in the future by learning it D - Portfolio-making projects to show at job-interviews as a junior developer E - Homework project to learn about the tech you currently use at work F - For-profit project to hopefully earn some extra money on the side and keep it that way G - For-profit project to hopefully earn enough money that will allow you to quit your day job and make it your main job
  - karmakaze 5y ago
    My current fave type isn't listed: Hobby project to create (and use) some opensource tech that I want to exist and might help your career in the future. Also I don't distinguish between A and C. Some seem more relevant than others but there's not much that I learn that I don't draw from in one way or another.
ipnon 5y ago
It's been said the typical founder of a successful startup is on their 7th attempt. It would seem the secret to success then is to be the founder of 6 duds!
- rpwilcox 5y ago
  Yes thank you. I know what I'm going to say goes against the millennial / Protestant Work Ethic hustle pr0n... but not _everything_ needs to be monetized. (Given a comfortable base salary. Hustling side projects or side gigs because you're not making enough money is another thing...)
  - cadence- 5y ago
    Growing up in the 1990s, I remember noticing that most of money-making computer initiatives were usually started in the US (think Bill Gates starting Microsoft), which geeks in Europe were more about cool and artsy pursuits (think Amiga demo scene). I wonder if there is something here related to mindset on the two continents.
    - vptr 5y ago
      I think it's because despite the fact that the US is called the land of opportunity, the system is rigged against entrepreneurs (no social safety net) unlike EU where you can fuck around without a job for years. So, I think there is something about money making initiatives because you don't have time to mess around.
      - ChuckNorris89 5y ago
        >the system is rigged against entrepreneurs (no social safety net) So then, why does the EU lag behind the US so much at successful startups even with our safety nets? Or is it mostly due to the US VC funding system that pumps crazy amount of $$$ in tech companies plus having a giant homogenous market with a high purchasing power, all speaking the same language, that's lacking in the EU and in the end has nothing to do with social systems? >unlike EU where you can fuck around without a job for years. That's definitely not true. While there are a few people who have made a lifestyle from playing the system in order to live off unemployment their whole lives, that's a minority and not something you can easily voluntarily do. For the most part, you can't just voluntarily choose not to work for years and still receive unemployment. They'll just cut off your welfare if you do that.
umvi 5y ago
> You can follow me on Twitter as I continue to share my journey, building small side projects from my home office. How important is building a "personal brand" in the success of side projects? I see he has 1000 followers on Twitter (whereas I just barely dusted off the twitter account I made in 2016 and I have 2 followers). I had a few "dud" side projects in the past (in the sense that they didn't make money; they were still fun to make and scratched a creative itch) and I still have creative sparks to make more, but I can't help but think I need a lot more Twitter followers in order to boost visibility of my future side projects. Anyone have more insight?
- michaelbuckbee 5y ago
  If you're selling an "info product" (course, book, etc.) it matters a lot more as people often buy those things aspirationally. If you're selling something that's more transactional (in OPs case a job site) then it doesn't matter so much.
- endofreach 5y ago
  Obviously it can make things easier. But i will never develop a „personal brand“. It cringes me out af. In the end, it‘s just marketing. A good personal brand would give some kind of authority to all your projects. I‘d rather build multiple brands and take longer. I prefer software from people who don‘t make everything about themselves. But: yeah, obviously a good engaged twitter followership will give you more reach. But you don‘t need them. Just need different ways of marketing.
decebalus1 5y ago
> You can follow me on Twitter as I continue to share my journey, building small side projects from my home office. Talking about how to bootstrap side projects is a side project in itself.
huntermeyer 5y ago
Author says they make $8k/month from their job board. That's the story I want to read.
- Aeolun 5y ago
  How is it that so many people seem to be able to make money just off job adverts? Who pays for these things?
  - granshaw 5y ago
    Umm, the hiring companies. Job boards are one of the most monetizable industries
    - Aeolun 5y ago
      Lol, no, I get that. But they cannot post an ad on every remote jobs site. The market for these kind of sites seems oversaturated.
  - bdcravens 5y ago
    Companies that are hiring
nickthemagicman 5y ago
There's a huge push I've noticed recently on the social media to sell 'How to' guides in the tech industry. How to build side projects, how to ace the technical interview, how to get a tech job, how to learn to code, and on and on ad nauseum. It seems in the tech gold rush people are selling shovels. It's like this new age self help mentality but instead of preying on people who want to lose weight or have larger privates... they're preying on people who need a job/money and selling the idea that learning to code will skyrocket people to financial success. I don't know if it's good or not, just an interesting observation/comparison I've noticed.
- mattmanser 5y ago
  Recently? That's been going for years. Literally since I started reading hacker news in 2005 there's been how to info products aimed at tech workers. And people were calling it a gold rush then and talked about selling the shovels that long too.
- bdcravens 5y ago
  The marketing from bootcamps is scarcely better, even though that industry is more or less dying off.
- HeyLaughingBoy 5y ago
  > I don't know if it's good or not Then "preying" might not be such a good way to phrase it. In any case, it's really not recent. Info products have been suggested for years as a faster way to have a product you can sell than developing software. And there is a genuine need: there are many people who want to learn about technology but don't know where to start. "How-To" guides are a good hand-on introduction to many topics. I've considered writing a few based on the demand I've seen, but my heart really isn't into teaching.
Claude_Shannon 5y ago
I felt as if the article was... shallow? I mean, it was very short and I feel like there wasn't said anything of note.
- SadWebDeveloper 5y ago
  Thank you!... m not the only one feeling this was BS rambling, that could probably be someone making an article out a twitter-thread. Article felt pointless, maybe someone venting his frustration on how to pursue new things during or after a burnout. Probably he needs a friend(s), at least a chocolate one (https://youtu.be/CISFw4o0j4U https://youtu.be/CISFw4o0j4U)
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
- jjoonathan 5y ago
  So, Claude_Shannon, you are saying this blogspam is low on information? If only we had a way to measure that...
- sam0x17 5y ago
  Yeah this guy knows the secret -- step 4: write shallow updates that make it to the front page of HN to boost your side project's sales
- jastr 5y ago
  Lots of developers believe that if they think hard enough and choose the right side project, it will succeed. I think the takeaway here is that chance plays a big role. So increase your chances by shippings lots of projects. And a tip to ship several projects is to stay emotionally, physically, and financially healthy.
  - sam0x17 5y ago
    Well it also depends on what your success criteria are. If it's a side project and you've invested nothing in it other than your own free time, success could be $200/month in eventually passive revenue.
aazaa 5y ago
I'm going to simplify the framework here: - give yourself a stable income - give yourself energy - manage your well-being Unfortunately, this is also a framework for being a non-producer of side-projects. One element that's missing is drive. You need something driving you to take on side projects. And it doesn't matter if you're a solo developer or a well-paid worker bee at FANGMAN. Without drive, you'll have no courage to take on a side project. After all, what will you gain by it? Without drive, you'll lack the guts to stick with a side project that spins out and seems to go nowhere. Without drive, you won't keep looking for the next thing to fill your notebook to overflowing with ideas that might someday work.
- DiggyJohnson 5y ago
  Amen, and well put. Somewhat related question? Did you ever play a MMORPG?
- Draiken 5y ago
  I'm not convinced drive is the word. A younger version of myself wanted to have a company and build something of my own. Today I know all the sacrifices that come with that and I'm simply not willing to make that sacrifice anymore. Does that mean I don't have any drive, or just different priorities?
  - gtaylor 5y ago
    Right there with you. Used to want the same, now I've got the drive to do other things with the time and headspace.
- TrackerFF 5y ago
  A bit unrelate, but: FANGMAN sounds like some western tech equivalent to the Japanese salaryman.
- pelasaco 5y ago
  the idea was just to make ad to his product. Article at HN: free and targeted ad.
Lokinew 5y ago
I think one of the many reasons so many side projects are never finished is the complexity. Its important to focus on a MVP and keep it minimal. In the development there are always great ideas but they lead away from finishing the project.
dakotabaker395 5y ago
Wow! Thats so nice! I want to share me project with you: https://itmaster-soft.com/en/custom-web-application-development https://itmaster-soft.com/en/custom-web-application-developm...
wunderlust 5y ago
I don’t follow the logic of “It's not certain that [a project] will start making money, but it's certain that one of my next small projects will, again.” If the success of any one project is uncertain, then summing (so to speak) projects doesn’t make any future project certain. On some intuitive level it does seem like the likelihood of each successive project doing well does go up (as you develop skills and learn about markets, etc.), but no single project is “due” for success because N prior projects failed. This seems obvious to me, but I didn’t see anyone else specifically comment on it so I figured I would.
pelasaco 5y ago
That's so clear that this article had no intention to inform, but to generate traffic to his twitter and own startup, that we should have something against it in the guidelines. I don't like his product already, even not really taking a look on that.

111 points by raunometsa 5y ago

So this post is really an AD to promote your job site? Nicely done with the spam.

Probably worth repeating here an old comment of mine for “side-project” disambiguation. The term "side-project" has a lot of possible interpretations: A - Hobby project to play with some tech just because you find it interesting B - Hobby project to play with some tech that might help your career in the future by learning it C - Homework project to learn about the tech you currently use at work D - For-profit project to hopefully earn some extra money on the side and keep it that way E - For-profit project to hopefully earn enough money that will allow you to quit your day job and make it your main job F - Portfolio-making projects to show at job-interviews as a junior developer The OP is about case E apparently (maybe D).

jameshart 5y ago
Also a somewhat flexible definition of the word ‘framework’ it seems.
timw4mail 5y ago
What about a tool for a personal use-case?
- soneca 5y ago
  Good one, makes sense to be another option I think
city41 5y ago
I'd add "Hobby project because you want the idea to exist." That's where virtually all my side projects land. They are different from (A) in that using new tech is not required and may even be detrimental to the goal.
valbaca 5y ago
I really like this stepwise delineation of Avocation to Vocation, of fun-to-utility-to-profit. As others pointed out, there is "scratch your own itch" which usually falls between A and B. I also think that F would better fall somewhere right along B.
pknight 5y ago
Am I an odd case? Nowadays all my side-project code is to scratch an itch, fix a problem or create a solution I want to use that doesn't exist yet. I'm not motivated by the tech itself and the money is not a primary driver either.
soneca 5y ago
I can no longer edit my original comment, so here is an update (new case and rearranging order) following suggestions by the other comments: A - Hobby project to play with some tech just because you find it interesting B - Hobby project to create something you want to exist (e.g. a tool for personal use or for close friends, an art project with interesting results) C - Hobby project to play with some tech that might help your career in the future by learning it D - Portfolio-making projects to show at job-interviews as a junior developer E - Homework project to learn about the tech you currently use at work F - For-profit project to hopefully earn some extra money on the side and keep it that way G - For-profit project to hopefully earn enough money that will allow you to quit your day job and make it your main job
- karmakaze 5y ago
  My current fave type isn't listed: Hobby project to create (and use) some opensource tech that I want to exist and might help your career in the future. Also I don't distinguish between A and C. Some seem more relevant than others but there's not much that I learn that I don't draw from in one way or another.

ipnon 5y ago

It's been said the typical founder of a successful startup is on their 7th attempt. It would seem the secret to success then is to be the founder of 6 duds!

rpwilcox 5y ago
Yes thank you. I know what I'm going to say goes against the millennial / Protestant Work Ethic hustle pr0n... but not _everything_ needs to be monetized. (Given a comfortable base salary. Hustling side projects or side gigs because you're not making enough money is another thing...)
- cadence- 5y ago
  Growing up in the 1990s, I remember noticing that most of money-making computer initiatives were usually started in the US (think Bill Gates starting Microsoft), which geeks in Europe were more about cool and artsy pursuits (think Amiga demo scene). I wonder if there is something here related to mindset on the two continents.
  - vptr 5y ago
    I think it's because despite the fact that the US is called the land of opportunity, the system is rigged against entrepreneurs (no social safety net) unlike EU where you can fuck around without a job for years. So, I think there is something about money making initiatives because you don't have time to mess around.
    - ChuckNorris89 5y ago
      >the system is rigged against entrepreneurs (no social safety net) So then, why does the EU lag behind the US so much at successful startups even with our safety nets? Or is it mostly due to the US VC funding system that pumps crazy amount of $$$ in tech companies plus having a giant homogenous market with a high purchasing power, all speaking the same language, that's lacking in the EU and in the end has nothing to do with social systems? >unlike EU where you can fuck around without a job for years. That's definitely not true. While there are a few people who have made a lifestyle from playing the system in order to live off unemployment their whole lives, that's a minority and not something you can easily voluntarily do. For the most part, you can't just voluntarily choose not to work for years and still receive unemployment. They'll just cut off your welfare if you do that.

umvi 5y ago

> You can follow me on Twitter as I continue to share my journey, building small side projects from my home office. How important is building a "personal brand" in the success of side projects? I see he has 1000 followers on Twitter (whereas I just barely dusted off the twitter account I made in 2016 and I have 2 followers). I had a few "dud" side projects in the past (in the sense that they didn't make money; they were still fun to make and scratched a creative itch) and I still have creative sparks to make more, but I can't help but think I need a lot more Twitter followers in order to boost visibility of my future side projects. Anyone have more insight?

michaelbuckbee 5y ago
If you're selling an "info product" (course, book, etc.) it matters a lot more as people often buy those things aspirationally. If you're selling something that's more transactional (in OPs case a job site) then it doesn't matter so much.
endofreach 5y ago
Obviously it can make things easier. But i will never develop a „personal brand“. It cringes me out af. In the end, it‘s just marketing. A good personal brand would give some kind of authority to all your projects. I‘d rather build multiple brands and take longer. I prefer software from people who don‘t make everything about themselves. But: yeah, obviously a good engaged twitter followership will give you more reach. But you don‘t need them. Just need different ways of marketing.

decebalus1 5y ago

> You can follow me on Twitter as I continue to share my journey, building small side projects from my home office. Talking about how to bootstrap side projects is a side project in itself.

huntermeyer 5y ago

Author says they make $8k/month from their job board. That's the story I want to read.

Aeolun 5y ago
How is it that so many people seem to be able to make money just off job adverts? Who pays for these things?
- granshaw 5y ago
  Umm, the hiring companies. Job boards are one of the most monetizable industries
  - Aeolun 5y ago
    Lol, no, I get that. But they cannot post an ad on every remote jobs site. The market for these kind of sites seems oversaturated.
- bdcravens 5y ago
  Companies that are hiring

nickthemagicman 5y ago

There's a huge push I've noticed recently on the social media to sell 'How to' guides in the tech industry. How to build side projects, how to ace the technical interview, how to get a tech job, how to learn to code, and on and on ad nauseum. It seems in the tech gold rush people are selling shovels. It's like this new age self help mentality but instead of preying on people who want to lose weight or have larger privates... they're preying on people who need a job/money and selling the idea that learning to code will skyrocket people to financial success. I don't know if it's good or not, just an interesting observation/comparison I've noticed.

mattmanser 5y ago
Recently? That's been going for years. Literally since I started reading hacker news in 2005 there's been how to info products aimed at tech workers. And people were calling it a gold rush then and talked about selling the shovels that long too.
bdcravens 5y ago
The marketing from bootcamps is scarcely better, even though that industry is more or less dying off.
HeyLaughingBoy 5y ago
> I don't know if it's good or not Then "preying" might not be such a good way to phrase it. In any case, it's really not recent. Info products have been suggested for years as a faster way to have a product you can sell than developing software. And there is a genuine need: there are many people who want to learn about technology but don't know where to start. "How-To" guides are a good hand-on introduction to many topics. I've considered writing a few based on the demand I've seen, but my heart really isn't into teaching.

Claude_Shannon 5y ago

I felt as if the article was... shallow? I mean, it was very short and I feel like there wasn't said anything of note.

SadWebDeveloper 5y ago
Thank you!... m not the only one feeling this was BS rambling, that could probably be someone making an article out a twitter-thread. Article felt pointless, maybe someone venting his frustration on how to pursue new things during or after a burnout. Probably he needs a friend(s), at least a chocolate one (https://youtu.be/CISFw4o0j4U https://youtu.be/CISFw4o0j4U)
deleted 5y ago
[deleted]
jjoonathan 5y ago
So, Claude_Shannon, you are saying this blogspam is low on information? If only we had a way to measure that...
sam0x17 5y ago
Yeah this guy knows the secret -- step 4: write shallow updates that make it to the front page of HN to boost your side project's sales
jastr 5y ago
Lots of developers believe that if they think hard enough and choose the right side project, it will succeed. I think the takeaway here is that chance plays a big role. So increase your chances by shippings lots of projects. And a tip to ship several projects is to stay emotionally, physically, and financially healthy.
- sam0x17 5y ago
  Well it also depends on what your success criteria are. If it's a side project and you've invested nothing in it other than your own free time, success could be $200/month in eventually passive revenue.

aazaa 5y ago

I'm going to simplify the framework here: - give yourself a stable income - give yourself energy - manage your well-being Unfortunately, this is also a framework for being a non-producer of side-projects. One element that's missing is drive. You need something driving you to take on side projects. And it doesn't matter if you're a solo developer or a well-paid worker bee at FANGMAN. Without drive, you'll have no courage to take on a side project. After all, what will you gain by it? Without drive, you'll lack the guts to stick with a side project that spins out and seems to go nowhere. Without drive, you won't keep looking for the next thing to fill your notebook to overflowing with ideas that might someday work.

DiggyJohnson 5y ago
Amen, and well put. Somewhat related question? Did you ever play a MMORPG?
Draiken 5y ago
I'm not convinced drive is the word. A younger version of myself wanted to have a company and build something of my own. Today I know all the sacrifices that come with that and I'm simply not willing to make that sacrifice anymore. Does that mean I don't have any drive, or just different priorities?
- gtaylor 5y ago
  Right there with you. Used to want the same, now I've got the drive to do other things with the time and headspace.
TrackerFF 5y ago
A bit unrelate, but: FANGMAN sounds like some western tech equivalent to the Japanese salaryman.
pelasaco 5y ago
the idea was just to make ad to his product. Article at HN: free and targeted ad.

Lokinew 5y ago

I think one of the many reasons so many side projects are never finished is the complexity. Its important to focus on a MVP and keep it minimal. In the development there are always great ideas but they lead away from finishing the project.

dakotabaker395 5y ago

Wow! Thats so nice! I want to share me project with you: https://itmaster-soft.com/en/custom-web-application-development https://itmaster-soft.com/en/custom-web-application-developm...

wunderlust 5y ago

I don’t follow the logic of “It's not certain that [a project] will start making money, but it's certain that one of my next small projects will, again.” If the success of any one project is uncertain, then summing (so to speak) projects doesn’t make any future project certain. On some intuitive level it does seem like the likelihood of each successive project doing well does go up (as you develop skills and learn about markets, etc.), but no single project is “due” for success because N prior projects failed. This seems obvious to me, but I didn’t see anyone else specifically comment on it so I figured I would.

pelasaco 5y ago

That's so clear that this article had no intention to inform, but to generate traffic to his twitter and own startup, that we should have something against it in the guidelines. I don't like his product already, even not really taking a look on that.