Moreover success depends on factors that may be tangential to the quality of the project. I have had more Github stars from low-quality "throw over the wall" pr

Moreover success depends on factors that may be tangential to the quality of the project. I have had more Github stars from low-quality "throw over the wall" projects that just happened to use whatever framework/language was cool at the time, as opposed to projects that I have put more effort into but used more "boring" technologies. As with a startup, if you catch the wave at the right time, you can succeed with a relatively low quality/effort project. But that depends on what counts as "success". If you are looking at just money or Github stars (or whatever the equivalent is in art or music) then that's one measure, but success could mean learning, personal satisfaction, something that helped or inspired someone else, the praise of a few people you look up to, or a job opportunity.