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Ask HN: How do you juggle side projects vs. "just for fun" projects

20 points by purple-leafy 2y ago

I’ve built and sold my first ever side project this year. Mentally I find it difficult to treat a side project as “just for fun” vs a potential financial improving project. Specifically I’m in the midst of trying to add Stripe to a browser extension I’m building, and am very much in the weeds as everything runs on cloud functions and I’ve never used Stripe before. So, how do you juggle (financial) side projects vs for-fun side projects?

patatino 2y ago
Congrats on selling your first side project! I do not look at side projects that are set up to make money as side projects. Those are businesses you create with the goal of making money. And when you also have a full-time job creating a business on the side is hard enough, so no fun projects. Basically, I look at it this way: A) Fulltime job + building a business on the side B) Fulltime job + fun projects I don't mix those. Sure, sometimes you set up a new project to try out new technology. But that is for learning, and you do not have to finish the product.
- purple-leafy 2y ago
  Thanks! Yes I think I need to start calling these things as they are, business (on the side) It is very hard doing a full time job and doing a side business, I’m wondering how some folk manage to make it work. I certainly struggle to
  - enasterosophes 2y ago
    > It is very hard doing a full time job and doing a side business, I’m wondering how some folk manage to make it work. I certainly struggle to Manage expectations. I earn a comfortable amount of money in $DAYJOB (openstack devops) and I've started building a consulting business on the side. That's amidst other side projects that won't ever earn money. I make it work by not expecting my business to build quickly. I focus on making my dayjob work, because that's where the reliable money is coming from, and I make sure I have enough time to relax and appreciate life. I work on my business when I have time and energy left over. One day I may get enough clients that I can start thinking about reversing the priorities, pushing back on the dayjob to make more time for the business. But if that day never comes, I'm still happy: I'm not going to be homeless any time soon, and regardless of what happens, I have a high probability of a good retirement in 15 or 20 years due to investments I've already made. You must be young. I also used to stress about how I could never get enough done, and beat myself up for not being able to fill every waking moment with something productive. You'll eventually learn that this is the path to burnout. I wonder if it's necessary to burn out first before you learn the lesson ...
eternityforest 2y ago
I have a few resume showreel apps and things I maintain because I sometimes use them with clients or on volunteer projects, but for the most part... I only do personal tech if I find something really exciting. I have other hobbies, and I enjoy using, learning about, and contributing to, the more well known popular FOSS apps just as much as making new ones.
- purple-leafy 2y ago
  What are some great FOSS you contribute to?
  - eternityforest 2y ago
    I haven't done a ton of FOSS work lately, largely because... past a certain size of app it takes a lot of time. But I helped with the Text Inputs feature on ESPHome, fixed some issues that made Armoria unable to work without a cloud CDN, worked on some bugs for CustomPiOs. I've found lots of random bugs in Python libraries over the years. I've also answered a lot of questions on Reddit, and made lots of bug reports.
fluxem 2y ago
I don’t. I have other hobbies that don’t involve staring at a screen all day
- noufalibrahim 2y ago
  I do too but isn't that quite reductive? My state of mind are quite different when I'm doing "work" work and when I'm doing something else for fun. Completely different experiences with just the facts that I'm staring at a screen and using my fingers on a keyboard being common to both.
- purple-leafy 2y ago
  I struggle to find a hobby like programming. It’s - intellectually challenging and interesting - massive rabbit hole - I’m good at it - it’s a very creative outlet and the outputs are awesome I’m relatively physically disabled (not noticeable to the naked eye though), otherwise I’d be out walking and running and bouldering all day
  - DANmode 2y ago
    Ebike button-only, private flying.
    - purple-leafy 2y ago
      E-bike is a great idea cheers
      - DANmode 2y ago
        Got one picked out? =D
  - globalise83 2y ago
    Carpentry feels surprisingly similar to programming, and there is a lot of depth to it (one of if not the oldest and most diversely expressed forms of human creativity).
rozenmd 2y ago
All of my projects get access to the same two hours I set aside every morning before work, to work on something meaningful. I also tend to default to working on my business, but if something has my curiosity going, I give myself time to explore.
- _f9cu 2y ago
  how did you start your business and what work do you do for the busines?
  - rozenmd 2y ago
    It's a long story: - https://maxrozen.com/2018-review-starting-an-internet-business https://maxrozen.com/2018-review-starting-an-internet-busine... - https://maxrozen.com/2019-further-reflections-trying-to-start-an-internet-business https://maxrozen.com/2019-further-reflections-trying-to-star... - https://maxrozen.com/indiehacking-3-year-review https://maxrozen.com/indiehacking-3-year-review - https://maxrozen.com/2021-strangers-paid-my-macbook https://maxrozen.com/2021-strangers-paid-my-macbook - https://maxrozen.com/2022-just-keep-shipping https://maxrozen.com/2022-just-keep-shipping - https://maxrozen.com/2023-focus-single-product-pays-off https://maxrozen.com/2023-focus-single-product-pays-off In short, I spent two hours every morning building software and trying to sell it on the Internet over several years, eventually I found something that stuck. I do everything, from design and implementation, to marketing, sales and support.
lionkor 2y ago
Its usually healthiest for me when I put aside X minutes a day for fun projects, like an hour every day. The rest of the day can then be chores, i.e. anything that isnt fun but makes money, or is useful some other way.
- purple-leafy 2y ago
  That’s probably a healthy approach to it
hypfer 2y ago
> vs a potential financial improving project What helps there is asking yourself if whatever you'd be chasing there is actually worth the things you invest/loose/burn by chasing it. Do you actually need this potential financial improvement? Do you need it more than time filled with something fun, relaxing and enjoyable? What would you even do with the potential financial improvement? And don't forget that you as a human still need fun, relaxing and enjoyable experiences. If you turn those that you have into money, you then have to use parts of the money again to get new fun, relaxing and enjoyable experiences. Maybe even more than what you gained initially. It is okay to not view everything one does through "is this marketable/can I make money from this" lens. It is healthy to do that. Don't be fooled by people and/or the zeitgeist telling you something else. Chances are that they either don't have your best interest in mind or are just stuck in the same hell, parroting the same message that people that didn't have their best interest in mind told them.
- purple-leafy 2y ago
  I really appreciate your comment. I think because we grew up relatively poor it’s hard for me to not grind, but it is a good suggestion to ask do I actually NEED the financial gain? I’d say at this stage it’s more want than need, because my dream is to retire early and program on deep projects all day long (on the beach of course)
_f9cu 2y ago
Find what drives you nuts, and work towards it What drives me - Why the hell the machine is not working for me, it feels like I'm working for it. How I work towards it - Latest Private project - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHpf8h0JMuo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHpf8h0JMuo Public project - https://github.com/imvetri/ui-editor https://github.com/imvetri/ui-editor My side project, my office goals, my plan to sell a product, all around the same.
artemonster 2y ago
The fastest way to suck any fun from anything you do is to try to make money off it.
JohnFen 2y ago
I don't, really. All of my side projects are for fun. Every so often one turns out to be marketable in a way that I'm OK with, and if I feel like it, I'll market those. I don't go into side projects with the intent of ever making a dime on them, though. I usually go into side projects because I have a need and the project is to meet that need. Sometimes, I go into a side project to learn a new skill. Sometimes both. As an example, I'm halfway through developing a radio mesh network to allow easy communications with my friends when we're in the wild where there is no cellphone connectivity. I'm doing it because we have a need for one, and there isn't anything that meets that need on the market. It's also clear that this could be a marketable thing, so that's in the back of my mind but doesn't influence design, implementation, or the amount of time I spend on doing it. It's a "for fun" project.

20 points by purple-leafy 2y ago

patatino 2y ago

Congrats on selling your first side project! I do not look at side projects that are set up to make money as side projects. Those are businesses you create with the goal of making money. And when you also have a full-time job creating a business on the side is hard enough, so no fun projects. Basically, I look at it this way: A) Fulltime job + building a business on the side B) Fulltime job + fun projects I don't mix those. Sure, sometimes you set up a new project to try out new technology. But that is for learning, and you do not have to finish the product.

purple-leafy 2y ago
Thanks! Yes I think I need to start calling these things as they are, business (on the side) It is very hard doing a full time job and doing a side business, I’m wondering how some folk manage to make it work. I certainly struggle to
- enasterosophes 2y ago
  > It is very hard doing a full time job and doing a side business, I’m wondering how some folk manage to make it work. I certainly struggle to Manage expectations. I earn a comfortable amount of money in $DAYJOB (openstack devops) and I've started building a consulting business on the side. That's amidst other side projects that won't ever earn money. I make it work by not expecting my business to build quickly. I focus on making my dayjob work, because that's where the reliable money is coming from, and I make sure I have enough time to relax and appreciate life. I work on my business when I have time and energy left over. One day I may get enough clients that I can start thinking about reversing the priorities, pushing back on the dayjob to make more time for the business. But if that day never comes, I'm still happy: I'm not going to be homeless any time soon, and regardless of what happens, I have a high probability of a good retirement in 15 or 20 years due to investments I've already made. You must be young. I also used to stress about how I could never get enough done, and beat myself up for not being able to fill every waking moment with something productive. You'll eventually learn that this is the path to burnout. I wonder if it's necessary to burn out first before you learn the lesson ...

eternityforest 2y ago

I have a few resume showreel apps and things I maintain because I sometimes use them with clients or on volunteer projects, but for the most part... I only do personal tech if I find something really exciting. I have other hobbies, and I enjoy using, learning about, and contributing to, the more well known popular FOSS apps just as much as making new ones.

purple-leafy 2y ago
What are some great FOSS you contribute to?
- eternityforest 2y ago
  I haven't done a ton of FOSS work lately, largely because... past a certain size of app it takes a lot of time. But I helped with the Text Inputs feature on ESPHome, fixed some issues that made Armoria unable to work without a cloud CDN, worked on some bugs for CustomPiOs. I've found lots of random bugs in Python libraries over the years. I've also answered a lot of questions on Reddit, and made lots of bug reports.

fluxem 2y ago

I don’t. I have other hobbies that don’t involve staring at a screen all day

noufalibrahim 2y ago
I do too but isn't that quite reductive? My state of mind are quite different when I'm doing "work" work and when I'm doing something else for fun. Completely different experiences with just the facts that I'm staring at a screen and using my fingers on a keyboard being common to both.
purple-leafy 2y ago
I struggle to find a hobby like programming. It’s - intellectually challenging and interesting - massive rabbit hole - I’m good at it - it’s a very creative outlet and the outputs are awesome I’m relatively physically disabled (not noticeable to the naked eye though), otherwise I’d be out walking and running and bouldering all day
- DANmode 2y ago
  Ebike button-only, private flying.
  - purple-leafy 2y ago
    E-bike is a great idea cheers
    - DANmode 2y ago
      Got one picked out? =D
- globalise83 2y ago
  Carpentry feels surprisingly similar to programming, and there is a lot of depth to it (one of if not the oldest and most diversely expressed forms of human creativity).

rozenmd 2y ago

All of my projects get access to the same two hours I set aside every morning before work, to work on something meaningful. I also tend to default to working on my business, but if something has my curiosity going, I give myself time to explore.

_f9cu 2y ago
how did you start your business and what work do you do for the busines?
- rozenmd 2y ago
  It's a long story: - https://maxrozen.com/2018-review-starting-an-internet-business https://maxrozen.com/2018-review-starting-an-internet-busine... - https://maxrozen.com/2019-further-reflections-trying-to-start-an-internet-business https://maxrozen.com/2019-further-reflections-trying-to-star... - https://maxrozen.com/indiehacking-3-year-review https://maxrozen.com/indiehacking-3-year-review - https://maxrozen.com/2021-strangers-paid-my-macbook https://maxrozen.com/2021-strangers-paid-my-macbook - https://maxrozen.com/2022-just-keep-shipping https://maxrozen.com/2022-just-keep-shipping - https://maxrozen.com/2023-focus-single-product-pays-off https://maxrozen.com/2023-focus-single-product-pays-off In short, I spent two hours every morning building software and trying to sell it on the Internet over several years, eventually I found something that stuck. I do everything, from design and implementation, to marketing, sales and support.

lionkor 2y ago

Its usually healthiest for me when I put aside X minutes a day for fun projects, like an hour every day. The rest of the day can then be chores, i.e. anything that isnt fun but makes money, or is useful some other way.

purple-leafy 2y ago
That’s probably a healthy approach to it

hypfer 2y ago

> vs a potential financial improving project What helps there is asking yourself if whatever you'd be chasing there is actually worth the things you invest/loose/burn by chasing it. Do you actually need this potential financial improvement? Do you need it more than time filled with something fun, relaxing and enjoyable? What would you even do with the potential financial improvement? And don't forget that you as a human still need fun, relaxing and enjoyable experiences. If you turn those that you have into money, you then have to use parts of the money again to get new fun, relaxing and enjoyable experiences. Maybe even more than what you gained initially. It is okay to not view everything one does through "is this marketable/can I make money from this" lens. It is healthy to do that. Don't be fooled by people and/or the zeitgeist telling you something else. Chances are that they either don't have your best interest in mind or are just stuck in the same hell, parroting the same message that people that didn't have their best interest in mind told them.

purple-leafy 2y ago
I really appreciate your comment. I think because we grew up relatively poor it’s hard for me to not grind, but it is a good suggestion to ask do I actually NEED the financial gain? I’d say at this stage it’s more want than need, because my dream is to retire early and program on deep projects all day long (on the beach of course)

_f9cu 2y ago

Find what drives you nuts, and work towards it What drives me - Why the hell the machine is not working for me, it feels like I'm working for it. How I work towards it - Latest Private project - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHpf8h0JMuo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHpf8h0JMuo Public project - https://github.com/imvetri/ui-editor https://github.com/imvetri/ui-editor My side project, my office goals, my plan to sell a product, all around the same.

artemonster 2y ago

The fastest way to suck any fun from anything you do is to try to make money off it.

JohnFen 2y ago

I don't, really. All of my side projects are for fun. Every so often one turns out to be marketable in a way that I'm OK with, and if I feel like it, I'll market those. I don't go into side projects with the intent of ever making a dime on them, though. I usually go into side projects because I have a need and the project is to meet that need. Sometimes, I go into a side project to learn a new skill. Sometimes both. As an example, I'm halfway through developing a radio mesh network to allow easy communications with my friends when we're in the wild where there is no cellphone connectivity. I'm doing it because we have a need for one, and there isn't anything that meets that need on the market. It's also clear that this could be a marketable thing, so that's in the back of my mind but doesn't influence design, implementation, or the amount of time I spend on doing it. It's a "for fun" project.