Why You Should Build That Side Project You’ve Been Avoiding

Have an idea in your notes app titled “cool app someday maybe”?

Yeah, same here. For the longest time, I had a list of random, half-baked ideas: productivity tools, AI bots, web dashboards, even a social network for book lovers (RIP, BookLoop). Most of them never saw the light of day. Why?

Because I thought I wasn’t “ready.”

“I need to learn that one more framework.”
“It won’t look polished.”
“Someone’s already done it.”

Sound familiar?

But here’s what changed: I stopped waiting for the perfect time and just built one. A small tool. No login, no database, no splash page. Just an idea, written into code. And the dopamine hit? Instant.

The Myth of the “Big Launch”

We often romanticize side projects like they need to be startups. But the beauty of building something on the side is you don’t have to impress anyone. Your side project can be weird. Ugly. Niche. Heck, no one ever needs to see it except you.

But in the process, you’ll:

• Learn faster than watching tutorials
• Debug things you didn’t know existed
• Gain real experience (not just certificate fluff)
• Maybe... even build something useful

What I Built

One weekend, I made a Chrome extension that blocks distracting websites so I could focus better. Built it in two days. Was it life-changing? No. But it worked — and I still use it.

That little win gave me momentum. Then came other projects — some flopped, others got attention. One even got a GitHub star from someone in Germany (which felt bizarrely cool).

A Nudge For You

If you’ve been putting off your idea, here’s a tiny challenge:

1. Pick one idea.
2. Scope it down to its dumbest version.
3. Build it in 2–3 days — max.

Don’t aim for “great.” Just aim for “done.”

That’s it.

Final Thought

Your side project doesn’t need to change the world. But it might change you. And that’s more than enough.

Now, go build it.

Liked this post? Share it with someone stuck in tutorial hell. Or better, send them your finished side project.

💻✨ #buildinpublic #devthoughts