Why I Still Prefer Building Small Side Projects

Dang Phong — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 05:16:09 +0000

Over the years, I've noticed that some of the most enjoyable projects I've worked on were not the biggest ones.

They were the small side projects.

As developers, we often dream about building something huge. We imagine complex architectures, large teams, and products used by millions of people.

But in reality, many small projects provide something equally valuable: momentum.

Small Projects Are Easier to Finish

One of the biggest challenges in software development is simply finishing things.

Large ideas can become overwhelming.

Small projects, on the other hand, feel manageable. They allow us to see progress quickly and maintain motivation.

Completing a project—even a tiny one—creates confidence.

Side projects provide a safe environment for experimentation.

There are no deadlines.

No clients.

No meetings.

You can try new technologies, make mistakes, and improve naturally.

Sometimes the lessons learned from a simple project are more valuable than months spent reading tutorials.

I've realized that building one small project every month teaches more than spending a year planning the perfect application.

Progress compounds over time.

Many skills—design, development, problem solving, and communication—improve simply by shipping things consistently.

Not every project needs to become a startup.

Sometimes it's enough to build something because you're curious.

That curiosity is often what made many of us fall in love with programming in the first place.

Small projects remind us that software development can still be creative and enjoyable.

I still enjoy building small side projects because they help me learn, stay motivated, and keep programming fun.

Maybe not every project will succeed.

But every project teaches something.

And sometimes, that's more important than anything else.

Thanks for reading.