The latest articles on DEV Community by Bytecut (@goldenrod8888). https://dev.to/goldenrod8888 https://media2.dev.to/dynamic/image/width=90,height=90,fit=cover,gravity=auto,format=auto/https:%2F%2Fdev-to-uploads.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Fuser%2Fprofile_image%2F4193975%2Fbbe115dd-c554-4d2d-a5f6-c1092a56faca.png https://dev.to/goldenrod8888 en Bytecut Tue, 20 Oct 2026 00:00:02 +0000 https://dev.to/goldenrod8888/what-is-actually-stopping-you-from-charging-for-your-side-project-3kb https://dev.to/goldenrod8888/what-is-actually-stopping-you-from-charging-for-your-side-project-3kb <p>Yesterday I asked who actually makes money from what they build and post. Today, a simpler question.</p> <h2> What is actually stopping you from charging? </h2> <ul> <li>A) No idea what to charge- B) It feels like selling out- C) No audience yet- D) I already charge. Ask me anythingReply in the comments with just a letter. If you want, add one sentence on why. I will post the tally and what it says about side projects tomorrow.</li> </ul> discuss sideprojects career Bytecut Mon, 19 Oct 2026 13:00:03 +0000 https://dev.to/goldenrod8888/honest-question-does-building-in-public-actually-pay-olk https://dev.to/goldenrod8888/honest-question-does-building-in-public-actually-pay-olk <p>hello world. Let's open with the uncomfortable question: who here actually makes money from what they build and post?<br> Not "exposure". Not GitHub stars. Not a nice comment from a stranger. Real money that shows up in a bank account.<br> Here is my unpopular opinion: most developers who say they "just build for fun" never tried to get paid. Fun is a fine reason. But a lot of the time it is a polite way of saying "I never figured out the money part, and I would rather not think about it."</p> <h2> What I keep seeing </h2> <ul> <li>Side projects with real users and no pricing page.- Open source maintainers doing unpaid support at 2am.- Great technical writers giving away years of expertise with no newsletter and no offer.None of that is wrong. But when it burns you out, "for fun" stops being fun. ## The real blockers</li> <li>Asking for money feels like selling out.- We price our work like a weekend hack, not like years of skill.- We wait for the project to be "ready" instead of charging the first ten people who already need it.## So, prove me wrong If you make money from a side project, open source, writing or content: what actually worked? Sponsors, paid tiers, consulting, a course, ads? And if you decided not to monetize on purpose, I want to hear why. Drop it in the comments.</li> </ul> discuss sideprojects opensource career