Why I Still Prefer Building Small Side Projects

Phong Truong — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 01:46:08 +0000

Why I Still Prefer Building Small Side Projects

Over the years, I've noticed that some of the most enjoyable things I've built were never intended to become big products.

Small side projects have a different kind of freedom. There are no deadlines, no meetings, and no pressure to optimize everything from day one.

A side project allows me to experiment with ideas, learn new tools, and solve problems simply because I find them interesting.

Sometimes the project succeeds.

Sometimes nobody uses it.

But even failed projects usually teach me something valuable.

I've also found that building small things consistently is much more sustainable than chasing one huge idea.

Instead of trying to create the "perfect product", I now prefer to:

Build simple things.
Ship quickly.
Learn from real usage.
Enjoy the process.

Many developers dream about launching a big startup, but I think there is something special about maintaining small projects that evolve slowly over time.

In the end, not every project has to change the world.

Sometimes it's enough that it teaches you something new.

What about you?

Do you prefer working on large projects or small side projects?

The Evolution of Digital Identity: From Forums to Social Media

Phong Truong — Sat, 30 May 2026 03:31:11 +0000

When I first started using the internet, most online communities were surprisingly simple.

You joined a forum, picked a username, uploaded a tiny avatar, and started participating in discussions. There were no personal brands, no creator economies, and no sophisticated profile systems. In many cases, people recognized each other purely by their usernames and writing styles.

Looking back, it's interesting to see how far digital identity has evolved.

Today, profile pictures, avatars, and online personas have become a core part of how we communicate on the internet.

The Early Days of Online Communities

Before modern social media existed, online communities were largely text-driven.

Discussion boards, forums, IRC channels, and early community websites focused on conversations rather than visual identity.

A username carried most of the weight.

People built reputations through participation, expertise, and consistency.

Visual identity existed, but it was usually limited to a small avatar image beside a username.

When Avatars Became Identity

As online communities grew, avatars started becoming more meaningful.

Instead of using personal photographs, many users chose images that reflected their interests:

Favorite games
Movies
Anime characters
Technology brands
Custom artwork
Community symbols

The avatar became more than a profile image.

It became a signal.

Before reading a comment or message, people could already learn something about the person behind the account.

Gaming Changed Everything

Gaming communities accelerated this transformation.

Online games introduced persistent identities, player profiles, clans, guilds, achievements, and customizable avatars.

Many players became more recognizable through their gaming identity than through their real-world appearance.

A player's avatar often represented:

Experience
Reputation
Community status
Personal style

This idea would later spread far beyond gaming.

The Social Media Era

The arrival of platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, X, Discord, and TikTok pushed visual identity to the center of the online experience.

For many users, a profile image became the first thing others noticed.

In some communities, profile pictures became so important that entire trends formed around them.

People began using:

Illustrations
Anime characters
Gaming characters
Digital artwork
Memes
Minimalist designs

to represent themselves online.

The internet was no longer just about communication.

It was becoming a place where identity itself was being expressed visually.

Why Profile Pictures Matter

Humans naturally look for visual signals.

In physical environments, we notice clothing, appearance, and body language.

Online, profile pictures often serve a similar purpose.

A profile image can communicate:

Interests
Community membership
Personality
Creativity
Professional identity

all before a single word is exchanged.

This is one reason profile-picture culture has become such a significant part of modern internet communities.

Digital Identity Is Still Evolving

One of the most fascinating aspects of internet culture is that digital identity is still evolving.

Every new platform introduces different ways for users to represent themselves.

Some communities favor real photos.

Others prefer avatars, illustrations, or fictional characters.

What remains consistent is the need for representation.

People want a way to express who they are within digital spaces.

Looking Ahead

The future internet will likely become even more identity-driven.

As online communities continue to expand, visual identity will remain one of the primary ways people connect, communicate, and build relationships.

Whether we call them avatars, profile pictures, or PFPs, these small images have become one of the most recognizable symbols of modern online culture.

Recently, I've also been exploring how profile-picture culture continues to evolve across different online communities and platforms:

https://pfpuniverse.com

The technology behind the internet changes constantly.

The human desire to represent ourselves, however, seems remarkably consistent.

What was your first online avatar or profile picture?

I'm curious how others remember the early days of internet identity.

DEV Community: Phong Truong

Why I Still Prefer Building Small Side Projects

Why I Still Prefer Building Small Side Projects

The Evolution of Digital Identity: From Forums to Social Media

The Early Days of Online Communities

When Avatars Became Identity

Gaming Changed Everything

The Social Media Era

Why Profile Pictures Matter

Digital Identity Is Still Evolving

Looking Ahead