The latest articles on DEV Community by Splodgebox (@splodgebox). https://dev.to/splodgebox https://media2.dev.to/dynamic/image/width=90,height=90,fit=cover,gravity=auto,format=auto/https:%2F%2Fdev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Fuser%2Fprofile_image%2F3889761%2Fe2c1425b-02d6-4899-854c-631ca6bb5634.png https://dev.to/splodgebox en Splodgebox Mon, 20 Apr 2026 22:35:25 +0000 https://dev.to/splodgebox/i-kept-abandoning-side-projects-so-i-built-an-app-to-stop-myself-3630 https://dev.to/splodgebox/i-kept-abandoning-side-projects-so-i-built-an-app-to-stop-myself-3630 <p>I have a bad habit. I start side projects with tons of enthusiasm, get maybe 30% through, then quietly abandon them and start something new.<br> Sound familiar?</p> <p>After doing this one too many times, I decided to actually fix the problem instead of just feeling bad about it. I built SideQuick - a free desktop app that turns your side projects into RPG-style quest trees.</p> <p>The idea is simple: instead of a vague to-do list, you break your project into a structured quest tree with stages. You can only work on one quest at a time, which forces you to actually finish things instead of jumping around. There's a focus timer, time tracking, XP, levels, streaks — all the dopamine hits that keep you moving forward.</p> <p>No account. No subscription. No cloud. Everything runs locally on Windows, Mac, and Linux.</p> <p>I launched it a few weeks ago and I'm still actively building it — dark mode, Discord Rich Presence, and AI-assisted project planning are already in.</p> <p>If you're someone who struggles to finish side projects, give it a try and let me know what you think.<br> 👉 <a href="https://sidequick.co" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://sidequick.co</a></p> productivity ai programming discuss