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The ONE tip you need to actually finish side projects!

Luke Garrigan on February 01, 2020

I'm like every other developer, I start a personal project, get really invested in it for a week or so - then I give up on it. Which isn't ideal. ...
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Philip Perry

I like the idea of setting a timer. Just need to make sure I'll write down some notes of ideas I have so that I can pick up quickly the next day. While coding I also often have ideas. I will create a GitHub issue for each of them, so there is always something to work on.

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Luke Garrigan

Yeah I also create a number of github issues!

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Daniel Gregory • Edited

I find starting half way through an unfinished feature doesn't work for me because I have to spend time refreshing my memory and working out where I was up to. Something I'm trying at the moment is making the most of jest's test.todo method. I'm working on a side project where all my to-do items are written up front as test.todo('item todo') then, each day I make sure I complete at least one of my tests. Once all my to-dos are done I'll have a product that's ready to launch. At least that's the plan ๐Ÿคž

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Corey McCarty

I like this, but I'd also offer that you should drop TODO items and post issues on your repo to give you focus on that next thing.

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Luke Garrigan

Yeah I do that too, Github issues usually. But just making sure youโ€™re currently doing one of those items on the todo at a given time so you know where to jump back in!

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Corey McCarty

Agreed

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Lars Richter

The timer idea is cool. I will try that soon.
I normally try to leave a failing test. The failing test in combination with the name of the test will bring me right back to where I was and what needs to be done.

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Bless Darah Gah

This is the one hard thing I've been struggling with especially when I'm trying to learn a new technology or build a project on something I've never approached before or perhaps beyond my skill set.
I'm gonna try the timing idea, the github issues and probably reading.

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Edvinas Pranka

Yeah, it works very well ๐Ÿ˜€ anytime when I leave at coding stage, the motivation keeps me until I get back

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Zane Milakovic

Ohh I like this mind hack. I am going to try this! Thank you.

I have tried a few times to write code every day. I end up adding comments or working on something not even close to the critical path.

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Luke Garrigan

youโ€™re welcome ๐Ÿ˜„

Yeah weโ€™ve all been there! Me especially.

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Annie Liao

Ditto to setting a timer!

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Manuele J Sarfatti

Wow this is actually a really good mind hack! I'm gonna give it a try

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Luke Garrigan

Thank you! Would love to hear how it goes.

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Mik Seljamaa ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ช

allow 2 minutes per line,
time yourself
commit the code
push every tenth commit
analyse results at every daily self review
rework this very recipe as insights dictate them
kudos mr Woody Zuil

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Mik Seljamaa ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ช

or just read dev.to instead lols