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?
Top comments (1)
Great point. I think side projects remove a lot of the pressure that comes with larger projects and make it easier to experiment and learn.
Some of my favorite projects never became successful products, but they taught me skills that I still use today.