Stop Building Side Projects Nobody Wants

You've got a graveyard of half-finished projects. I do too. We start with a spark, a cool idea, a desire to learn a new framework. Weeks or months later, that spark dies, the code sits, and the "maybe someday" pile grows.

Most of these projects were doomed from the start. Not because you're a bad developer or lacked effort, but because you built them in a vacuum. You built something nobody — not even you, long-term — actually needed or wanted.

Quick Take

• Stop building in isolation: Talk to potential users before writing code.
• Validate the problem, not just the solution: Is there a real pain point?
• Focus on value, not features: What specific problem does it solve?
• Charge money early: It’s the purest form of validation. Even a small amount.
• Build small, iterate fast: Don't get lost in complexity.
• Define success upfront: What does this project need to achieve to be worth your time?
• Embrace constraint: Limited time and resources can lead to better focus.

The Side Project Trap

I’ve been there more times than I care to admit. The late nights, the pride in a clean codebase, the excitement of deploying something new. And then… crickets. No users, no feedback, just the quiet hum of a server nobody visits.

My hard drive is littered with forgotten experiments: a custom note-taking app (because existing ones weren't quite right), a minimalist task manager (another one), an RSS reader with a unique filtering algorithm, a personal analytics dashboard that got two visitors (me, twice). Each one started with good intentions – learning, scratching an itch, building a portfolio piece. But they failed to gain any traction beyond my own curiosity.

The biggest mistake? Assuming my personal "itch" was widespread enough to matter, or that a cool technical challenge translated into a valuable product. It rarely does.

My Setup / Context

I'm a full-stack developer with about 15 years in the trenches, mostly working in startups and growth-stage companies. My days are spent building complex systems, often for specific business needs. At night and on weekends, I used to chase those personal projects. I thrive on creating, on seeing ideas come to life. I’m comfortable with various tech stacks – from Python/Django to Node.js/React, Go, and a bit of Rust. I'm not afraid of the command line or diving into infrastructure.

For years, my side projects were pure technical playgrounds. "I want to learn Svelte, so I'll build X." "I need a better understanding of GraphQL, so Y it is." This approach delivered a lot of personal learning, which isn't nothing. But it delivered almost zero external value or sustainable momentum. My portfolio grew technically diverse, but lacked proof of solving real-world problems for real people.

My perspective shifted when I tried to turn a side project into a real business. The stark difference between "what I want to build" and "what people will pay for" became painfully clear.

The Problem with "Learning Projects"

Yes, you learn by building. It’s fundamental. But there’s a spectrum of learning.

Building for Self vs. Building for Others

Aspect	Building for Yourself (Personal Learning)	Building for Others (Validated Product)
Primary Goal	Learn new tech, scratch personal itch, portfolio piece.	Solve a real problem for a target audience, create value.
Validation	Internal (does I like it?), assumed value.	External (do they need it?), market feedback.
Motivation	Curiosity, personal interest, resume-building.	Impact, revenue, sustainability, community contribution.
Success Metric	Code works, I learned X, it looks cool.	Users acquired, problems solved, engagement, revenue generated.
Typical Outcome	Abandoned, personal use only.	Sustainable, grows, provides real value beyond the builder.

If your only goal is learning, then fine, build that weird app. But be honest about it. Don't call it a "side project with potential" when it's really just a tutorial in disguise. The trap is when you think you're building for a potential audience, but you haven't done the groundwork to ensure that audience exists or cares.

Signs You're Building a "Nobody Wants" Project

• You haven't spoken to anyone about the problem: Except maybe your equally tech-focused friends who nod politely.
• Your "users" are imaginary: You assume people will flock to your solution.
• The problem you're solving is vague: "Productivity," "better organization," "streamlined workflow" are often too broad.
• You're building another CRUD app for X niche: The market is saturated unless you have a truly unique angle and validation.
• You're already thinking about the "next features" (V2, V3) before V1 is validated: Premature optimization, feature creep, scope bloat.
• Your motivation is purely technical: "I want to use Rust because it's cool," not "I need to solve X problem efficiently."

What I’d Recommend Instead

Shift your mindset from "builder" to "problem-solver." Start with the problem, not the solution.

Here's how I approach things now:

1. Start with Problem Finding (Not Solution Brainstorming)

   • Where do I see people struggling? What repetitive tasks annoy them? What tools are they hacking together because nothing else fits?
   • Look at existing solutions. What are their weaknesses? Where do users complain?
   • Talk to people. Seriously. Not "what do you think of my idea?" but "tell me about your biggest frustration when trying to accomplish X." Listen more than you talk.

2. Define a Specific, Solvable Problem

   • "Freelancers spend too much time chasing invoices." (Specific)
   • "Local small businesses struggle to update their online menus quickly." (Specific)
   • Avoid: "People need to be more productive." (Too vague)

3. Validate the Problem (Before a Single Line of Code)

   • Surveys/Interviews: Target specific groups. Ask about pain points, not your solution.
   • Landing Page Test: Describe the problem, hint at a solution, capture emails for early access. Gauge interest. Don't even build the product yet.
   • Manual MVP: Can you solve the problem for a few people manually? Act as the "software" yourself. Process data, send emails, do the work behind the scenes. This gives immense insight.

4. Design the Smallest Possible Solution (MVP)

   • What's the absolute core feature that solves one part of the defined problem?
   • If you're building a "better email client," maybe the MVP is just "an email client that only lets you respond to emails from VIP contacts." Super focused.

5. Build It, Launch It, Charge for It (Even a Little)

   • Get it out there. Imperfect is fine.
   • Putting a price tag on it, even $5/month, is the ultimate validation. It forces people to consider if your solution is worth something to them. Free users often don't provide the same quality of feedback or commitment.
   • Don't hide behind "it's not ready." It's never "ready."

6. Listen, Iterate, or Kill It

   • Gather feedback relentlessly: What's working? What's not? What new problems are people experiencing?
   • Be willing to pivot or shut down: If the validation isn't there, or the problem isn't big enough, or you can't find paying users, cut your losses. Your time is valuable.

Practical Steps for Your Next Project

Here's a simplified roadmap:

1. Identify 3-5 pain points you or others genuinely face, especially in areas with existing, clunky solutions.
2. Pick the one that feels most urgent and has a clear, measurable impact when solved.
3. Interview 5-10 people (not your friends) who experience this pain point. Ask probing questions like "How do you currently deal with X?" "What sucks about that?" "If you had a magic wand, what would it do?"
4. Based on those conversations, sketch out the simplest possible solution. One core function. No bells, no whistles.
5. Create a simple landing page. Explain the problem, present your proposed solution, and have a clear call to action (e.g., "Join waitlist," "Get early access," "Sign up for beta"). Drive a small amount of targeted traffic to it (e.g., a few dollars on Twitter/Reddit ads, or post in relevant communities).
6. If you get meaningful sign-ups (e.g., >100 in a week), proceed to build. If not, iterate on the problem/solution or move to the next pain point.
7. Build the absolute MVP. Prioritize getting it into users' hands quickly.
8. Launch with a small price tag. Learn what real users will pay for.

This process feels slower initially because you're not coding right away. But it drastically increases your chances of building something people actually want and will use, rather than another digital dust collector. It shifts the focus from "my cool idea" to "their pressing need."

You'll still learn new tech. You'll still build cool things. But you'll do it with purpose, direction, and a much higher chance of creating something meaningful. Your side project graveyard doesn't have to keep growing. You can start building things that matter.