DEV Community

Cover image for Get These In Place Before Starting Your Next Side Project πŸ‘€

Get These In Place Before Starting Your Next Side Project πŸ‘€

Niharika Singh β›“ on August 25, 2020

Let me introduce you to something that you might already be familiar withβ€” Side Project Hell 😈 Basically, you end up with like 747324856 side proj...
Collapse
 
jessicaward profile image
Jessica Ward

One more suggestion: don't try out too many new technologies, frameworks, tools at once.

You will likely spend too much time learning, not enough time doing, and you'll lose motivation.

Learning is great, but in reasonable amounts.

Collapse
 
sonofab1rd profile image
Jacob Dierkens

Any suggestions for moving from learning to doing? There's so much to learn that I'm constantly stuck in the learning space!

Collapse
 
azlindley profile image
Adreanna

Me too!! I call it going down the rabbit hole! I’ll be trying to research a solution and run across a fascinating article that leads me to another and then another another I learn something new but my project goesnpeh

Thread Thread
 
niharrs profile image
Niharika Singh β›“

Yeah, been there done that! The only way out is to not get distracted by the amount of resources online.

Thread Thread
 
sonofab1rd profile image
Jacob Dierkens

So true! Yet sometimes so hard to stay focused!

Collapse
 
emmanuelkaranja profile image
emmanuel-karanja

Hi.

I had the exact same problem. I'd be working on the project and then go online to do some research and end up reading stuff for hours.

To solve this problem, I set a goal of one or two or three tasks to do on my side-project per-day e.g. implement 'Trading' Controller and Repository', or 'Implement the registration form' etc and make sure I do that one thing before I do anything else. If I can do it in a half an hour, I do it an half an hour and spend the rest of the time reading, if it takes longer, so be it. If there is some research needed, I do it focused on that one task alone. But I make sure I do it, if I can't do it, It's not because I digressed and couldn't work on it. I have found that with this method you maintain focus and consistent forward momentum in your project and you are able to finish most of the ones you start. I usually set that goal the night before, and then write it down on a post-it and tape right there on the screen. And with it, you can even manage to do more than one side-project at a time. Try it out.

Collapse
 
niharrs profile image
Niharika Singh β›“

Start with basics. Pick up stuff thats the most in demand. See what others are doing in the space. If you’re new, I’d recommend you to do a boot camp.

Collapse
 
niharrs profile image
Niharika Singh β›“

True! Learning one thing at a time is the way to go.

Collapse
 
andrewbaisden profile image
Andrew Baisden

Good advice I prefer to learn a few things and then create a project with that technical stack so that I am getting real experience before I move onto new technologies.

Collapse
 
jacklowrie profile image
Jack Lowrie

This is really good advice. I've been trying to learn one new thing per project, which has worked well for me!

Collapse
 
phillipstemann profile image
Phillip Stemann

Very good points, however I disagree with step 2 to find a partner who is the opposite of you. If your vision is to make a living of it. Get a partner who has skills you don't have. If you're the technical part, find a communication partner or a sales partner. Otherwise, you'll never get the product out there. My opinion. But the other parts are great!

Collapse
 
niharrs profile image
Niharika Singh β›“

Glad you found it helpful! Yeah, I agree. Different people operate differently.

Collapse
 
abdurrkhalid333 profile image
Abdur Rehman Khalid

I have not started a major side project yet, but I will be keeping in mind all of these tips, and can you guide how a person who has not any experience with DevOps can get started with it.

I know the basic functionality and workflow, as there is pipelining, and we have to write tests for everything we are doing if those tests are passed then pipelining will build the code, and then the process of deployment will occur.

Collapse
 
niharrs profile image
Niharika Singh β›“

I'll keep that in mind. Expect something on CI/CD soon! :)

Collapse
 
abdurrkhalid333 profile image
Abdur Rehman Khalid

Feeling Excited :)

Thread Thread
 
niharrs profile image
Niharika Singh β›“

Just created a #discussion post on the same. dev.to/niharrs/which-ci-cd-tool-do...

Feel free to voice your thoughts there! :D

Collapse
 
shadowphoenix profile image
Rose

I will definitely keep these steps in mind! There is still one master side project I want to undertake. However, it is so big that I'd really have to make a plan before even getting to the first step. ^^

Collapse
 
niharrs profile image
Niharika Singh β›“

Of course! The whole idea is to plan it out well and stick to it. Good luck! :D

Collapse
 
rickluevanos profile image
Ricardo Luevanos

Great post Niharika! And I think the need for mentors can never be expressed enough. Mentorship happens at all levels and having someone to poke holes in your ideas and/or validate your approach can be priceless.

Collapse
 
barretoana profile image
Ana Carolina Barreto

Great list to follow! Personally I skip the first one, telling other people messes up my sense of reward and anxiety.

Collapse
 
niharrs profile image
Niharika Singh β›“

Good to know that you liked it. 😊 Yes, everyone has their own way.

Collapse
 
nicolasomar profile image
NicolΓ‘s Omar GonzΓ‘lez Passerino

Thank you for the advice! I am trying to cut with the tutorials i've been following because of the pandemic and use all the knowledge in a good and solid project.
I think i have to set my objectives and foundations better before keep coding.

Collapse
 
niharrs profile image
Niharika Singh β›“

Yup, following too many tutorials may back fire. Keep learning and sharing!

Collapse
 
jayjosh20 profile image
SirJosh

Wow one of the things am Going through rn, am a beginner at python and it's been hectic learning on my own

Collapse
 
niharrs profile image
Niharika Singh β›“

I feel you. Try not to get distracted with the amount of resources online. Keep in mind your ultimate goal at all times.

Collapse
 
jayjosh20 profile image
SirJosh

Thanks for the advice ✌️

Collapse
 
heisdev profile image
dev

Can you Elaborate Set up CI/CD pipeline??

Collapse
 
niharrs profile image
Niharika Singh β›“

Yes of course. Expect it to be coming soon! :D

Collapse
 
heisdev profile image
dev

Thank you

Collapse
 
gabrielkunkel profile image
Gabriel Kunkel

You're missing: Consider why you want to start a side project.

I'm working on a project to explore dependency injection and re-visit Angular, but I can just keep challenging myself with it; I can add further tech and more patterns just for the sake of learning and becoming more proficient, ultimately to win higher salaries and a better position. When you keep the end in mind, it's easier to do it right and stick to it.

Collapse
 
efleurine profile image
Emmanuel

I agree so much regarding style with CSS. I can't count how much I get trapped

Collapse
 
florincornea profile image
Cornea Florin

best read of the day!

Collapse
 
niharrs profile image
Niharika Singh β›“

Glad you enjoyed it!

Collapse
 
syedkamal3262 profile image
Syed Kamal

How can I setup CI/CD pipeline

Collapse
 
michaelcurrin profile image
Michael Currin • Edited

I wrote this tutorial based on your comment.

Hope this helps!

dev.to/michaelcurrin/intro-tutoria...

Collapse
 
niharrs profile image
Niharika Singh β›“

THIS IS REALLY AWESOME!

Thread Thread
 
michaelcurrin profile image
Michael Currin

Thanks! I know you were planning on writing something like this - let me know if need my expertise on writing your guide or want to link to some of my relevant projects (using Jekyll, React, etc.) which use GH Actions.

Thread Thread
 
niharrs profile image
Niharika Singh β›“

Thanks a bunch for extending a hand! I'll get in touch. :D

Collapse
 
antdimot profile image
Antonio Di Motta

So true

Collapse
 
kuldeepsidhu88 profile image
Kuldeep Singh

Very good points. Another one would be to start with an MVP. Instead of releasing all features at once. Try to release little by little, it would keep the motivation going as you would have some features already live and used by users.

Collapse
 
vbarzana profile image
Victor A. Barzana • Edited

"9. Show/publish your results! If you announced your followers may have been waiting for it πŸ˜ƒ"

Collapse
 
niharrs profile image
Niharika Singh β›“

Oh yes yes! Good point, forgot to write it haha

Collapse
 
givsta profile image
Given M

Lovely article πŸ¦„

Collapse
 
niharrs profile image
Niharika Singh β›“

Thank you! πŸ”₯

Collapse
 
gitjuned profile image
Juned Khatri

Very well said!

Collapse
 
niharrs profile image
Niharika Singh β›“

Thanks!

Collapse
 
niharrs profile image
Niharika Singh β›“

Thanks for sharing!

Collapse
 
prahladmishra profile image
Prahlad Mishra

Very good suggestions, may be it will help me complete my 3 side projects.

Collapse
 
niharrs profile image
Niharika Singh β›“

Woohoo!

Collapse
 
weston1 profile image
Weston Brown

Great advice! I will definitely keep these steps in mind.

Collapse
 
isajal07 profile image
Sajal Shrestha

"Even the tiniest of projects deserve CI/CD."
Couldn't agree more. πŸ˜„

Collapse
 
sarehprice profile image
Sarah Price

I think these are great points and it's important to remember that in order to be successful, there is some planning we have to do beforehand.