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Ask HN: When do you say no to a personal passion project?

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Ask HN: When do you say no to a personal passion project?

#1

Post by LegoZombieKing »

I have been building and working on a passion project of building small functional web apps[0] for the past year and a half. Within the past few months I have been learning how to, and working on turning my static web apps into an api application. Just something that I can save data with to use between devices, and share with friends. Since I've started this project I've had a ton of ideas on how to make the "ultimate" time tracker/planner type of app. I don't want to abandon the project, but I also don't want to spend the next year building out an app that I will probably abandon in the future.

What do you think? Has there been a time where you have had to stop yourself from building out a passion project?

[0] https://tooldobox.com/

Re: Ask HN: When do you say no to a personal passion project?

#2

Post by awb »

Maybe set a goal for yourself.

If your goal is to learn certain skills, it sounds like maybe you’ve already done that.

If it’s to build a product that works for you, maybe you’ve done that too.

If it’s to make $500/month, then maybe keep going.

Or if it’s to grow the business into a full time job, keep going as well.

A goal will give you direction and motivation and a clear stopping point.

Re: Ask HN: When do you say no to a personal passion project?

#3

Post by ohxh »

Just my thought -- perfection is the enemy of good. I've fallen into this before, trying to write the "ultimate" version of some program. Do you use your own web apps today? If you enjoy the work, why not start by focusing product that you need today? If something is good enough to work for you, others will find value too.

Re: Ask HN: When do you say no to a personal passion project?

#5

Post by LegoZombieKing »

ohxh wrote: post #3

Just my thought -- perfection is the enemy of good. I've fallen into this before, trying to write the "ultimate" version of some program. Do you use your own web apps today? If you enjoy the work, why not start by focusing product that you need today? If something is good enough to work for you, others will find value too.

I think that's what I'm starting to fall into now. I've finished the workable versions of them, and now I'm starting to scope out features that might make them too complex. I use most of these programs every day, and the challenge I'm striking is whether or not I need to create the ultimate, or if I should just stop where I am at.

Re: Ask HN: When do you say no to a personal passion project?

#6

Post by LegoZombieKing »

akerl_ wrote: post #4

Why don't you want to spend the next year building out an app that you might abandon in the future? What's the downside of working on a passion project and then setting it aside when the passion runs out?

I think that part of it is the opportunity cost of working on a passion project. I have more than one of these types of projects, and I have to weigh them against one another. For example, I could work on these projects and building them out, or at more features to my personal website, or build something new.

Re: Ask HN: When do you say no to a personal passion project?

#7

Post by LegoZombieKing »

awb wrote: post #2

Maybe set a goal for yourself. If your goal is to learn certain skills, it sounds like maybe you’ve already done that. If it’s to build a product that works for you, maybe you’ve done that too. If it’s to make $500/month, then maybe keep going. Or if it’s to grow the business into a full time job, keep going as well. A goal will give you direction and motivation and a clear stopping point.

I am all for the use of goals, and I think I hit mine goal to learn with these projects. Now I'm in the weird goal-less limbo after achieving the original goal where I can re-evaluate and decide whether or not I want to keep going down this route. This is where I'm a little stuck.

Re: Ask HN: When do you say no to a personal passion project?

#8

Post by akerl_ »

LegoZombieKing wrote: post #6
akerl_ wrote: post #4

Why don't you want to spend the next year building out an app that you might abandon in the future? What's the downside of working on a passion project and then setting it aside when the passion runs out?

I think that part of it is the opportunity cost of working on a passion project. I have more than one of these types of projects, and I have to weigh them against one another. For example, I could work on these projects and building them out, or at more features to my personal website, or build something new.

So at any given moment, work on the project that strikes your fancy? There's no upper bound on passion projects dormant/active/etc, where the Project Police will come hassle you for having too many.

Re: Ask HN: When do you say no to a personal passion project?

#9

Post by LegoZombieKing »

akerl_ wrote: post #8
LegoZombieKing wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think that part of it is the opportunity cost of working on a passion project. I have more than one of these types of projects, and I have to weigh them against one another. For example, I could work on these projects and building them out, or at more features to my personal website, or build something new.

So at any given moment, work on the project that strikes your fancy? There's no upper bound on passion projects dormant/active/etc, where the Project Police will come hassle you for having too many.

I suppose you’re right. The only passion project police officer that is on patrol is probably myself.

Re: Ask HN: When do you say no to a personal passion project?

#10

Post by omnipath »

When it starts to actively harm or hinder you instead of help. If it's costing you time you don't have, resources you can't afford, or affecting your health, call it quits. Otherwise, at the very least, you'd maybe learn something new, and definitely have kept yourself entertained, regardless of its utility.
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