I'm a full-time software dev and also working on some ideas in my private time. Lately I find it difficult to manage different personal projects I'm working on. I have way too many ideas of things that should exist in the world and it seems I'll never be able to complete any of them in the available time. How do you prioritize your ideas, what should be a good process to finalize various personal projects?
Ask HN: How do you manage your personal projects?
1–10 of 30 posts
Re: Ask HN: How do you manage your personal projects?
#2Very interesting question actually. I personally have this problem as well and find that focusing on revenue streams first somewhat resolves the problem. At least for me..
It sounds like you need to get a partner and throw everything into a pot and pick the most lucrative items first.
Re: Ask HN: How do you manage your personal projects?
#3Sort your ideas based on the basis of most potential or most value. Pick the first. Stick with it for at least 3 months.
Re: Ask HN: How do you manage your personal projects?
#4GTD
Re: Ask HN: How do you manage your personal projects?
#5When I have an idea I append it to my "idea.md" text file.
I only start something when I know some people that could be interested in (mostly to have feedbacks).
I do many projects at the same time (3 now). Sometimes the projects can converge.
Re: Ask HN: How do you manage your personal projects?
#6Get married, get kids. Have no time left. No projects, no cry.
Re: Ask HN: How do you manage your personal projects?
#7Don't do more than one at the same time - its how you get no results for any.
Re: Ask HN: How do you manage your personal projects?
#8Are you doing this for money, or for learning maybe? I think defining your goal is really important in order to work toward it.
I'm doing projects for learning, so I only care about adding new useless features that are technically interesting to me, without a time limit.
Re: Ask HN: How do you manage your personal projects?
#9Get married, get kids. Have no time left. No projects, no cry.
I'm married with two kids. I did my personal project for two years while I was commuting on the train in the mornings. (too tired in the evenings generally).
Re: Ask HN: How do you manage your personal projects?
#10Sort your ideas based on the basis of most potential or most value. Pick the first. Stick with it for at least 3 months.
My personal project has been running for about 2.5 years now. Still nowhere near finished. :-)