Why Every Developer Should Build Something Pointless

Sometimes building without any expectations gives more fun than building something with a purpose. I know that sounds weird, but hear me out. I will share my experience with you and tell you why I think this way. Here are some reasons why I think every developer should build something pointless:

"Pointless" by Whose Standards?

You might think, What do you mean by "pointless"? Well, I mean something that doesn't need any clear purpose or goal. It can be a simple game, a fun, weird website, or even a silly tool that generates the ASCII art of cats. The point is to have a good time and have fun with it.

I mean, who cares if it doesn't have a purpose? At least if you build without any expectations, you will not be disappointed if your project doesn't get any attention, right? You can just enjoy the process of building it and learn something new along the way. And if it works out to be something great, then that's just a bonus!

The Joy of Experimentation

Once you start building something weird or something that doesn't make any sense, you will get to learn a lot of new things. You will get experience with new technologies, frameworks, and new tools. Experimentation is a great way to learn and grow as a developer. You don't have to worry if the result is terrible. Remember, you're always a learner. Developers are always learning. So, don't be afraid to experiment and try new things. You might be surprised at what you can create when you let your imagination run wild.

I still remember when I developed a simple web game in Flask. I learned Flask through a 2-hour crash course and immediately started building the game. And surprisingly, I hosted, and within 6-8 months it got 1 million+ views. I didn't expect that at all. I just wanted to experiment with new technologies and have fun. And it turned out to be a great experience.

Creativity Hides in the Weirdest Places

Okay, Imagine a life where you do not need to worry about the money or the time or the career. I mean, yeah, we all need to pay the bills and stuff. But what if you allow your inner child to play? Yeah, I know sometimes you might think I'm too old for this. But trust me, you are not. You can still be a kid at heart and put the childish creativity into your project.

Yes, from what I've seen, creativity always comes from the weirdest things. Think of that person in your life who is always doing weird things. You know, the one who always makes you laugh with the silliest jokes and ideas.

When Side Projects Turn Into Something More

In the world of the internet, you never know when a side project can turn into your main earning source. I mean, look at all those people who started with a basic blog or a simple website, and now they are making millions.

You may know many websites started as a side project, and now they are making money from it, and some of them are even acquired by big companies. So, you never know when your side project can turn into something big. Just keep building and experimenting with new things. You never know what might happen next.

You Can Connect With Like-Minded People

I made a social network website for developers, and it was very simple. I built it within 2-3 months, and without any expectations, I launched it and also shared it on Product Hunt. And It was ranked 3rd for the day. Unfortunately, I shut it down after 2-3 months because I didn't have enough time to manage it. But I met so many amazing people through that project.

Breaking the Perfectionism Cycle

Never ever go for perfectionism; otherwise, you will never be able to ship your project. I made this mistake many times. I always wanted to make everything perfect, like the design, the test cases, the code quality, etc. But in reality, I get frustrated and never even finish the project.

My suggestion is if it is done and has one good feature, then ship it. You can always improve it later. Users are the best feedback. They will tell you what they want. If you don't have any users, share it with your friends and family or on community. You will get feedback, and you can improve it later.

Not Everything Needs to Be a Business

I know some developers started building projects after watching movies like "The Social Network" or "The Founder." They get motivated and start building something with the hope of making it big. But in reality, not everything grows to be a business, okay? As I said before, you can build without any expectations.

Maybe sometimes we think, why waste time on something that doesn't have a purpose? But at that time, learning is the purpose.

What My “Useless” Projects Taught Me

I will not say those are useless because I learned and I earned from them. I got a chance to experiment, and I made enough money to pay my college fees. And most importantly, I got a lot of other ideas from people who used my projects. I got to know what they want and what they are looking for. I guess this is the best way to find your audience for your next project. Also personally, I got to know what I like and what I don't.

See, I do my work, and I get paid for it. I have a full-time job, but I still build side projects. I am not saying you should quit your job now and start building. Just try to build something in your free time, like weekends or evenings. Maybe you can build something with your friends. But never stop building that thing you love.

Conclusion

In conclusion, building something pointless or something that weird is not a waste of time. It can be a great way to experiment and learn. Nowadays, we can build anything with the help of AI. So try to build and ship it.