The Hidden Lives of Developers and Their Side Projects
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Chapter 1: A Day in the Life of a Developer
At 7:00 am, the sun rises over the coastline of Costa Rica as Alex begins his day. After enjoying breakfast, he heads straight to his computer, checking emails from one of his three software engineering positions.
Alex is undoubtedly talented, putting in around 12 hours of work each day. He has developed a complex system to manage his schedule and avoid overlapping meetings, though it doesn't always succeed. This juggling act led him to leave several companies where he couldn't keep up with the demands.
In a country where the average salary sits at $20,000, Alex earns approximately $300,000, as he is in high demand from American firms. He carefully curates his LinkedIn profile, showcasing the most appealing aspects of his roles, knowing that HR typically doesn’t probe too deeply.
While this scenario is more common in the tech landscape of the U.S., developers in Europe face different challenges, including stricter regulations and lower demand. Still, many find themselves engaging in side projects that sometimes match or exceed their full-time earnings.
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The first video, When Side Hustles For Software Developers Are Valuable, delves into the significance of balancing multiple roles and offers insights on maximizing productivity in side projects.
Developers often feel drained after an hour of coding for their employers, yet they can spend the following six hours passionately enhancing a feature for their independent applications.
Chapter 2: The Indie Hackers Community
A thriving community known as "Indie Hackers" brings together entrepreneurs who launch products without external funding. In this space, they exchange ideas, buy or sell companies, and share strategies for improving their productivity.
Creating a Blockbuster
Belgian game developer Jordy Lakiere invested seven years into a game that ultimately generated over $3 million in revenue.
Reflecting on his journey, Jordy explains that the key to dedicating such a significant amount of time to his side project was to intentionally design his life around it. Working as a part-time lecturer in Concept Art and Illustration at Digital Arts & Entertainment Howest University allowed him the financial freedom to continue developing his game.
After three years of hard work, it became evident that the project still required significant development, but he was undeterred. Eventually, after multiple iterations and adjustments, his game began to attract interest.
He shared that the most challenging aspect was investing countless hours into marketing during the first five years, with little to show for it. However, a pivotal moment came when 5,000 users added his game to their wishlists in a single day.
Indie Hackers typically operate without marketing budgets, opting instead to showcase their creations where their target audience gathers. For Jordy, that meant leveraging platforms like 9gag.
A Side Business
Software engineer Clément Mihailescu created a YouTube video titled How Much Money I’ve Made As A Software Engineer, Entrepreneur, And YouTuber. In this video, he shared a detailed spreadsheet illustrating his earnings.
In 2017, while working for Google, Clément launched a side project aimed at training other developers. After transitioning to Facebook, he continued to grow this venture. Eventually, he left his position at Facebook when his project began generating over $100,000 annually. Two years later, he surpassed the million-dollar mark.
Clément's rapid growth can be attributed to his early YouTube content targeting developers, which he released prior to launching AlgoExpert. Similar to Jordy, he strategically focused his marketing efforts on the platforms where his community engaged the most.
The Community Perspective
Communities on platforms like Reddit normalize the concept of juggling multiple jobs. Responses from companies vary widely; some actively seek out employees with side projects, while others embrace this trend due to the scarcity of experienced developers.
In many regions, having multiple jobs isn't illegal as long as it's disclosed to tax authorities. For entrepreneurs, companies typically do not see it as an issue unless it hampers performance. Numerous developers create content or speak at conferences, often with the full support of their employers, as it can provide favorable publicity.
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The second video, 12 Side Hustle Ideas For Software Developers, explores various opportunities for developers looking to monetize their skills and offers practical advice for starting new projects.