Side projects are the secret to becoming a better developer
If you ask any developer how they’ve really leveled up their skills, chances are they’ll tell you it wasn’t just by clocking in and out of their 9-to-5. Sure, work projects are great for learning—they’ve got deadlines, real users, and sometimes hair-raising stakes—but side projects? That’s where the magic happens.
I’m going to let you in on a little secret: Side projects are the ultimate cheat code for becoming a better developer. And I’m not just talking about coding for the sake of coding. These weekend experiments have taught me more about Laravel (and development in general) than any job or tutorial ever could. Let’s dive into why side projects are so powerful and how they’ve transformed my skills, career, and even how I approach problem-solving.
I’m going to let you in on a little secret: Side projects are the ultimate cheat code for becoming a better developer. And I’m not just talking about coding for the sake of coding. These weekend experiments have taught me more about Laravel (and development in general) than any job or tutorial ever could. Let’s dive into why side projects are so powerful and how they’ve transformed my skills, career, and even how I approach problem-solving.
Why Side Projects Matter
1. You’re in the Driver’s Seat
When you’re working on a side project, you make the rules. There are no product managers breathing down your neck, no legacy codebase you have to tiptoe around. Want to build a Laravel-powered API that manages your fantasy football league? Go for it. Need to explore Inertia.js or Livewire in a real-world scenario? Now’s your chance.
This creative freedom lets you play, experiment, and even fail without consequence. And that’s where the learning happens. For example, one of my side projects involved creating a multi-tenancy SaaS app with Laravel. It was messy, and I hit countless roadblocks, but it taught me more about Laravel’s database management and queues than any course ever did.
2. Real Problems, Real Solutions
One thing I’ve noticed is that side projects often scratch a personal itch. You’ve got a problem you want to solve, so you build the solution yourself. This is where you learn how to think like a developer—breaking down a problem, designing a solution, and then iterating until it works.
Take, for example, the time I built a task management app to keep my projects organized. It wasn’t groundbreaking, but integrating Laravel Sanctum for authentication and experimenting with Vue.js for the frontend gave me practical experience that directly translated into my professional work.
3. It’s a Playground for New Tech
Let’s be real: keeping up with new tools, frameworks, and best practices can feel overwhelming. But side projects are the perfect excuse to dive into something new without the pressure of getting it “right.”
When Laravel announced the starter kits (Jetstream, anyone?), I immediately spun up a side project just to see what it was all about. By the end of that weekend, I had a better understanding of Tailwind CSS, Laravel’s authentication flow, and even some fun Alpine.js tricks—all of which made me a stronger, more confident developer.
When you’re working on a side project, you make the rules. There are no product managers breathing down your neck, no legacy codebase you have to tiptoe around. Want to build a Laravel-powered API that manages your fantasy football league? Go for it. Need to explore Inertia.js or Livewire in a real-world scenario? Now’s your chance.
This creative freedom lets you play, experiment, and even fail without consequence. And that’s where the learning happens. For example, one of my side projects involved creating a multi-tenancy SaaS app with Laravel. It was messy, and I hit countless roadblocks, but it taught me more about Laravel’s database management and queues than any course ever did.
2. Real Problems, Real Solutions
One thing I’ve noticed is that side projects often scratch a personal itch. You’ve got a problem you want to solve, so you build the solution yourself. This is where you learn how to think like a developer—breaking down a problem, designing a solution, and then iterating until it works.
Take, for example, the time I built a task management app to keep my projects organized. It wasn’t groundbreaking, but integrating Laravel Sanctum for authentication and experimenting with Vue.js for the frontend gave me practical experience that directly translated into my professional work.
3. It’s a Playground for New Tech
Let’s be real: keeping up with new tools, frameworks, and best practices can feel overwhelming. But side projects are the perfect excuse to dive into something new without the pressure of getting it “right.”
When Laravel announced the starter kits (Jetstream, anyone?), I immediately spun up a side project just to see what it was all about. By the end of that weekend, I had a better understanding of Tailwind CSS, Laravel’s authentication flow, and even some fun Alpine.js tricks—all of which made me a stronger, more confident developer.
How Side Projects Advance Your Career
1. Building a Portfolio That Speaks Volumes
Hiring managers love seeing side projects because they show initiative, curiosity, and a willingness to learn. My GitHub is filled with experiments—some polished, some half-baked—and they’ve sparked conversations in interviews that led to job offers.
One hiring manager told me that a side project I built—a CRM for Photographers using Laravel and an external API—stood out because it showed I could integrate third-party services while thinking about UX. That’s not something a resume bullet point can convey.
2. Developing Skills You Didn’t Know You Needed
Side projects push you outside your comfort zone. You’ll pick up skills like deployment (shoutout to Forge and Vapor), API integration, or even writing tests (yes, I know… tests can be boring, but trust me, they’re worth it). These are the kinds of skills that make you a rockstar in your day job.
For instance, deploying one of my Laravel side projects taught me the ins and outs of setting up CI/CD pipelines. When my workplace later asked if anyone had experience with GitHub Actions, I was ready to step up and deliver.
3. Networking Through Sharing
One of the most unexpected benefits of side projects is the way they connect you with others. Whether it’s sharing your progress on Twitter, contributing to open-source, or writing a blog post (like the ones on my blog), side projects give you something to talk about—and that can open doors you never saw coming.
Hiring managers love seeing side projects because they show initiative, curiosity, and a willingness to learn. My GitHub is filled with experiments—some polished, some half-baked—and they’ve sparked conversations in interviews that led to job offers.
One hiring manager told me that a side project I built—a CRM for Photographers using Laravel and an external API—stood out because it showed I could integrate third-party services while thinking about UX. That’s not something a resume bullet point can convey.
2. Developing Skills You Didn’t Know You Needed
Side projects push you outside your comfort zone. You’ll pick up skills like deployment (shoutout to Forge and Vapor), API integration, or even writing tests (yes, I know… tests can be boring, but trust me, they’re worth it). These are the kinds of skills that make you a rockstar in your day job.
For instance, deploying one of my Laravel side projects taught me the ins and outs of setting up CI/CD pipelines. When my workplace later asked if anyone had experience with GitHub Actions, I was ready to step up and deliver.
3. Networking Through Sharing
One of the most unexpected benefits of side projects is the way they connect you with others. Whether it’s sharing your progress on Twitter, contributing to open-source, or writing a blog post (like the ones on my blog), side projects give you something to talk about—and that can open doors you never saw coming.
Tips for Starting (and Finishing!) Side Projects
If you’re thinking, “This all sounds great, but I have no idea where to start,” here are a few tips:
1. Start Small: Your side project doesn’t have to be the next Laravel Spark. Pick something manageable, like a to-do app or a personal blog.
2. Focus on Learning: Choose a project that lets you explore something new. Maybe you’ve been meaning to learn Livewire or play with Docker—now’s your chance.
3. Set Boundaries: It’s easy to let side projects consume all your free time. Set realistic goals and deadlines to keep yourself from burning out.
4. Share Your Progress: Post updates on Twitter, write a blog post, or even present your project at a local meetup. Sharing helps solidify what you’ve learned and might even inspire others.
1. Start Small: Your side project doesn’t have to be the next Laravel Spark. Pick something manageable, like a to-do app or a personal blog.
2. Focus on Learning: Choose a project that lets you explore something new. Maybe you’ve been meaning to learn Livewire or play with Docker—now’s your chance.
3. Set Boundaries: It’s easy to let side projects consume all your free time. Set realistic goals and deadlines to keep yourself from burning out.
4. Share Your Progress: Post updates on Twitter, write a blog post, or even present your project at a local meetup. Sharing helps solidify what you’ve learned and might even inspire others.
Final Thoughts
Side projects aren’t just a fun way to spend your weekends—they’re an investment in yourself as a developer. They’ve helped me become more confident, resourceful, and adaptable. Whether it’s building a Laravel app to solve a problem or diving into a new framework just for kicks, every side project adds another tool to your developer toolbox.
So, what are you waiting for? Fire up your text editor, spin up a Laravel app, and start building. Who knows? That little weekend project could be the stepping stone to your next big career move—or at the very least, an epic learning experience.
And hey, if you’ve got a side project you’re excited about, I’d love to hear about it. Drop a comment, shoot me a message on Twitter, or check out more of my thoughts on coding and creativity over at my blog. Let’s keep building—one side project at a time.
So, what are you waiting for? Fire up your text editor, spin up a Laravel app, and start building. Who knows? That little weekend project could be the stepping stone to your next big career move—or at the very least, an epic learning experience.
And hey, if you’ve got a side project you’re excited about, I’d love to hear about it. Drop a comment, shoot me a message on Twitter, or check out more of my thoughts on coding and creativity over at my blog. Let’s keep building—one side project at a time.