My side projects plan in 2022/23
1. Abstract
I will use this blog as an opportunity to frequent rethinking my direction. This is the very first post to describe my activity. I’m jumping on the show-your-work bandwagon and sharing my work-in-progress and random thoughts with you.
Since 2016 I’ve been exploring the topic of productivity. Maybe even earlier, I tried multiple systems like GTD. I’ve been using one app (Nozbe) for almost 6 years. But there was always something missing. Then, in early 2021 I discovered note-taking apps like Notion, Bear and Roam Research. I used only Evernote before, which I didn’t like.
The Notion app was quite a discovery. I could finally use some more complicated workflows for my complex life. However, that was not perfect. Roam is right now the best I found. However, task management, building a second brain within Roam, and all the productivity frameworks take too much time.
At the same time, I use Jira at work, Trello for my Software side projects, and Excel for my more measurable projects (like health, competitive programming etc.).
2. Project 1: Super productivity app
What if I merge all my ideal applications and use only one to do everything I do right now? That would not only save money and time and reduce context switching, but also I would be able to build up synergy between these apps.
That’s when I started building a productivity app that combines all the other software for my personal productivity system. I want to merge Task Management App, Trello and Note-taking app together.
My release plan:
- v0.1 Simple note-taking app
- v0.2 Calendar integration
- v0.3 Add Kanban view
Once this is done, I will integrate my Note taking app too.
2.1 Challenges so far
The biggest challenge is that this is just a side project, and I have pretty limited time when I can and want to work on it.
Another issue is that I find it hard to focus on just one project, which, together with a zero-budget, requires me to work on everything (even frontend). To solve this issue, I decided to work in 2-week sprints, focusing only on one project at a time.
2.2 Tech Stack
React on UI, Scala with ZIO, Postgres on the backend, and Kubernetes on deployment. Deployed on DigitalOcean. It was the cheapest and yet most reliable Kubernetes in the cloud.
3. Project 2: Scala book
I wanted to outsource my frontend development as it takes me ages to do simple things, yet it is not perfect. I am a backend developer. However, I hired frontend devs and designed before. It is quite an investment, and as a 15-year developer who hires people, I know that ideally, we need people for a long time > 3 years, who learn and own the project instead of short time contracts (who I am myself :)).
If I invested in permanent, teach everything, I was a worry this dev would get a much better offer and run away. I could mitigate that risk maybe by issuing shares.
That’s when this second thought appeared. If I write a programming book, I will be able to attract or build a community of juniors who become developers. Perhaps even I can start a Software agency/house with a pool of great developers who can help develop Project 1.
Right now, I parked this project as I’m focusing on Project 1.
4. Project 3: RED in codeforces
I used to play chess as a kid. I really enjoyed competing with others. I gave up chess when my family moved to a small new city where there was no chess club. I switched to programming and then tried without any success in competitive programming. The problem is that I never prioritize it, but it is my hobby. I aim to get to the top of Codeforces (RED colour). I will be focusing on this after my Project 1 and Project 2 are done (so I still have a problem prioritizing this one)
The Red is still far away, and over time my performace is worse and worse, but I will keep fighting.