The common struggle every solo builder faces at the start
A Reddit post about how hard it is to get a side project off the ground. It honestly captures the confusion and self-doubt that comes before anything is built. Anyone trying to build something on their own will likely relate.
Starting a side project — a product, app, or service you build outside your main job — sounds exciting, but the early stage is often the hardest. Many people have an idea but freeze when it comes to taking the first real step, and many quit before they ever ship anything.
This community post gives voice to that early struggle, inviting others to share their experiences and advice. For solo builders, it's a reminder that this friction is normal, and reading how others pushed through can offer both encouragement and practical direction.
Key points
- The early phase of a side project — before anything works — is the hardest for most people.
- The barrier is usually not technical skill; it's momentum and self-doubt.
- Sharing your struggle in communities like r/SideProject can surface practical advice and motivation.
- Starting small and learning fast beats waiting until everything feels ready.
Quick term guide
- side project
- A small project someone builds outside their main job or main business.
- IDE
- A software tool that combines a code editor, a way to run code, and error checking all in one app.
- build
- A chosen set of in-game abilities or items a player equips for their character.
- FIR
- A First Information Report — the official complaint filed with police in India that kicks off a criminal investigation.
- share
- A server folder made available to apps or other devices.
- friction
- Anything that makes it harder or slower for a user to start using a product.
- skill
- A reusable set of instructions for handling a task.
- r/SideProject
- A Reddit forum where people share small personal products and projects.