Side Project Ideas: 30+ Projects You Can Build This Weekend
Looking for side project ideas? Here are 30+ ideas for developers, designers, and makers — from quick builds to potential startups.
Side projects are how developers learn, build portfolios, and sometimes create businesses. Here are 30+ side project ideas organized by complexity and time commitment.
Weekend Projects (1-2 Days)
Developer Tools
- CLI tool for a repetitive task you do
- VS Code extension for your workflow
- GitHub action for common CI/CD tasks
- Browser extension for productivity
- API wrapper for a service you use
Web Apps
- Personal portfolio site
- Link-in-bio page
- Habit tracker
- Bookmark manager
- Markdown note-taking app
Fun Projects
- Random quote generator
- Color palette generator
- Meme generator
- Spotify playlist analyzer
- Twitter/X bot
The best side projects solve your own problems. What annoys you daily that you could fix with code?
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Week-Long Projects (5-7 Days)
SaaS Ideas
- Email signature generator
- Invoice generator
- QR code generator with analytics
- URL shortener with tracking
- Screenshot API service
Content Tools
- Blog platform with CMS
- Newsletter tool
- Podcast hosting site
- Video thumbnail generator
- Social media scheduler
Month-Long Projects
Potential Startups
- Job board for a niche
- Marketplace for a specific category
- Community platform
- Course platform
- Subscription box management
How to Choose a Side Project
- Solve your own problem first
- Match complexity to available time
- Use tech you want to learn
- Consider monetization potential
- Make it something you'll actually use
Shipping Your Side Project
The graveyard of unfinished side projects is vast. Here's how to actually ship:
- Set a hard deadline (public if possible)
- Build the MVP, not the dream version
- Launch before you're ready
- Get feedback from real users
- Iterate based on usage, not assumptions
Ready to launch? Start with the perfect domain.
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