100 sats \ 0 replies \ @TwoLargePizzas 7 Sep 2023 \ on: For you highly active devs out there, how do you do it? meta
Some years ago I started and built a decent sized community around a FOSS project. I spend 5 years working on it almost every day. The project still exists and is still used by many, but I have since left and handed the reigns over to someone else.
Reflecting on that experience I can say a few things...
- The reward for me was seeing my creation come to life. Having people getting value from something I created was a great feeling.
- Building and participating in a community of like minded people is also very rewarding.
- I started the project for a few reasons...
- I saw an unfilled need in the market
- I admired other FOSS creators and wanted to be like them
- It was something I was excited to work on (kinda nostalgic in a way)
- I gained a lot of experience that has been valuable in lots of ways.
However, there are some downsides, which is ultimately why I quit...
- Running a FOSS project is actually pretty difficult. Writing the code was the easy part for me but managing a community gets more difficult as it grows.
- I had hoped after 5 years I would find a way to monetize somehow and keep going. I made some beer money but ultimately never figured out how to turn it into a sustainable business.
- I got burnt out and just couldn't do it anymore.
Here's the thing. I still work on side projects regularly and I occasionally contribute to other FOSS projects. For me, it's just about the enjoyment of coding and solving problems.
Although, I must say I do get more distracted nowadays than I used too. Staying focused and managing your time is a skill that needs to be practiced and I'm out of practice. I got through phases when I can get really deep into something and then other times I waste time watching YouTube. It's a real problem.