Ask HN: What is your most failed side-project?
6 comments
When I first learnt to code I started out building stuff to solve problems around me, turns out it wasn't a problem to people.
while in college - myrumate.com [2011] I built a basic web app to help students find roomates, especially students coming from long distances.
- thestudybox.com [2012] (I still keep this domain don't know why) question and answer site for students, a cheap stackoverflow clone.
- Snatchh.com [2013] A classifieds sites for students to buy and sell stuff.ly
They all failed but I learnt a lot about building stuff from scratch to completion alone. Code was most procedural PHP(spaghetti) and I experienced first hand the problem with a large smelly code base.
I still build stuff, but it's mostly small personal stuff.
Find the code here: http://github.com/nkudo
while in college - myrumate.com [2011] I built a basic web app to help students find roomates, especially students coming from long distances.
- thestudybox.com [2012] (I still keep this domain don't know why) question and answer site for students, a cheap stackoverflow clone.
- Snatchh.com [2013] A classifieds sites for students to buy and sell stuff.ly
They all failed but I learnt a lot about building stuff from scratch to completion alone. Code was most procedural PHP(spaghetti) and I experienced first hand the problem with a large smelly code base.
I still build stuff, but it's mostly small personal stuff.
Find the code here: http://github.com/nkudo
I was/am developing a web application to create beautiful flashcards, using LaTex.
I coded a very basic MVP that basically let you create a deck of cards and export it to PDF for print and cut.
I showed it to some university friends but none of them showed real interest.
I still run it on a dokku instance on Digital Ocean, because I use it myself from time to time.
If anyone is interested, the stack was golang + gin framework + postgresql + texlive + javascript + bootstrap + mathjax.
At the end of this all, it was a nice exercise in building something useful with Go and I now have a nice tool in my toolbox.
I coded a very basic MVP that basically let you create a deck of cards and export it to PDF for print and cut.
I showed it to some university friends but none of them showed real interest.
I still run it on a dokku instance on Digital Ocean, because I use it myself from time to time.
If anyone is interested, the stack was golang + gin framework + postgresql + texlive + javascript + bootstrap + mathjax.
At the end of this all, it was a nice exercise in building something useful with Go and I now have a nice tool in my toolbox.
I wrote a website to stream google streetview for a given route. I then wrote a client to connect it to the ant+ device(cadence, power meter, speed sensors) on my indoor trainer to allow me to ride the route -
http://www.routeviewer.com/
Unfortunately the refresh rates on streetview were too low, as its not designed for this.
Should have built trainerroad
http://www.routeviewer.com/
Unfortunately the refresh rates on streetview were too low, as its not designed for this.
Should have built trainerroad
I get a lot of my education through coding "useless stuff" so it always becomes a good way to learn something or other. That being said, several hybrid mobile apps that are no longer living come to mind.
Also, an NES emulator that resides at http://www.playnesta.com - if you're on Chrome or even mobile it's pretty slick.
Also, an NES emulator that resides at http://www.playnesta.com - if you're on Chrome or even mobile it's pretty slick.
This is amazing!!! I am playing double dragon at work LOL
Hey there - glad you're liking it. Maybe I'll work on it some more, haha.
I personally built open source personal budget app [1] for fun and experience. I built the app not for profit so there is not failed project.
Instead of assume failed, I suggest make it as your portfolio for future employment.
[1]: https://github.com/paukiatwee/budgetapp
Instead of assume failed, I suggest make it as your portfolio for future employment.
[1]: https://github.com/paukiatwee/budgetapp
Learning is always a plus we agree. I mean failure in a sense that it didn't get any love or money and didn't turn out to be what you imagined.
Should I count projects that I'm still working on as failing until proven otherwise?
If so then https://www.earpod.co
If so then https://www.earpod.co
Looks nice, kudos.
No :) Only if you drop it
Second part of the year I coded a full Twitter clone (with some twists https://www.writedown.co) that I wanted it to become a non-profit but actually noone used it except for my friends.
In total I spent almost a year coding useless stuff. Your experience?