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Pet projects are not just a way to practice programming. They’re a tool for self-definition, showcasing skills, and gaining real experience. Unlike academic exercises, a pet project requires setting your own goal, choosing technologies, architecture, implementation, and testing. These projects often become talking points in interviews or even the foundation for startups. But to avoid ending up with yet another "ToDo app," you need a spark — an idea. And that’s where many developers get stuck: the motivation is there, but the theme is hard to define.
| Platform | Description |
| GitHub | The perfect place to discover open-source projects. You can filter by language, issue complexity, and repository activity. Great for beginner and mid-level developers. |
| Devpost | A platform for participating in hackathons and challenges. Offers real-world tasks from companies where you can practice your skills. A great way to build a portfolio. |
| Subreddits like r/SideProject and r/learnprogramming regularly feature project ideas and implementation discussions. You can also find collaborators here. | |
| Buildspace | An educational platform offering concrete project tracks — from Web3 to AI. Each track is presented as a step-by-step guide, and you can publish the result at the end. |
| Awesome Lists | Curated lists of useful repositories by topic (e.g., machine learning, game dev). A great starting point for discovering interesting themes and foundational ideas for a pet project. |
Inspiration doesn’t always come from standard channels. That’s why it’s worth stepping outside the obvious and learning to find ideas where others don’t look. This requires developing a habit of observing, analyzing everyday problems, and identifying digital solutions in unexpected contexts — from user discussions to video formats and contests. This article collects non-trivial sources of ideas to help you find your next meaningful pet project.
Twitter as a Goldmine of Ideas — If Filtered Correctly
Twitter is one of the most underrated tools for discovering unconventional pet project ideas. Despite the noise, the platform captures real-time reactions, user pain points, insights, and micro-use cases that are hard to find in blogs or books. The key is to extract the valuable bits and separate actual problems from noise. Twitter offers access to micro-statements — short, emotional, unfiltered, but completely real. Perfect for understanding what users actually care about, what products they’re searching for, and where solutions are lacking.
One effective method is keyword monitoring: “why is there no app that...”, “I wish there was a tool to...”, “is there a site where...”. Tweets like these often express frustration or inconvenience. They're not just complaints — they’re ready-made product requests. Also pay attention to discussions under tech news, opinions on releases, and comments on product demo videos — these often surface topics that haven't yet been turned into real solutions.
Important tip: to use Twitter effectively as an idea source, you need to store and analyze content and after download Twitter video. Don’t stop at screenshots or bookmarks. Use tools like Notion or Trello to collect and categorize ideas by theme: “user pain”, “technical challenge”, “automation”, “niche service”, etc.
If you come across an interesting video tweet — especially a demo, a complaint, or a tool review — be sure to save it. For that, you can use a dedicated service like SaveTWT, which lets you download videos from tweets in high quality. This is especially useful if you want to revisit it later, analyze the format or visuals, or store the idea offline. Video is a powerful source of unique ideas, especially when the author shares a use case or MVP of their tool.
Where Else to Find Ideas for Pet Projects?
When the usual sources stop delivering results, it’s time to switch to less predictable channels. Where most people see just content or entertainment, you may spot an unmet need that no one has automated yet. This isn’t about chasing hype — it’s about attentiveness and critical thinking. Below is a list of unconventional but effective directions where pet project ideas are born regularly.
- Product Hunt Archives. Don’t just browse the homepage — check out weekly or monthly archives. Pay attention to projects that didn’t make it to the top but solve interesting problems. These are often unfinished ideas you can adapt or develop further by adding your own focus or targeting a local market.
- Watching micro-influencers on YouTube and TikTok. Creators of small channels often talk about problems in their niche: content planning, Excel automation, publishing schedules, task management. Each pain point is a potential digital solution.
- App Store and Google Play user reviews. Read user feedback on popular apps. You'll often find problems the developers haven’t addressed. You can create a simple pet project that fixes a specific shortcoming and test the demand.
- No-code and low-code solution marketplaces. See what templates and solutions users are building in Tilda, Webflow, or Bubble. If a template is popular — demand is confirmed. You can build a technically advanced alternative or an add-on.
- UX research and feedback on open source projects. On GitHub and Hacker News, people often discuss UX flaws in existing tools. Adding a UI or simplified setup to a popular tool is already a valuable project.
- Real-world needs of small businesses and local communities. Look at websites of local events, schools, nonprofits, and workshops — they often lack automation, accounting, or basic analytics. You can create a free pet project for them — and gain both experience and a real case.
Conclusion
An idea is not inspiration — it’s a skill of observation and analysis. In real life, there are dozens of tasks around you that can be turned into valuable pet projects. The key is not to search directly, but to learn to see shortcomings, friction, or needs in the everyday. Such observations lead to meaningful and unique solutions. They grow you as both a developer and a product thinker.
Thinking beyond the obvious is the key to real growth. Don’t be afraid to tackle simple problems if they solve a real pain point. Evaluate ideas based on usefulness, not “uniqueness.” A pet project is not a performance — it’s practice. Find a task that interests you and start building. The ideas are already around you — you just need to learn how to notice them.
FAQ
1. Why shouldn't I just take ready-made ideas from GitHub?
Because they’ve already been implemented and often leave no room for your own analysis, decision-making, or architecture. A pet project is valuable not only for the result, but also for the process: defining the problem, choosing the approach, making mistakes, and reflecting. Copying an existing project is an exercise in reading code — not creating a product. It’s better to take the idea as a starting point and rework it for your own hypothesis or audience.
2. How do I know if an idea is really good for a pet project?
A good idea is one that sparks your interest and solves a real problem. If you're excited to build it, can clearly explain its purpose, and can name three real use cases — it’s a solid topic. Don’t focus on being “loud” — focus on usefulness and room for improvement.
3. Does a pet project have to be public or is a local one enough?
For practice, a local project is fine. But if you want to use it as a portfolio item — it should be available online, with documentation, a demo, or at least screencasts. Public projects increase their value in the eyes of employers or investors.
4. How much work is considered enough for a pet project?
It’s not about lines of code — it’s about completeness. The project should have a goal, implemented core functionality, and basic validation (tests, feedback, or data). Even a simple reporting site is more valuable than a complex unfinished system.
5. Is it worth building projects in niches with lots of existing solutions?
Yes — especially if you can do it simpler, faster, or more clearly. Competition is a signal of demand. The key is not to copy, but to add your own perspective, interface, or use different technologies.
6. How can I track and save the ideas I find?
To save ideas from Twitter, use the SaveTWT service. Then create a structure in Notion, Obsidian, or Google Docs. Categorize ideas: “for dev,” “for later,” “for team projects.” Record the source, screenshot, quote. Do this regularly — and over time, you’ll build your own idea bank that you can return to anytime.