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Build Side Projects Like a Pro — Not Just a Hacker

Build Side Projects Like a Pro — Not Just a Hacker

April 21, 2025

Happy Monday, Junior Engineers!

This week we’re diving into something that can set you apart fast: structuring your side projects like a real engineer. Many juniors build projects to practice—but structuring them well makes your code easier to revisit, collaborate on, and even show off in interviews.

🧱 Core Concept: Side Projects as Proof of Professionalism

Your GitHub can be more than a dumping ground—it can be your portfolio. Here’s what makes a side project look professional:

✅ Foundational Elements

  • Clear project structure (src/, components/, routes/, etc.)

  • README.md that explains what the project is, how to run it, and why it exists

  • Version control with meaningful commit messages

  • Environment variables hidden in .env and ignored with .gitignore

  • Simple CI (optional) like GitHub Actions to run linting or tests

These touches show maturity, even if the code is still beginner-level.

🔧 Tips for Structuring Side Projects

  1. Choose one clear purpose.

    • Don’t build a full clone of Spotify and a to-do app. Focus small and clean.

  2. Use a predictable file layout.

    • Examples: src/, utils/, pages/, api/ folders.

  3. Name things like you’d want to find them later.

    • Helpful variable, function, and file names save you (and others) time.

  4. Include installation instructions.

    • If someone can’t get it running in 5 minutes, they’ll move on.

  5. Track your progress with good commits.

    • Use messages like add signup form with validation instead of update stuff.

  6. Optional but impressive: deploy it!

🌱 Career Growth Tip: Projects That Stand Out in Interviews

Hiring managers don’t expect perfection. But they do look for signs that you:

  • Understand how real-world codebases are structured

  • Can write code someone else could pick up

  • Care about documentation and clean commit history

Even simple projects can impress—if they’re thoughtfully presented.

🔗 Resource Spotlight

🙋 Junior Dev Q&A

Q: "Do I need tests or CI/CD for side projects?"

A: Not at first. But adding a simple test or linting config shows awareness of engineering practices. Even a basic GitHub Actions workflow to check your code adds a lot of credibility.

Your side project isn’t just code—it’s your calling card. Build it like someone else will read it, because one day, they might.

If this helped, forward it to a dev friend working on their next project.

Keep building with clarity