Ask HN: Those making $500/month on side projects in 2024 – Show and tell

Article summary

The article is a discussion thread where people share their experiences and ideas about making $500/month on side projects in 2024. The thread is a continuation of a yearly tradition on the platform, where users share their stories and insights on successful side projects. Various users share their own projects, such as photography software, Kubernetes UI, and API mocking tools, and discuss their experiences with pricing, marketing, and customer acquisition. The discussion also touches on topics like open-source projects, data collection, and the importance of customer feedback.

Main themes

• Side projects
• Pricing and revenue
• Marketing and customer acquisition
• Open-source projects
• Data collection and privacy
• Customer feedback and support

What commenters say

• Some users argue that building a successful side project requires ignoring negative feedback and focusing on paying customers.
• Others believe that dismissing disagreement as jealousy is a sign of ego and a narrow worldview.
• There is a debate about the importance of purchase orders and the overhead of creation and tracking in business transactions.
• Some users emphasize the value of open-source projects and the need to balance revenue generation with the open-source nature of the project.
• The discussion highlights the importance of customer feedback and support in shaping the development and pricing of side projects.
• Users share different strategies for marketing and acquiring customers, including leveraging social networks and offering discounts for early adopters.
• There is a concern about the potential for open-source projects to be copied and used without permission or compensation.
• Some users argue that the key to success lies in identifying a genuine need in the market and building a product that meets that need, rather than trying to create something entirely new.