As developers, we are always told things like never stop learning or always have a side project. The biggest reasoning for this is because the tech industry is constantly changing and, in order to remain attractive to employers, we should know all about the latest technologies.

But what if you’re not particularly interested in keeping your portfolio up to date? Maybe you’re in a stable job, or maybe you understand that somebody will always need a developer, no matter how (ir)relevant their skill-set is. Why bother spending your time learning something new when you don’t need to?

Artists Find Joy in Art

A pianist will play their instrument for their upcoming performance, practicing their music throughout the week. In his free time, he enjoys singing and playing the guitar. While he may not be good at either, he spends his time with this because he loves music.

By the same token, developers never stop learning because we never want to stop learning. We spend our time with side projects because we enjoy the tinkering process and the thrill of finally getting something to work.

How does Git work anyways? How can I create my own C++ compiler? Will I ever create my own version control system or compiler? Probably not, but I want answers!

Just Learn Something… Anything!

There are literally thousands of topics you could start learning about, so where do you start? Well, just find something (anything) that interests you! I personally find the idea of hacking fascinating, so I like to study it in my free time. But maybe you are more interested in databases, encryption, or the history of computing.

You could even explore topics in math, the natural sciences, or even philosophy. How can differential equations be used in performance optimizations? If the entirety of the known universe is composed of only 118 elements, then how can we apply this knowledge to the development of software?

Write about things that worked and things that didn’t work. Build a system structured like an ant society and talk about it!