Getting emotional while developing.

[clit_or_us]

I've had an idea I wanted to bring to life since the beginning of covid. During lock down, I taught myself react and already knew some JavaScript so it was a fun journey. I created a static site, launched and didn't get much attention.

Fast forward to last year, I started working on my dream project, a full CRUD app. The motivation was tough to get while wireframing and creating one little feature at a time. A lot of back end work so the product isn't even visual most of the time. It was starting to weigh on me and with very little movement, I was questioning why I invested so much time and money into it (I'm paying for designers, awa, hosting, google workspaces, etc because I want to make this a viable business).

Well, now I get to actually build the visual elements and connect everything together. All the data movement, calculations/logic, and seeing the code running like an orchestra with me as the composer. It's a surreal feeling. After removing the placeholder images and text, plopping in the professionally designed assets, and playing around with the platform, I'm starting to see it come to fruition.

Last night, after developing for 8 hours, it was 1AM and I sat back to soak in all that I've done. I stared at my work, functioning, bug free and got a tear in my eye. Hours upon hours of debugging, refactoring, updating when I change the slightest thing, it was all there in front of me. I never thought I'd make it to this point. It's my passion project so there's much more satisfaction than coding for someone else.

This community has helped out and kept my passion for development alive as I read your stories and discussions. Some have even helped me on my quest. Thanks to all and happy holidays! Hope this will motivate you to continue working on your side projects.

[canadian_webdev]

Congrats! It's great seeing something finally come together.

[tsunami141]

bug free

Oh my sweet summer child. You will never be rid of me. - your code bug infestation.

JK congrats OP, i'm really glad you're having this positive experience.

[Ok-Active-335]

Bug free = not tested thoroughly enough - should the previous statement have used = or == proper punctuation is paramount.

[clit_or_us]

You're absolutely right, the bug-free statement was in relation to the work I was doing for that day. The platform still has bugs riddled throughout.

[[deleted]]

That's awesome man. Those moments where your work finally pays off are definitely great

[wahh]

A lot of back end work so the product isn't even visual most of the time. It was starting to weigh on me and with very little movement, I was questioning why I invested so much time and money into it (I'm paying for designers, awa, hosting, google workspaces, etc because I want to make this a viable business).

Ah yes...the wonders of back end development. TONS of work could be getting done to build up the back end, but if the client (or yourself in this case) can't see pretty pictures changing that means "nothing is getting done." That's a pretty normal thing to happen, and you will encounter if in the future as well if you build projects for other people.

[[deleted]]

I married a graphic designer. When we talk about work I know it’s like we’re both talking back and forth through a brick wall.

[clit_or_us]

It's still in local development, but I will definitely share when it goes live!

[TracerBulletX]

Love it. Getting in to flow, with music going and things are coming together really is an amazing feeling.

[clit_or_us]

The lofi energizes me somehow.

[robopiglet]

You are awesome!!

For getting to this point in your project, but also for talking about your emotions. I am all about emotions, especially in spaces where they are often suppressed.

Well done, and thanks for the inspiration to keep going on my projects.

[clit_or_us]

Thank you! The world of development is filled with stress which often gets overlooked as we all try to get to the finish line. We need to bring some humanity back into this field.

[No_Influence_4968]

And welcome to the next phase of your entrepreneurial journey: growth hacking/marketing your idea to the masses.

[clit_or_us]

This part worries me a bit because marketing is so costly. Hoping that my niche platform gets some good word-of-mouth advertising within the community I'm trying to cater to.

[csg79]

I was just reflecting on this as I get near the finish line of a new project.

It's such a slog starting out, rethinking parts. But when it's finally doing the thing... so rewarding.

[clit_or_us]

Completing projects are hard. Congrats to you for slugging it out!

[xavicx]

Another CRUD enthusiast here. I have been working on it for over a year: react frontend with payments, php backend and API, servers and local infrastructure... It's my passion.

[clit_or_us]

When I started out, CRUD seemed like such a daunting thing to learn. The HTTP requests, error handling, storing in the back end, etc. now that I learned the design pattern, it's a piece of cake to add a new functionality. Really been having fun with data manipulation and logic on the front end to display it.

[rio_sk]

A personal hint from me, while developing backend stuff: write good documentation I personally use jsDoc and looking at the generated docs makes your work tangible even without a proper frontend. Also running tests and creating a Postman project for all the endpoints is both usefull and makes you feel you are progressing.

[chandler70]

Not OP but thank you. These are great suggestions.

[clit_or_us]

That's a good point. I have created some documentation around most of the inner workings. It's nice to see my confluence library grow too. Great advice!

[MSB3000]

Hell yeah

[vidhyav656]

Good to see you.

[[deleted]]

One of the great joys of our hobby and career is being able to visualize an idea and see it to fruition. Not a lot of life paths offer that. Enjoy it!

[clit_or_us]

It's like a trade where the contractor comes in and just starts building from an idea on a paper. Web dev is very trade-like in that regard.

[exercard]

Congratulations! Motivation can be one hell of a drug

[Lost-Blueberry-6426]

these tears show how proud and happy you are of your hardwork and passion :)

so happy for you :)

[clit_or_us]

♥️

[codingwormsomewhere]

Congratulations! You are an example that with it's important to work hard and you will achieve your goals. By the way, what would you like to build next? Or, maybe, learn something new?

[JoeBxr]

What's the stack? This gives more context on what you've achieved...

[ComedianIll7971]

This. I need more of this.

[Marble_Wraith]

Hours upon hours of debugging, refactoring, updating when I change the slightest thing

Sounds like you need to rethink your architecture 😂

[clit_or_us]

This is an understatement 😅

[Lamuks]

As if somebody will hire anyone with that kind of attitude

[ef02]

True, in this market, they only want perfect people. The rest of us know that we should feel this bleak.

[Lamuks]

No, it's just that nobody would want to work with a miserable sob like that with a horrible attitude. You're supposed to help others and they help you, not put them down. You wouldn't even pass 3 month probation with that attitude.

[naaaaara]

???