First side project, would love some feedback - GemBundle

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#1

Hello, I’m fairly new to the development world and brand new to the side project world. In the long term, I’d like to start my own business, one that has a profit model. For the time being, I’m content building apps that help people, and in no way, shape or form, are going to make me a millionaire.

My first real project, one that is still in it’s very early stages, is GemBundle. The website was built in order for myself and fellow Ruby programmers to find a new and better way to discover Ruby Gems. There are currently two other solutions out there, but none of them satisfied the goal that I was after, so I decided to build my own.

There are a few things that I know need to happen, in order to become more successful:

  1. Add an about section
  2. Add an FAQ
  3. Revamp the comments section, inside of each gem show page

Thanks for taking a look, and I’m looking forward to your feedback.

Steve

#2

Why do you think an about section would help it become more successful?

On my last saas the about section was viewed 0.3% of the time.

#3

@johnf - Out of interest, do you have any data that would correlate visiting the about section with signups or purchases? Might be interesting to know if a user who signed up was more likely to hit the about section.

Allan

#4

I think my sample size is too small to be relevant. < 3000 uniques, with 20ish trials.

Nobody who signed up for a trial actually visited my about page.

#5

I suppose statistically yes, its not proven - but it does seem that it doesn’t matter much! Thanks, its quite interesting that :smile:

Allan

#6

If you want to gain skills at creating your own business, you should probably try and work on a side project that’s a business. I say that as someone who, over the years, created a number of moderately successful “for fun” side projects without any real business aim to them. It’s like anything, I guess: to get better you need to practice what you want to get better at. The side projects will probably help you improve as a developer, but you might as well try and throw the business stuff in there as well, to maximize your learning.

I hope that’s somewhat coherent… I’m a bit tired today!

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#7

I agree with DavidW. I spent years building developer side projects, and only recently (2-3 years ago) got serious about trying to sell anything. It’s amazing how different everything is in a side project where you’re trying to make even a little money.

Different people online claim it takes at least 2-5 years to establish a business and get going properly (I’m nowhere near there yet!). So you should probably start pretty soon :wink: