Pet projects are getting too big to pet

3 hours ago

Pet projects have traditionally been small, fun endeavors for learning and skill-building without deadlines or users, started on a whim.
Recently, pet projects have grown in scope and ambition, often evolving into complex endeavors with potential for becoming products or companies, introducing pressure and stakes.
The shift is partly driven by new technologies like agentic coding, which changes the nature of work to more describing, steering, and deciding, rather than traditional coding.
There is a trend of maintaining multiple projects simultaneously, leading to challenges in time management and personal capacity, while the community around pet projects has expanded to include non-coders.
The financial and emotional costs have increased, with subscriptions and token usage becoming common, alongside constant hype and fear of missing out (FOMO) on new tools and techniques.
Underlying fears exist about technology disrupting careers and industries, with varied coping strategies, and a concern that traditional coding skills may be lost as building moves to higher conceptual layers.
Despite uncertainties, the author continues building, reflecting on how the nature of hobbies, craft, and fun has transformed, with the future outcome remaining unpredictable.

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