Make $$$ on the side with s/w engineering/programming skills?

Question

I have a good job as a software engineer at a well established software company. Life is good. But I could be laid off, etc. What is a good way to make $$$ on the side to build up some extra savings? I love writing software but I need ideas: web app to sell advertising or sell? Subscription based service? Where is the demand to apply my skills?

Answer 1

One option is to explore the small shops in your area and build a basic relationship with their owners, often times their customers have requests that they cannot meet--this spillover can be erratic at best, but is a good way to earn some side-jobs without a large investment or commitment.

Answer 2

Well there are loads of ways to make money on the side. From writing games or developer tools to building wooden boats. Really you have to ask yourself what it is that you're interested in and what you're good at. You then take those and apply then toward solving some problem that you think others may pay for a solution for.

We can't really tell you what to do because we have no idea what your skills or interests are. And if I had ideas that would quickly generate money, I'd probably be more inclined to do them myself than to tell you what they are.

Answer 3

To paraphrase your question, you are asking "how can I make more money for doing marginally more work"? Unfortunately there are no legal solutions short of just picking up a second job part time.

I've known people who have:

• Written books on nights and weekends
• Write articles for technical magazines
• Started their own small software shops (selling niche iPhone apps, niche websites)
• Worked as a contractor for other companies

However all of these require a serious time investment and aren't ideal if you are just looking for more money 'on the side'.

If financial security is what you are looking for, I reccomend you find what you are passionate about and do that on the side. Doing so will not only enrich your own life, but typically develop skills you aren't getting in your day job. (Which will make getting your next one a little easier in the unfortunate event you are laid of.)

For example, I'd reccomend:

• Presenting at a local code camp or conference
• Organizing a reading group for books you like (e.g., functional programming, games, graphics.)

Answer 4

You could start by checking out guru.com. It lets you bid on jobs after reviewing requirements.

You should either check with your employer to make sure that such an arrangement doesn't violate any "non-compete" clauses they might have in your employment agreement or be prepared to skirt such a thing.

Answer 5

Network with other programmers, in person, at conferences or in your town.

Answer 6

Sadly, the programming skills aren't the money maker - you need that killer idea that will turn your programming skills into something marketable.

Start by looking at examples...

Recently, that 8 year old wrote the finger-paint application for the iPhone - not exactly the hardest app to write, but people really wanted it. That's your angle. Don't develop something really clever and complex to write - look at doing something people really want.

Answer 7

Heres another way of looking at it:

1. What are you good at doing?
2. What do you like?
3. What can you do to improve a situation/product/service?

If you can align the first two items above, e.g. you're good at writing software, and you love it, then you've already half way to achieving whatever you set out to get. If you want to make something that sells or is in demand, take a look around yourself and see what you can improve upon. Perhaps its an idea you may have had a while back, or something that you've always wanted to do better or in another way.

I'd advise against spending any time or money on a project (for business or otherwise) where you have no personal interest. i.e. you need to be the end-user (eat your own dog food, so to speak). So creating something and then hoping it sells isnt an option. Create something that you would love to use, and then look at monetizing your efforts.