FAQ: What tech project should I build for my portfolio/side project?

My usual response is, "Start by solving a problem YOU currenlty have in your life."

Why? Well.

1. You already know the pain points and problems, so you can start focusing on solutions.

2. You don't need to recruit a user to iterate through a solution. Because you have 1 guaranteed user, YOU.

3. At best, you make $$$ of it. At worst, you have a solution to your problem.

BUT, if your intention is to explore a specific technology, then you should just focus on a simple problem and just focus on using the tech.