How I Decide What Software Project to Build

— A simple approach to staying focused and building with purpose

Choosing what software project to build hasn’t always come easy for me. At one point, I’d get stuck just trying to figure out what to work on next. So many ideas… and somehow, none of them felt right. That feeling can be overwhelming.

Over time, I developed a personal system that’s helped me cut through the noise and pick projects that not only excite me but also help me grow. Here’s how I go about it.

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1. Start With a Learning Goal

The very first thing I do is ask myself:
“What concept do I want to learn or improve on?”

For me, learning is a key motivator. I don’t just want to build for the sake of building—I want to pick up something new in the process. That might be: WebSockets, AI Agents, Microservices, Message Queues, ...or anything else I’m curious about

Once I lock in the learning goal, it becomes the anchor for the rest of the process.

2. Choose an Industry to Build For

Next, I pick the industry context for the project. This helps ground my idea in a real-world scenario. I gravitate toward fintech, e-commerce & retail, and Real Estate.

Choosing an industry adds clarity to what I’m building and why it matters.

3. Define a Project Goal Statement

With the learning concept and industry set, I craft a clear project goal. Something like:

"This project will showcase my ability to build a full-stack fintech app using WebSockets and message queues with Node.js, React, and MongoDB."

This statement helps me stay focused and ensures the project aligns with my growth goals.

4. Turn It Into a Prompt

Now that I have a goal statement, I turn it into a creative prompt:

"Generate a comprehensive list of projects that demonstrate my ability to build a full-stack fintech app using WebSockets and message queues."

This step helps me open up possible project ideas without losing direction.

5. Pick and Research the Project

From the ideas that come up, I choose the one that genuinely excites me. I then dive into:

• Researching similar apps

• Understanding user needs

• Defining features

• Mapping out the tech stack

This is where the real fun begins—the vision takes shape and the learning starts to unfold.

Final Thoughts

This process has saved me a lot of time and second-guessing. It keeps my projects intentional, aligned with my learning goals, and relevant to the industries I care about.

If you’ve ever felt stuck on what to build next, maybe give this approach a try—or tweak it to fit your own journey.

Let your next project not just be something to showcase—but something that transforms how you build.