On: How to start working on side projects

[rdouble]

This is a common refrain, but the best programmers I've worked with do not have any evidence that they work on side projects.

[jaegerpicker → rdouble]

That is exactly the opposite of my experience in every case I can think of all of the very best that I've worked with had many side projects. In fact some of the most exciting Main Projects have started as side projects of the Great programmers I've worked with.

[chimi → rdouble]

And you have provided no evidence that the best programmers you've worked with aren't actually below average programmers.

[wam → chimi]

Why does that matter?

[rhizome → wam]

Because the inverse would also have to be true: programmers with open source projects are worse than the programmers rdouble is describing.

[wam → rhizome]

Is that the inverse? Would all programmers with side projects necessarily be worse than the programmers rdouble knows who don't have side projects?