Do you want to know the secret to starting projects for yourself? Don't buy or download any software just write it yourself.

I've got a huge movie collection on DVD. Rather then use Plex I made my own website to do the same thing. I have a lot of PDFs of books I want to read, made similar software to allow me to keep my position in my browser

I wanted to study for a HAM license general exam do I made this: http://ham.joshuakatz.me/exam

I've been looking for a thinkpad x220t so I made this go scrape cregslist for me: https://github.com/gravypod/BargeIn

(I live in N. NJ if anyone has one laying around)

There are thousands of examples where I've done this and it's very fun. It improves your abilities and toolings and in general makes your life on the computer much easier.

You don't have to be trendy just be useful to yourself and people will like it.