I also have another set of side projects with specific intent to learn something new, which I consider an educational time investment in myself.
Neither is "click bait" for employers, and I consider neither to be a "waste of time".
Of course, balance is important and I won't try to fool anyone -- it's something I'll likely always be working to improve.
No, I'm not planning on raising money for this side project.
No, I don't have a million users.
No, I don't know why people would want this.
No, it's not for a startup.
No, it's not related to my actual startup at all.
It's called having fun, damn it.
It doesn't imply that. When writing about anything, explaining all the things that you're _not_ talking about is a great way to never get to the point.
Determining that the post is about side projects aimed at landing a job is a task left to the reader. If the title didn't get you there, the second sentence is here to help: "For the distinct purpose of getting a job in tech, side projects are either a great use of your time or a great waste of your time."
"Distinct" as in specific — "The following may not apply if you're objective is not specifically to getting a job in the tech industry."
If you'd like to talk about other great uses of side projects, I think that's a completely reasonable discussion to have. Simi-related threads in top-level comments are common: "I know it's a little different form what the article is talking about, but I'd like to talk about…"
Everything that I have, my companies, my capital, my house, comes from my side projects being transformed into self employment, recurring revenue or reputation for me or my team.
You have to consider that side projects will start small, like a plant, they are very easy to squash and destroy, but takes an enormous effort, and your rewards come later, when you have a tree.
Even a company like Apple could not make something like the App Store earn more than a couple millions the first year. Larry and Sergei tried to sell google for just a million dollars and could not.
A side project takes so much effort that I would have never ever considered making the effort just to show off to companies, then abandoning those(as you will be forced as you have a job that takes most of your efforts). Side project is like your children if you create them.
It is a big error to try to make companies value your projects. They will pay you 0$ if they can(even if they know it is a great project, more benefit for them).
There are much better ways to show off in front of companies if that is what you want.
Side projects are more and more being touted as a way to "stand out" from the enormous crowd of people trying to get tech jobs. A company choosing among 100 candidates, all things being equal, may bias towards the few with active interesting side projects. If you accept that, then starting some kind of side project would be worth it.
FTA: > Side note: learning a skill isn’t a side project, you have to ship something.