> And what if I’m not tracking that in such detail or even thinking about viewing it like that because it’s a side project?
Make it private like you are doing?
If you don't want someone to perceive something about you, then don't make it public. If you do make it public and add it to a resume then don't be surprised if the person who manages programmers is interested in possibly looking at the programming that person has done.
I proposed that you can tinker in public if you make sure your tinkering won't be confused for your magnum opus. You dismissed that because a one sentence readme isn't needed on a public side project.