How is the side projects vertical different from the code vertical?

The code vertical is for projects with users in production. The side projects vertical is for personal code that never shipped or never got users. The handoff model is simpler for side projects — there's no user base to preserve, no ecosystem signals (npm deprecate, PEP 541), no release process. Just the code, a description of where you stopped, and a next-action.

Vertical · Side projects

Abandoned side projects

Q: What's the difference between a side project and an open source project?

A side project is personal — a weekend hack, an MVP, a personal library. It may or may not have users. An open source project is published with users depending on it. The handoff models are different: for OSS, you need to preserve the URL, the issue tracker, the existing users. For side projects, you're handing off the work itself — the next person can rename, relicense, or ship it as something different.

Q: Should I open-source my abandoned side project?

Yes — if you have time to write a README. The cost is small (an hour), the upside is high (someone might pick it up, learn from it, or build on it). BreakPoint's drop flow handles the rest: the story, the next steps, the discoverability.

The weekend hack. The MVP that didn't ship. The personal library that never got published. The CLI tool you wrote for yourself and never released. 88% of side projects are abandoned before they ship. BreakPoint is where they get a second chance.

Published July 13, 2026 · ~3 min read

Why side projects die

Side projects die for the same reason OSS projects die: the original creator ran out of time, energy, or motivation. The difference is the audience — OSS has users who depend on the project; side projects only have the creator. The handoff is also different: no users to notify, no release process, no ecosystem signals. Just the code, a description, and a next action.

The 5-step revival for side projects

Add a README. Even 5 lines. What the project does, how to install, what's left to do.
Add the adopt-me tag. GitHub topic + shields.io badge. The signal vocabulary is the same as for OSS.
Document the next action. "I stopped at X. The next step is Y. Here are the issues I know about."
Drop it on BreakPoint. The discovery layer. Someone might be looking for exactly this.
Let it go. If nobody picks it up in 90 days, archive with grace. The community owes you nothing.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between a side project and an open source project?

Side projects are personal. Open source is published with users depending on it. Different handoff model.

How is the side projects vertical different from code?

Code is for projects with users in production. Side projects is for personal code that never shipped.

Should I open-source my abandoned side project?

Yes, if you have time to write a README. The cost is small, the upside is high.

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A few projects from the network you can adopt today. Click through to read the full story and what's left to do.

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The 5-step revival for side projects

Frequently asked questions

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