A 72-hour method to validate side-project ideas before writing any code

Many side projects fail because builders start coding before confirming anyone wants the product, leaving them unable to tell whether the idea or the launch was at fault. The article proposes a lightweight validation process of about 72 hours for small products like templates, tools, and extensions. It argues that asking people whether they would use something yields weak data, so it favors evidence of real behavior such as existing spending and public complaints. A six-question filter covering buyer specificity, urgent pain, existing spend, reachability, shippability, and credibility is used to decide whether to pursue an idea. The piece also recommends mining exact customer wording from forums and GitHub issues to shape messaging.