How do you manage and document your coding side projects?

For me, it’s all about simplicity. I maintain one central location, like a markdown file or a notes app, where I note what each project is about, why I started it, its status, and the next steps. I only update it when there’s something new to add. I also use basic README files for documentation, keeping notes on decisions or issues I face. If a project gets too complex, I tend to lose interest, so lightweight tracking works best for me.

You know, writing comments in your code is also a form of documentation. But for me, I use README files and keep all of my projects on GitHub. I also like to add TODO comments in the code for any planned features. If you use a project management tool like Jira, it’s great for creating tickets for future work!

I focus on keeping comprehensive documentation in my README files. I also use Obsidian for more detailed notes about use cases, pros and cons, and my thought processes regarding each project.

Honestly, I just remember most of it. I prefer to write notes in README files for new features or bugs I encounter. Since I store all my projects on GitHub, I can easily check them all out whenever I need to.

I keep things pretty straightforward. I have a spiral notebook where I jot down notes for each project, and when I'm ready to actually work on them, I put everything into an editor. Simple but effective!