This article does not make it clear what a metaproject actually is. That said, I _believe_ the author is describing a concept similar to something I do. Choose a very small number of open-ended, broad projects. Each project should basically be an endless well of work. Moving the metaproject forward involves finishing several sub-projects, each of which is a respectable weekend or holiday project all on its own. A good choice for metaproject allows for a choice between a wide variety of new and interesting things to work on.
Get bored or stuck? Do something else. There’s so many things to do. You’re still working on the same metaproject.
Find something cool online that you want to experiment with? Find a way to frame it as an experiment or project under the umbrella of the metaproject.
For example, my overarching project is to develop my own computer system, from the custom CPU, up to the operating system and applications, as completely from scratch as possible. This has led me to learn more about Verilog, electronics, soldering, computer architecture, RISC-V, emulators, you name it.
At one point, I decided I needed to design my own high-level language for this thing. The compiler has itself become a metaproject where there’s always something to work on: parsing, lexing, optimization passes, experiments in syntax, garbage collectors, writing a debugger, etc.
Someday soon, I hope to be able to start a project to build video hardware with a sprite engine, like in those old 8-bit and 16-bit game systems. I’ll mentally bill this under the umbrella of “working on my computer project.”
I’ve been thinking of “that computer project” as a kind of life project that I’ll plug away on here and there until the day I die.
I wonder if this is how those old men who build boats feel about their boat. Hey, there’s my own catchy phrase right there: “Build your boat”
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NetOpWibby
Reading this felt like talking to myself…get out of my head!
With that being said, I have so many projects, so little time, but I’m prioritizing the ones that both fulfill me and have a decent chance at replacing my $DAYJOB.
Also, having a schedule so I don’t burn myself out. It’s been working well for about a month so far.
irickt
Read more carefully, critics. He's sharing a big ol' mixed metaphor for living. The world and your mind are vast. Your job is to narrow it down to exactly your life. You are your own author.
natbritten
I feel that a lot of the above comments are missing the point. To me, the article reads like the experience of a curious person, living in an age where the world is literally at their fingertips and how that is both overwhelming and awesome. I thought it was beautiful and relatable.
gaigalas
We used to call those mid-life crisis events, and have a somewhat robust way of letting people going through them that we know exactly what it is.
Apocryphon
This doesn’t even give an example of what a metaproject is! All this essay is, is vibes!
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almostdeadguy
This shit is sickening. I'm nauseated by this generation of wannabe entrepreneurs who have decided to disable their amygdala and conscience.
This article does not make it clear what a metaproject actually is. That said, I _believe_ the author is describing a concept similar to something I do. Choose a very small number of open-ended, broad projects. Each project should basically be an endless well of work. Moving the metaproject forward involves finishing several sub-projects, each of which is a respectable weekend or holiday project all on its own. A good choice for metaproject allows for a choice between a wide variety of new and interesting things to work on.
Get bored or stuck? Do something else. There’s so many things to do. You’re still working on the same metaproject.
Find something cool online that you want to experiment with? Find a way to frame it as an experiment or project under the umbrella of the metaproject.
For example, my overarching project is to develop my own computer system, from the custom CPU, up to the operating system and applications, as completely from scratch as possible. This has led me to learn more about Verilog, electronics, soldering, computer architecture, RISC-V, emulators, you name it.
At one point, I decided I needed to design my own high-level language for this thing. The compiler has itself become a metaproject where there’s always something to work on: parsing, lexing, optimization passes, experiments in syntax, garbage collectors, writing a debugger, etc.
Someday soon, I hope to be able to start a project to build video hardware with a sprite engine, like in those old 8-bit and 16-bit game systems. I’ll mentally bill this under the umbrella of “working on my computer project.”
I’ve been thinking of “that computer project” as a kind of life project that I’ll plug away on here and there until the day I die.
I wonder if this is how those old men who build boats feel about their boat. Hey, there’s my own catchy phrase right there: “Build your boat”
Reading this felt like talking to myself…get out of my head!
With that being said, I have so many projects, so little time, but I’m prioritizing the ones that both fulfill me and have a decent chance at replacing my $DAYJOB.
Also, having a schedule so I don’t burn myself out. It’s been working well for about a month so far.
Read more carefully, critics. He's sharing a big ol' mixed metaphor for living. The world and your mind are vast. Your job is to narrow it down to exactly your life. You are your own author.
I feel that a lot of the above comments are missing the point. To me, the article reads like the experience of a curious person, living in an age where the world is literally at their fingertips and how that is both overwhelming and awesome. I thought it was beautiful and relatable.
We used to call those mid-life crisis events, and have a somewhat robust way of letting people going through them that we know exactly what it is.
This doesn’t even give an example of what a metaproject is! All this essay is, is vibes!
This shit is sickening. I'm nauseated by this generation of wannabe entrepreneurs who have decided to disable their amygdala and conscience.