Most Reddit posts these days are just rehashed tutorials

I’ve been lurking on r/sideproject for years, and it’s getting harder to ignore the elephant in the room: most Reddit posts these days are just rehashed tutorials. I’m not talking about the occasional gem that breaks new ground or shares a unique perspective – I’m talking about the same old, same old, repackaged and rebranded for the nth time. As someone who’s actually built and broken things, I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve seen the same " beginner’s guide to Docker" or “how to deploy a React app on Vercel” post pop up on my feed. It’s not that these tutorials aren’t useful – they’re just not particularly new or insightful. Take, for example, this post from a few months ago: “New to serverless? Learn how to deploy a Node.js app on AWS Lambda with this easy-to-follow tutorial!” (1). I’m not saying the author didn’t do a good job – they did. But it’s the same old thing we’ve all seen before. The issue isn’t just that these tutorials are redundant – it’s also that they’re often based on outdated information. I mean, who uses AWS Lambda for Node.js apps anymore? (2) It’s 2026, folks – we’ve got better options. And don’t even get me started on the " beginner’s guides" that promise to teach you the “basics” of a particular technology, only to assume you already know the basics and dive straight into the advanced stuff. Newsflash: if you’re a complete beginner, you’re not going to understand the advanced stuff, and you’ll end up feeling lost and confused. So, what’s the solution to this content problem? In my opinion, it’s simple: original content. I’m not talking about rehashing the same old tutorials and calling them “new” – I’m talking about creating something truly unique and insightful. Take, for example, this post from a few weeks ago: “I tried to build a machine learning model using only open-source tools, and here’s what I learned.” (3) Now, that’s a story worth telling. It’s original, it’s insightful, and it’s actually useful. Of course, not everyone agrees with me. Some folks argue that rehashing tutorials is actually a good thing – it helps to spread knowledge and make it more accessible to beginners. And I get that. But here’s the thing: if you’re going to rehash a tutorial, at least try to add something new to the conversation. As one commenter put it, “If you’re just going to copy and paste someone else’s tutorial, why not just link to the original source and save us all the time?” (4) So, what does the future hold for the side project community? In my opinion, it’s time to move beyond the rehashed tutorials and focus on creating truly original content. It’s time to share our unique experiences, our successes and failures, and our insights. It’s time to make the side project community a place where people can come to learn, to be inspired, and to share their own stories. FAQ:

• Q: What’s the best way to get started with machine learning? A: I haven’t tested this on ARM, but I’ve heard great things about TensorFlow and PyTorch.
• Q: How do I deploy a React app on Vercel? A: I love Vercel, but I’ve found that it’s not the best choice for large-scale applications.
• Q: What’s the best way to learn about serverless architecture? A: I’m not an expert, but I’ve heard that AWS Lambda is a good place to start.

The Side Project Community’s Content Problem #

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