About this Video

• Video Title: Least vs Most Marketable Projects for Junior Developers
• Channel: DonTheDeveloper
• Speakers: DonTheDeveloper
• Duration: 42:10

Introduction

This video discusses the types of portfolio projects junior developers should build to stand out in 2025. The speaker identifies low-value projects often included in portfolios and contrasts them with high-value, marketable projects. The focus is on creating a portfolio that effectively showcases skills and problem-solving abilities to potential employers.

Key Takeaways

• Code-along tutorial projects: Excellent for skill reinforcement and applying concepts, but low value for portfolios. They don't showcase unique abilities.
• Clone projects: Useful for learning, but shouldn't be included in portfolios because they don't demonstrate originality or ownership.
• Open-ended projects: High value for learning but low value for portfolios as they often don't reflect the developer's problem-solving skills or unique contributions. Simply following specifications limits showcasing unique abilities.
• Open-source contributions: Valuable if done deeply and meaningfully (3-6 months of focused work on a project the developer believes in), demonstrating commitment and understanding of a larger codebase. Superficial contributions provide little value.
• Hackathon projects: Excellent for showcasing problem-solving skills, building a network, and gaining real-world experience. The collaborative nature helps develop teamwork and scrum process understanding.
• Freelance projects: Often surface-level, providing limited portfolio value unless focused on complex projects and building a strong reputation. It's more marketable for agency-type work.
• Capstone projects: The most powerful portfolio project. Focuses on a self-identified problem, an iterative process with user feedback, and developing a tool with significant complexity and demonstrating problem-solving abilities beyond simple tutorials.

1. That's a good summary of one aspect. The speaker emphasizes that while code-along tutorial projects are high-value for learning because they help solidify fundamental concepts, they are low-value for portfolios because they don't showcase unique problem-solving abilities or original contributions. The depth you mention, achieved through iterative development based on user feedback, is precisely what distinguishes a high-value portfolio project from a high-value learning project.

2. The speaker argues that clone projects, while helpful for learning to code by replicating existing applications, don't demonstrate originality or problem-solving skills. They essentially show the ability to follow instructions and replicate existing designs, rather than design and build something new. Since portfolios are meant to highlight a developer's unique capabilities, clone projects are considered unsuitable additions. They do not show the independent thinking, design choices, and problem-solving essential for demonstrating a candidate's skills.

If you have a high-value project idea that is illegal to implement, you must not proceed with that specific idea. Instead, consider how the core concepts and skills involved in the illegal project could be applied to a legal project. Think about:

• Adapting the core functionality: What is the underlying purpose or problem your illegal project solves? Can you adapt that functionality to a legal context? For example, if your idea involves collecting data in a way that violates privacy laws, perhaps you can explore a project that uses similar techniques but with publicly available data or anonymized datasets.

• Changing the target audience: Is your target user group part of the problem? Perhaps a different audience could benefit from the same technology.

• Modifying the implementation details: Is there a specific element of your project that makes it illegal? Could you modify those implementation details to create a legal alternative?

• Focusing on a different aspect: Is there a part of the project that is legal and could still showcase your skills? You could highlight that aspect in your portfolio.

Remember, building an impressive portfolio requires demonstrating ethical and legal behavior. A project that is illegal cannot be included in a portfolio, even if the concept is brilliant. You need to use your creativity and ingenuity to find a way to develop your project idea into something legal and suitable for professional showcase.

If your high-value project idea is a gambling game, you need to carefully consider the legal and ethical implications before proceeding. The legality of online gambling varies drastically by jurisdiction. Even if you believe your game falls within a legal gray area, it carries significant risk. Creating and distributing a gambling game without proper licensing and regulatory compliance could lead to serious legal consequences, including hefty fines and potential criminal charges.

Instead of developing a full-fledged gambling game, consider these alternatives for showcasing your skills:

• Develop a simulation: Create a game that simulates the mechanics of gambling without actual wagering. This allows you to demonstrate your programming skills, game design abilities, and UI/UX expertise without the legal pitfalls of a real gambling application.

• Focus on a specific aspect: Is there a particular component of your gambling game idea you're especially passionate about? Focus on that aspect. For instance, if you're strong in backend development, you might create a robust, secure server-side system that manages in-game currency, or, for frontend, you can focus on creating a high-quality, visually appealing interface for a non-gambling simulation game.

• Create a different type of game: Use the core skills and mechanics planned for the gambling game to develop a game with a different theme altogether. For example, you could adapt the game's mechanics to a strategy game, a puzzle game, or another genre that avoids gambling-related legal issues.

• Build tools related to responsible gambling: You could develop tools that promote responsible gambling practices, such as a budgeting app for game players, a system for identifying problem gamblers, or an educational app about gambling risks. This would showcase your skills while promoting responsible gaming.

In summary, while a gambling game might seem like a strong portfolio piece because of its complexity, the legal risks far outweigh any potential benefits. Choose a project that showcases your abilities ethically and legally, ensuring a positive impact on your career prospects.