11 ways to earn extra money as a software engineer

The transcript lists 11 concrete side-income options tailored to developers. Below each recommendation is reproduced verbatim and followed by a concise rationale and a fast-start tip so you can prioritize by required time, leverage, and repeatability.

• 'Build a course.' — Package a repeatable curriculum from your domain expertise; high upfront work, then scalable passive income. Fast-start tip: record a focused 2–4 hour mini-course and iterate with student feedback.
• 'Start a YouTube channel.' — Create short tutorials, walkthroughs, or commentary; monetize via ads, sponsorships, or memberships as viewership grows. Fast-start tip: publish consistently and convert video scripts into blog posts to reuse content.
• 'Work on Fiverr.' — Offer discrete gigs (bug fixes, prototypes, automations) to convert spare hours into predictable revenue. Fast-start tip: define 3 clear gig packages at different price points.
• 'Create a blog.' — Publish technical posts, SEO-optimize, and monetize with ads, sponsorships, or paid newsletters. Fast-start tip: pick a niche and publish a steady cadence of how-to posts that solve search queries.
• 'Make an app.' — Ship a single-purpose app or SaaS; combines development effort with potential recurring revenue via subscriptions or one-time sales. Fast-start tip: validate demand with a landing page before full build.
• 'Sell teams or templates.' — Provide UI kits, component libraries, or project starters that other teams can drop in and customize. Fast-start tip: create a polished demo and a short installation guide.
• 'Create a WordPress or Shopify plugin.' — Target large ecosystems where a well-scoped plugin can attract many buyers and subscribers. Fast-start tip: solve a clear merchant/developer pain point and offer a free tier.
• 'Write an ebook.' — Convert tutorials or deep dives into a paid ebook for niche audiences; lower technical friction than a full course. Fast-start tip: serialize chapters as blog posts to build an audience first.
• 'Mentor other people.' — Charge hourly or package coaching sessions for career, interview, or technical help. Fast-start tip: list availability and specialties and start with a small cohort to test pricing.
• 'Create a Chrome extension and sell it.' — Build lightweight browser tooling with direct purchase, donations, or freemium upgrades. Fast-start tip: launch early, gather user feedback, and iterate quickly.
• 'Write technical blogs for other companies.' — Freelance as a content engineer to produce polished technical content for firms; steady B2B rates possible. Fast-start tip: assemble 3 portfolio samples and pitch relevant companies.

Priority guidance: for high leverage, favor 'Build a course', 'Create a WordPress or Shopify plugin', or 'Make an app'. For low-friction, choose 'Work on Fiverr' or 'Mentor other people'. Combine channels (for example, 'Create a blog' + 'Write an ebook' or 'Start a YouTube channel') to amplify reach and convert audiences into paying customers.