Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
There is no objective winner for the most technically impressive useless thing anyone has built. The phrase usually means a project that demanded real skill or effort but found few users beyond its maker—not a failure, and not necessarily a waste. Developers have shared examples ranging from playful browser experiments to custom hardware used in demanding settings.
What makes a project “useless”?
In a DEV Community prompt, Ravi asks builders to describe what their project did, why nobody used it, and what they learned. In this context, “useless” can mean the project solved a problem only its creator had, duplicated a tool that already worked better, automated something done too rarely to justify the effort, or simply existed because the idea was fun. Read the DEV Community discussion.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Those meanings are not the same as “the project did nothing.” A build can work exactly as intended and still have little outside demand. It may also be useful to its maker even if no one else needs it. Ravi puts the hobby-project distinction plainly: “A hobby project does not need a market.” And, as he also writes, “There is nothing wrong with building for curiosity.”
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallWhat kinds of technically ambitious projects have people shared?
The examples are personal accounts from community discussions, not independently tested projects or a representative survey of developers. They show how varied the prompt is, rather than establishing a common definition of impressive.
#1 Best Overall
- 35+ Guided Electronics Projects: Progress from LEDs and buttons to RFID access, real-time clocks, motion and distance sensing, environmental monitoring, motor control and interactive displays for STEM learning, coding clubs and maker projects
- More I/O and Memory for Larger Builds: The MEGA 2560 R3 provides 54 digital I/O pins, including 15 PWM outputs, 16 analog inputs, 4 hardware serial ports and 256 KB flash for projects that combine more sensors, controls and displays
- 200+ Components for Prototyping: Includes LCD1602, RC522 RFID, RTC, DHT11, HC-SR501 PIR, ultrasonic and water-level sensors, GY-521, MAX7219, keypad, joystick, rotary encoder, relay, SG90 servo, stepper motor, DC motor, breadboard and more
- Learn, Modify and Create: Follow 35+ guided lessons with example code, then adjust sensor thresholds, timing, display text, motor behavior and control logic to turn structured exercises into access systems, monitors, alarms and interactive projects
- Organized for Repeatable Learning: Pre-soldered modules, a solderless breadboard, storage case and small-parts box reduce setup time and keep sensors, LEDs, ICs, wires and other components easy to find between projects
Software built for the challenge
DEV commenters have described writing a ray-tracing library in C with OpenGL optimizations, making a browser animation called “Text Goes Boom” whose particles return to their starting positions, building a tarot-reading web app, and creating a browser-based test-recording tool. One commenter described a Rust project as 200,000 lines long, with zero allocation and 2,600 unit tests; those figures are the commenter’s claim, not audited performance results. See the DEV Community thread.
Hardware that serves one person well
A separate Hacker News discussion includes a maker’s account of a custom live-lighting desk: 36 motorized faders, button boards built around ATtiny microcontrollers, a BeagleBone Black handling the main loop and DMX generation, and a Raspberry Pi configuration interface. The maker said it had been used for hundreds of shows, while also reporting intermittent kernel panics that could cause loss of lighting control. This is a reader’s description, not a product review or verified reliability assessment. Read the Hacker News discussion.
Rank #2
- Comprehensive Arduino Learning: The kit includes an Original Arduino Uno R3, 34 lessons, step-by-step guidance, 40+ free Video Courses, code examples, circuit diagrams, and an RAB Holder for easy setup and component organization. Designed for beginners aged 8 and up. Certified RoHS compliant, it ensures safety and quality for all learners
- Wide Range of Components: With over 200 components, including LEDs, buzzers, RFID modules, ultrasonic sensors, breadboard power supply module and multimeter, the kit enables hands-on learning and a deeper understanding of circuit design
- Practical Real-World Projects: Engage in projects like smart trash cans, automatic soap dispensers, and remote-controlled lights. Each project builds incrementally, enhancing skills and creativity while offering real-world applications of electronics and coding
- Perfect for Beginners: The handbook breaks down complex concepts into easy-to-follow steps, ensuring that even users with no prior experience can dive into electronics and programming with confidence
- Exceptional Support and Community: Access extensive resources from SunFounder, including tutorials, technical support, and an active online community. Learners can share ideas, ask for help, and explore new projects, enriching their learning journey
Another account describes a boat-electronics interface connecting older SeaTalk instruments, an AIS radio, GPS, a Raspberry Pi proxy, and an iOS app. Its maker said they knew of no other users. That is a useful reminder that “nobody uses it” can mean nobody else does: the build addressed its creator’s needs, even without a broader audience. The Hacker News thread is older contextual material, not evidence about the reach of the DEV prompt.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →How should you decide which build is “most impressive”?
The prompt offers no shared scoring system or objectively established winner. If you are comparing projects, make the basis of the comparison clear instead of treating technical complexity as the only measure. Consider:
Rank #3
- SO MANY TOYS IN A SNAP: Make dozens of cool electronic gadgets - all from one box! A safe and fun way to introduce children ages 8+ to the basics of electrical engineering! Build exciting projects and toys using the included colorful instruction book!
- AMAZING VALUE: So many projects to make and build! Build over 300 exciting projects with this classic kit! Included 60+ pieces build exciting projects such as AM radios, burglar alarms, doorbells, and much more! You can even play electronic games with your friends.
- GREAT GIFT Give the gift of learning and fun this holiday season! Snap Circuits kits will keep kids busy and having fun all year round. Combine with other Snap Circuits kits for even more projects!
- NO TOOLS NEEDED Elenco Snap Circuits kits include everything you need to start learning immediately - and more. Unlike traditional electronics kits, no soldering or tools are required to build. The numbered and color-coded pieces snap easily onto the included plastic grid. Batteries Required
- AWARD WINNING KITS! We're proud to produce high quality products loved by kids, parents,and educators. Snap Circuits kits have won a number of awards - including the Specialty Toy of the Year Award, Seriously STEM! award, Good Housekeeping's Best Toys, Purdue University's Engineering Gift Guide, National Parenting Center's Seal of Approval, Toy Insider's Top Holiday Toys, placement on the Dr. Toy list of 100 Best Children's Products and placement on the Dr. Toy list of Best Educational products, and the "Stem Approved" Trustmark from Stem.org.
- Complexity: What systems, languages, components, or constraints did the builder have to handle?
- Originality: Did the project explore an unusual idea or combine familiar parts in a distinctive way?
- Effort: What time or work did the maker report investing?
- Outcome: Did the build work as intended, and what limitations did the maker encounter?
- Audience: Did anyone besides the builder use it, and how much did that matter to the project’s purpose?
- Learning: What did the maker discover by attempting it?
These are useful discussion questions, not criteria published as an official rubric. A small experiment that teaches its creator something can be worthwhile without competing with a complex hardware build.
When is a hobby build a product idea?
If you want to know whether a personal project might solve a problem for other people, Ravi suggests asking who has the problem, how they handle it today, whether they would switch to your solution, and whether you are building because a need exists or because you want to explore the idea. These questions can help distinguish evidence of demand from enthusiasm for making something.
Rank #4
- TURN CODE INTO REAL-WORLD RESULTS — Follow 22+ guided lessons to make LEDs blink, read temperature and distance, move servo and stepper motors, control an LCD and respond to joystick or IR input; ideal for a family weekend build, homeschool unit, coding club or STEM classroom
- MORE PROJECT VARIETY IN ONE ORGANIZED KIT — Includes the UNO R3 controller, LCD1602 with pre-soldered header, breadboard power module, ultrasonic and DHT11 sensors, joystick, IR receiver and remote, SG90 servo, stepper motor, relay, DC motor, fan blade, displays, LEDs, buttons, resistors and jumper wires
- START WITHOUT SOLDERING — Plug-in modules, a solderless breadboard and the pre-soldered LCD help beginners focus on wiring, code and testing; the illustrated component list makes it easier to find each part and move from one lesson to the next
- LEARN THE LOGIC, THEN CREATE YOUR OWN — Use Arduino IDE and the included example code to understand digital input and output, analog sensing, timing, motor control and display functions, then change thresholds, speeds and sequences for alarms, environmental monitors, reaction games and motion projects
- CLEAR SETUP SUPPORT FOR FIRST-TIME BUILDERS — Download the latest tutorial and code, select the UNO board and correct computer port, check component polarity and breadboard rows, and keep power-module input at 9V or below; younger learners should work with an experienced adult
They do not mean every side project should be commercialized. Enjoying the challenge is a valid goal on its own. The useful distinction is between saying “I wanted to build this” and claiming “other people need this.”
What the examples can—and cannot—show
The anecdotes establish that “technically impressive useless thing” can describe very different outcomes: a playful animation, a software experiment, or a purpose-built system used by its maker. They do not establish how common unused projects are, whether complexity predicts adoption, or which project deserves a universal top spot. The strongest answer depends on what the reader values: cleverness, difficulty, practical use, or the lesson gained.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 30+ Guided Electronics Projects: Start with LEDs and build toward LCD1602 displays, RFID access, motion detection, distance sensing, motor control and environmental monitoring for STEM learning, coding clubs, classrooms and hobby projects
- 200+ Components Across 63 Types: Includes an ELEGOO UNO R3 controller, LCD1602, RC522 RFID, RTC, HC-SR501 PIR sensor, ultrasonic sensor, DHT11, GY-521, MAX7219, keypad, joystick, relay, SG90 servo, stepper motor, breadboard and more
- Begin Without Soldering: Pre-soldered modules, a solderless breadboard, organized storage case and small-parts box reduce setup time and help beginners move from lesson to lesson while keeping LEDs, ICs, wires and sensors easy to find
- Learn, Modify and Create: Program the ELEGOO UNO R3 board with Arduino IDE using the included PDF tutorial and example code, then adjust sensor thresholds, timing, display text and motor behavior to turn guided lessons into original projects
- Flexible Power and Project Setup: Includes a 9 V, 1 A power supply, breadboard power module, 9 V battery and USB cable to support controller, breadboard and module experiments without sourcing basic setup accessories separately
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
