As programmers and tech professionals, we have an amazing opportunity to build software products and services that can generate recurring passive income. But coming up with viable business ideas can be tricky. In this post, I'll share some tactics for brainstorming great business ideas that leverage our software skills.

Know Your Motivations
First understand why you want to start a side business as a programmer in the first place. Do you want more money, freedom, or intellectual challenge? Keep your motivations in mind as they will help guide your idea generation.

Scratch Your Own Itch
Think about everyday problems, inefficiencies, and frustrations you face in your work or personal life. How could software help solve those issues? The best product ideas often come from your own needs.

Leverage Existing Skills
Consider types of software projects you excel at or enjoy working on. Can you package those skills into a product or service others would pay for?

Explore Hot Niches
Research popular and growing niche markets like cryptocurrency, augmented reality, health tech, artificial intelligence, etc. Brainstorm how your programming abilities could serve those spaces.

Review New Technologies
Stay on top of emerging technologies and frameworks. Being an early expert in a new tech gives you an opportunity to build innovative products others may not have considered yet.

Analyze Competition Gaps
Evaluate existing software products and services in a niche. Find opportunities to provide value competitors are missing out on or improve on their offerings.

Co-Create with Future Users
Talk to potential customers and collaborate on identifying issues they want solved. They will guide you toward ideas they are willing to pay for.

The most rewarding products come from marrying your skills and interests with an underserved market need. Keep refining ideas until you find that sweet spot! As programmers, we have amazing potential to generate income through software - the key is finding the right idea.

Let me know what business ideas this process brings up for you!