Knowing When To Walk Away: Why I Killed My Barber Appointment App

By Sherif | February 09, 2025


Not every project is meant to see the light of day. Some are stepping stones, some are learning experiences, and some just overstay their welcome. My Django-powered barber appointment app? It was all three.

I spent months building it—crafting the backend, tweaking the UI, thinking through user flows. But at some point, I had to ask myself: Is this still worth my time? The answer? No. So, I binned it.

Here’s why.

If you are interested, the project repository can be found here




1. It Went On for Too Long

What started as a quick project turned into a never-ending cycle of improvements, refactoring, and feature creep. One moment, it was a simple appointment system. The next, I was contemplating adding loyalty programs, SMS reminders, and multi-location support.


I kept thinking, “Just one more feature, and it’ll be complete.” But that cycle never really ends.


Eventually, I realized I had learned everything I set out to learn—and then some. Holding onto it any longer wasn’t pushing my skills forward anymore. It was just an anchor.




2. The Lessons Were More Valuable Than the App

Looking back, this project was never about launching a barber appointment SaaS. It was about getting better at Django, database design, API integrations, and deployment strategies.


* I learned how to structure a Django project properly

* I got hands-on with frontend integration using Bootstrap & jQuery

* I explored Docker for deployment and containerization

* I understood the challenges of maintaining a real-world app


That’s way more valuable than an app that would have needed constant updates and marketing to survive.




3. Just Because You Can Finish It, Doesn’t Mean You Should

There’s a common trap in software development: the sunk cost fallacy—the idea that because you’ve already spent so much time on something, you must finish it.


I fought that thought hard. But truth be told? If I had launched it, I wouldn’t have been excited to maintain it. And what’s the point of running a project that doesn’t spark interest anymore?


Not every idea needs to turn into a business. Some are just practice runs for the next big thing.




4. Walking Away Opens New Doors

Killing the barber appointment app wasn’t a failure—it was a pivot. Without it taking up mental space, I had room to focus on things that excited me more.


* I built an AI chess bot (because why not?)

* I started setting up my automation consulting agency

* I deep-dived into business automation with AI & webhooks


Had I forced myself to finish the app just for the sake of completion, I would have missed out on other opportunities that aligned better with where I wanted to go.




Final Thought: Quitting Is a Skill Too

Everyone talks about persistence, but knowing when to quit is just as important.


It’s easy to feel like dropping a project is giving up, but the real question is: Is this still serving you? If it’s no longer pushing you forward, it’s okay to move on.


I don’t regret a single line of code I wrote for that barber appointment app. But I do know that the best thing I did for my growth was walking away from it.


So, if you’re sitting on a project that’s dragging you down, ask yourself: Is it time to let go? 


ABOUT ME

My name is Sherif. This blog is made on the top of my Favourite full stack Framework 'Django', follow up the tutorial to learn how I made it..!

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