Is freelancing worth the time and patience ?

Now, after getting more or less settled in college, I find myself in possession of a lot of 'free' time (the course is not at all challenging :mad:).

And looking into a few freelance sites, most of the tasks seem neither too difficult, nor very interesting (especially around web technologies).
Stuff like C++ is almost absent from that ecosystem, I think because of its complexity and low popularity in quick-and-dirty projects.

But what strikes me is the unhealthy amount of competition (I suspect that is why freelancing is popular with contractors, as the competition seems to be mostly about who bids the least).

So, what is your opinion about freelancing (assuming the goal at this moment is primarily gaining practical experience)?

Would my time better spent in committing to some open source project and say...something like https://www.edx.org/courses to make things more interesting ?

It really depends what you aspire to do.

I suggest it is pointless to do any development unless it interests you, or leads to something that does (and that "something" might be interesting work, it might be better income, it might be opportunity to meet girls, if that is what you seek). From your words, I doubt freelancing would be worth your time.

If an open source project interests you - both in terms of what it entails, and in terms of what it will produce - then go for it. Similarly, for course work.

You shouldn't look at freelancing as simply the act of subscribing to those websites. Freelancing is perhaps a whole lot more interesting if you actively search for projects in your local area. Possibly creating a business-like personal website and promoting yourself on newspapers and among friends (or strangers you meet in a party).

It needs to be said that freelancing have built many a career and has been the start of many a business.

As for Open Source projects, I advise you to look at them always as a resume builder. Choose well among those project you feel you can make a real contribution and boost your resume with your work there.

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Originally Posted by manasij7479

Now, after getting more or less settled in college, I find myself in possession of a lot of 'free' time (the course is not at all challenging :mad:).

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Maybe off topic, but what are the subjects you participate in?

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Originally Posted by std10093

Maybe off topic, but what are the subjects you participate in?

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Mainly http://sxccal.edu/ug_compsc/BSc_CompScHons.pdf
A few other subjects like physics, maths and a language of my choice.
Well, there are interesting topics later in the course, but by the time I reach them, I'd already have a good knowledge of those.

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Originally Posted by Mario F.

You shouldn't look at freelancing as simply the act of subscribing to those websites. Freelancing is perhaps a whole lot more interesting if you actively search for projects in your local area. Possibly creating a business-like personal website and promoting yourself on newspapers and among friends (or strangers you meet in a party).

It needs to be said that freelancing have built many a career and has been the start of many a business.

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Good idea...though the 'startup' culture is somewhat frowned upon over here.
Navigating around that and managing to deliver something solid would be a little bit difficult.