I started programming very young. I initially didn't want to get into professional programming because I didn't want to ruin my hobby. But reality set it in and I needed a decent-paying job.

For the first few years, I literally did zero programming on the side. I simply didn't have the energy left. I used it all up at work.

But then a couple years ago, I started having enough energy. Now, I love to do side projects... That is, if I can find one worthy of stealing my free time. (Lately that hasn't been a problem, though.)

So I can imagine it quite readily, even for the most avid programmer.

For me it was learning Ruby that changed programming from something I enjoyed doing as a job, to something I also loved doing as a hobby and a passion. That was several years ago and since then I've worked on many side projects, many of which are not Ruby-related.

I once met a few developers through a friend of mine. My impression was that they had no passion for the job. Programming pays well if you're good at it. I think there are a lot of programmers who are just paying their bills.

Wait 'til you have kids.

I don't have kids and it is highly hypocritical of me to say so but "Leo Tolstoy wrote War and Peace while living with his wife and 13 children."

Tolstoy was one of the richest men in 19th century Russia. His situation isn't the least bit comparable to a middle class nuclear family of our time, where parents actually do the work of raising children and hold down jobs as well.

Was War and Peace a side project or the main project?

If it wasn't done as a side project then it isn't really relevant.

War and Peace was the side project. Tolstoy's main project consisted of managing the land and peasents on his country estate.

For the first few months, having kids meant zero time for side-projects, but these days it just makes me much more focused in the free time that I do have.