As a developer, I often get ideas that seem silly at first… but still spark that itch to build something. Over the weekend I had this urge to build something simple, funny and doesn’t take time to build, ExcuseNow is exactly that kind of project, a one-page web app that generates funny excuses on demand. What started as a small idea turned into a surprisingly rewarding and enjoyable side project.
Here’s how it came to life.
The Idea
We’ve all needed an excuse at some point whether for work, school, or social plans. I thought, what if I could automate that?
So the idea was simple:
Create a website that generates fun, believable, and occasionally ridiculous excuses with the click of a button.
No signups, no accounts, no fluff – just fast, funny excuses.
The Stack & Tech Choices
I wanted to keep things light, modern, and easy to maintain. Here’s the tech breakdown:
- HTML + CSS + JavaScript – Classic and simple for a static site.
- Modular JavaScript – I split out the logic into clean files (
excuses.js,script.js) for maintainability. - SEO & Social Meta Tags – Optimized the site with Open Graph tags,
sitemap.xml, androbots.txtfor better visibility.
And for a touch of magic, I added:
- ✨ Emoji-enhanced categories
- 🎩 A fake “wizardry” loading bar when generating excuses
- 🌐 OG image and metadata for social sharing
Design & Branding
Since this is a humor-based app, the branding needed to reflect that.
- Logo: I used a playful logo with bold rounded letters, a sparkly wizard hat, and a wand. (Yes, I generated it with the help of AI.)
- Color Scheme: Deep blue and purple background, accented with gold and white to give it a magical, modern vibe.
Excuse Categories
I categorized excuses into:
- 💼 Work
- 📚 School
- 🎉 Social
- 👨👩 Family
- 🩺 Health
- 🦄 Random
Each category has over 50 unique excuses. You’ll find excuses like:
“My Wi-Fi broke after my cat walked across the keyboard.”
“My dog accidentally submitted my homework… blank.”
Monetization Thoughts
While ExcuseNow is free to use, I’m considering a few monetization strategies:
- Offer a Pro version with advanced features like downloadable excuses or integrations (e.g., calendar excuses).
- Sell printable products or eBooks with categorized excuses (great for creators or prank gifts).
- Add affiliate links subtly related to productivity or humor tools.
I’m keeping it fun-first, but with a clear eye toward passive income.
What I Learned
- Building a micro-project from scratch is a great creative reset.
- Modern static sites can be both fast and full of personality.
- Humor-based apps can still benefit from good UX and clean structure.
- Even a fun side project is worth optimizing for SEO and performance.
Try It Out
If you’re ever in need of a quick excuse, try it out at
👉 https://excusenow.com/
Final Thoughts
ExcuseNow reminded me that not every project needs to be serious or enterprise-level to be meaningful. Sometimes, it’s about shipping something fun, clever, and personal.
Have a similar idea or want to build your own micro-app? Feel free to reach out or follow my blog for more behind-the-scenes builds like this one.