Getting back into programming

[Aether_Weaver]

So i used to program in python 2-3 years ago, I’d just gotten out of tutorial hell by building projects that interested me. But I ran out of ideas. So, essentially what I’m asking is what have yall built as inspiration for myself. Note the most advanced thing I build was a simple calculator, but I want to branch out into other languages and build more things

 

[boursk]

A large part of the joy of programming comes from creating solutions to problems. So just look around and look at things you find annoying and think about how automating it might make your life easier.

Even if it looks like it might be too difficult to program a solution right now, there's nothing more motivating to learn more about programming when you're trying to solve a problem that will benefit you personally. And the feeling of pride and accomplishment will be that much greater too.

Just in the context of MangaDex, I found it annoying that there's no way to check the feed filtered by translated language (chapters translated in languages I'm not interested it will also push a title up in the feed). Fortunately MangaDex has an API, so I built a way to easily access a filtered feed complete with a marker to show what the last chapter I read in the feed is. It's simple and makes my life just a little bit more convenient.

 

[Aether_Weaver]

OMG that first sentence reminded me what I loved about programming, I still do. And since you mentioned it, I’ve wanted some way to locally download chapters or a series and it updates as more chapters come out in a target language

 

[Aether_Weaver]

A large part of the joy of programming comes from creating solutions to problems. So just look around and look at things you find annoying and think about how automating it might make your life easier.

Even if it looks like it might be too difficult to program a solution right now, there's nothing more motivating to learn more about programming when you're trying to solve a problem that will benefit you personally. And the feeling of pride and accomplishment will be that much greater too.

Just in the context of MangaDex, I found it annoying that there's no way to check the feed filtered by translated language (chapters translated in languages I'm not interested it will also push a title up in the feed). Fortunately MangaDex has an API, so I built a way to easily access a filtered feed complete with a marker to show what the last chapter I read in the feed is. It's simple and makes my life just a little bit more convenient.

But that still doesn’t tackle the core problem. The process for me was, I learn something and go out looking for something to do with it. But than I ran out of ideas. I’m sure you can relate it’s like writers block but with software

 

[boursk]

But that still doesn’t tackle the core problem. The process for me was, I learn something and go out looking for something to do with it. But than I ran out of ideas. I’m sure you can relate it’s like writers block but with software

What I was trying to convey was that I'm suggesting to reverse your thinking: instead of finding something you can make with the knowledge/tools you have, get inspired by the world around you to find something you want to make and gather the knowledge/tools needed to make it instead.

At a base level, you'll be a lot more motivated to make something that will personally benefit you and if that happens to involve learning about new techniques, libraries and tools, then you've also found a great excuse to dive deep into those as well. If it turns out you can make what you want with the knowledge and tools you already possess, then it can still be good practice and you might even find yourself challenging yourself with a feature that does give you an opportunity to learn something new.

I’ve wanted some way to locally download chapters or a series and it updates as more chapters come out in a target language

That's a great example of doing just that. I'll bet it'll be a lot more exciting to work on that, than on a calculator.

 

[GipoScribantino]

Man I'm sorry. Thoughts and prayers. 🙏

 

[Aether_Weaver]

About what?

 

[Cool.Ice]

So i used to program in python 2-3 years ago, I’d just gotten out of tutorial hell by building projects that interested me. But I ran out of ideas. So, essentially what I’m asking is what have yall built as inspiration for myself. Note the most advanced thing I build was a simple calculator, but I want to branch out into other languages and build more things

I literally create shits to make myself lazier, like controlling md with voice

 

[bigboichin]

So i used to program in python 2-3 years ago, I’d just gotten out of tutorial hell by building projects that interested me. But I ran out of ideas. So, essentially what I’m asking is what have yall built as inspiration for myself. Note the most advanced thing I build was a simple calculator, but I want to branch out into other languages and build more things

might I suggest getting into embedded? Try to play bad apple on as many things as possible!

 

[Aboideau]

3 years ago I started working on a pixel art editor to get myself accustomed to a certain programming language and its libraries. While there were month-long gaps with no code commits, I started to become more and more active the more features I added which necessitated more and more refactoring. The more "mature" my little project gets, the more I want to actually make it be good which forces me to dive deeper into things that I never expected I'd ever dive into. And the fact that things (in some capacity) started to work out for me feels so magical. I never though I'd be able to comprehend certain ideas and topics let alone actually implement them with decent-enough results. Actually sticking to this little hobby project and continuously developing it really makes me grow my understanding of programming.

​

 

[Mangamoz]

Meanwhile tech companies:
"Replace all these talented people with AI, right fucking now."

 

[IotaCS]

So i used to program in python 2-3 years ago, I’d just gotten out of tutorial hell by building projects that interested me. But I ran out of ideas. So, essentially what I’m asking is what have yall built as inspiration for myself. Note the most advanced thing I build was a simple calculator, but I want to branch out into other languages and build more things

The best suggestion's already been posted here (reversing your thought process to look for problems to solve, rather than trying to think of projects that match your specific skills), but there's a few other things I've found extremely helpful.

The biggest one would probably be to learn skills outside of programming. For me it was learning electronics that suddenly opened the door to a whole new set of problems that I could solve, and then learning some basic wood/metal working and PCB design let me turn my solutions from bare veroboard/breadboard jank into something that actually looks nice.