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  3. How do I commit myself to side-projects?

How do I commit myself to side-projects?

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  • J James_Parsons

    Haha, I guess it doesn't matter I wouldn't get hired anyway ;P . I'm an 18 year old kid straight out of high school with little experience living in one of the worst states for the industry. I haven't touched code in 6 months because after graduating, I had no more projects to work on.

    i cri evry tiem

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    S Offline
    Slacker007
    wrote on last edited by
    #22

    College plans? Military plans - non-combat, with technical MOS (programming, etc.)? If you love to code then you need to show an employment timeline with full-time coding, software development, etc. I would focus more on that then side projects, IMHO. I don't consider people for employment based on their "side projects".

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    • S Slacker007

      College plans? Military plans - non-combat, with technical MOS (programming, etc.)? If you love to code then you need to show an employment timeline with full-time coding, software development, etc. I would focus more on that then side projects, IMHO. I don't consider people for employment based on their "side projects".

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      J Offline
      James_Parsons
      wrote on last edited by
      #23

      Quote:

      College plans? Military plans - non-combat, with technical MOS (programming, etc.)?

      Actually, I recently failed to get into the Army, Now trying the Air Force.

      i cri evry tiem

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      • J James_Parsons

        Quote:

        College plans? Military plans - non-combat, with technical MOS (programming, etc.)?

        Actually, I recently failed to get into the Army, Now trying the Air Force.

        i cri evry tiem

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        Slacker007
        wrote on last edited by
        #24

        James_Parsons wrote:

        Now trying the Air Force.

        Air force or Navy is best for technical jobs. I would start with Air Force. If you go military, then go non-combat MOS (Mission Occupational Specialty) and pick a speciality that you know will help you get employment when you get out (i.e. software development, etc.) I was in the Infantry but if I had to do it over again, I would go Air Force. Good luck. :)

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        • M Mark_Wallace

          You've got to look forward, to the future. Make a power-governor for lightsabres.

          I wanna be a eunuchs developer! Pass me a bread knife!

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          S Offline
          Slacker007
          wrote on last edited by
          #25

          Well, according to the story line in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, he will need to harvest some Kyber Crystals if he is going to do lightsaber work. Don't know if we have any on this planet. :sigh:

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          • J James_Parsons

            I really want to make something.I'm bored, I have not touched any code for 6 months and as a bonus, it looks good to employers to have side projects (supposedly) The problem is, I can't find and commit to an idea. I want to make something practical. Sure, I could make a clone of something or make yet another boring todo list, but what's the point. Employers aren't going to care that you built a clone of (insert something here) that has 0 active users and just sits in a Github repo. I've also tried the whole "make something you would use" and wind up finding out someone has already done it and better than I could do it.

            i cri evry tiem

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            kmoorevs
            wrote on last edited by
            #26

            James_Parsons wrote:

            I've also tried the whole "make something you would use" and wind up finding out someone has already done it and better than I could do it.

            I agree with the idea of making something you would use. This is very practical advice. My best 'side projects' have been little utilities that I now use just about every day both on or off the job. There's sure to be at least one small utility application you currently use that could be just a little better...maybe a better UI or an added feature or two. Start from scratch and/or use samples/examples from working code (with proper credits of course!) to make something that you can get immediate results from and improve on over time.

            "Go forth into the source" - Neal Morse

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            • J James_Parsons

              What are you using on the backend?

              i cri evry tiem

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              Marc Clifton
              wrote on last edited by
              #27

              James_Parsons wrote:

              What are you using on the backend?

              My own web server (no IIS dependencies, nor is it ASP.NET / Razor.) I haven't written about the web server back end much, but the code is open source[^]. ByteStruck itself is not open source. Also, SQL Server Express, hosted on an Amazon EC2. Core web "frameworks" are jQuery (of course), jqWidgets, and Knockout. Marc

              V.A.P.O.R.ware - Visual Assisted Programming / Organizational Representation Learning to code with python is like learning to swim with those little arm floaties. It gives you undeserved confidence and will eventually drown you. - DangerBunny Artificial intelligence is the only remedy for natural stupidity. - CDP1802

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              • K Kevin Marois

                OK. Looks promising. When I go to Projects/Jobs = > View Public Projects/Jobs or Projects/Jobs = > Geek Matches I get "Route not found"

                If it's not broken, fix it until it is. Everything makes sense in someone's mind. Ya can't fix stupid.

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                Marc Clifton
                wrote on last edited by
                #28

                Kevin Marois wrote:

                I get "Route not found"

                Indeed - missing implementation. :) I actually usually don't have the server running, I fired it up actually when I wrote my original reply, haha. Marc

                V.A.P.O.R.ware - Visual Assisted Programming / Organizational Representation Learning to code with python is like learning to swim with those little arm floaties. It gives you undeserved confidence and will eventually drown you. - DangerBunny Artificial intelligence is the only remedy for natural stupidity. - CDP1802

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                • J James_Parsons

                  What are you using on the backend?

                  i cri evry tiem

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                  Marc Clifton
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #29

                  Oh, and I forgot, Bootstrap as well, like everyone else. :sigh: Marc

                  V.A.P.O.R.ware - Visual Assisted Programming / Organizational Representation Learning to code with python is like learning to swim with those little arm floaties. It gives you undeserved confidence and will eventually drown you. - DangerBunny Artificial intelligence is the only remedy for natural stupidity. - CDP1802

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                  • S Slacker007

                    Well, according to the story line in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, he will need to harvest some Kyber Crystals if he is going to do lightsaber work. Don't know if we have any on this planet. :sigh:

                    M Offline
                    M Offline
                    Mark_Wallace
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #30

                    That's hardware. Leave that for the mechanical engineers to screw up. The software's worth making a start on now, though.

                    I wanna be a eunuchs developer! Pass me a bread knife!

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                    • L Lost User

                      Brent Jenkins wrote:

                      Have you tried DataGrip from JetBrains?

                      The word "JetBrains" means I am not even going to Google it X|

                      Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss: If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^][](X-Clacks-Overhead: GNU Terry Pratchett)

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                      Fedor Hajdu
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #31

                      Care to explain why? I'm generally very happy with JetBrains products. I use ReSharper on a daily basis for 8 years now, and I also often use IntelliJ, Data Grip, PHP Storm and PyCharm. In a previous company, we used YouTrack. And with the exception of YouTrack (it still needs to mature a bit), everything else is awesome. I'm very curious to know with which of their product were you so disappointed that you avoid them just by hearing the company name.

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                      • J James_Parsons

                        I really want to make something.I'm bored, I have not touched any code for 6 months and as a bonus, it looks good to employers to have side projects (supposedly) The problem is, I can't find and commit to an idea. I want to make something practical. Sure, I could make a clone of something or make yet another boring todo list, but what's the point. Employers aren't going to care that you built a clone of (insert something here) that has 0 active users and just sits in a Github repo. I've also tried the whole "make something you would use" and wind up finding out someone has already done it and better than I could do it.

                        i cri evry tiem

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                        B Offline
                        BillWoodruff
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #32

                        First, clear some space on the side you wish the project to appear on.

                        «There is a spectrum, from "clearly desirable behaviour," to "possibly dodgy behavior that still makes some sense," to "clearly undesirable behavior." We try to make the latter into warnings or, better, errors. But stuff that is in the middle category you don’t want to restrict unless there is a clear way to work around it.» Eric Lippert, May 14, 2008

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                        • J James_Parsons

                          I really want to make something.I'm bored, I have not touched any code for 6 months and as a bonus, it looks good to employers to have side projects (supposedly) The problem is, I can't find and commit to an idea. I want to make something practical. Sure, I could make a clone of something or make yet another boring todo list, but what's the point. Employers aren't going to care that you built a clone of (insert something here) that has 0 active users and just sits in a Github repo. I've also tried the whole "make something you would use" and wind up finding out someone has already done it and better than I could do it.

                          i cri evry tiem

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                          J Offline
                          JohnLBevan
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #33

                          My struggle is finding the time to write code, rather than coming up with ideas; I have thousands stored away in mails to myself; most of which will never see the light of day... What are your interests / hobbies? I can cherry pick some of the ideas that match up to what you're interested in and give them to you. Also do you have any preferences on the type of thing you'd like to build? i.e. - Platform: web based, desktop app, phone app - Content: game, social network (i.e. involving some social features; not a full blown social network), etc. - Time: how much time do you think you'll have to invest in this; do you want something you can knock up with an hour a day for a couple of months, or something bigger/smaller?

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                          • J JohnLBevan

                            My struggle is finding the time to write code, rather than coming up with ideas; I have thousands stored away in mails to myself; most of which will never see the light of day... What are your interests / hobbies? I can cherry pick some of the ideas that match up to what you're interested in and give them to you. Also do you have any preferences on the type of thing you'd like to build? i.e. - Platform: web based, desktop app, phone app - Content: game, social network (i.e. involving some social features; not a full blown social network), etc. - Time: how much time do you think you'll have to invest in this; do you want something you can knock up with an hour a day for a couple of months, or something bigger/smaller?

                            J Offline
                            J Offline
                            JohnLBevan
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #34

                            ps. If you want to come up with ideas on your own, look for things that frustrate you. Example When I go to the airport I have to go to one place to get my boarding pass, then another to drop off bags, then through security, then customs, etc. If I've not travelled in a while I get confused and often end up going to the desks in the wrong order (e.g. I go to check in my bags, then having queued for 20 mins am told I have to first check in at a different desk, so have to go queue there before coming back and queueing again). In some airports I can do everything at one desk. As a developer you can't change the airport's procedures; but you can still help people... i.e. create a phone app which can store the workflows for each airport / airline, into which users can enter their details (which airport they're flying from, flight number, do they have luggage for the hold, etc). This app can then list an itinerary for me, pulling back any data from open sources (e.g. from my flight number it can get the flight time, and from that can suggest appropriate times for each step, and telling me which desk number or gate to head to in order to complete a step). As I complete each bit I tick it off and the app tells me where to go/what to do next; saving me some pain.

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                            • L Lost User

                              James_Parsons wrote:

                              I've also tried the whole "make something you would use" and wind up finding out someone has already done it and better than I could do it.

                              If people would stop trying because somebody else already did it better, then the PC market would have never existed and we'd be working from the Workbench on an Amiga computer. I'm still missing a decent crossplatform SQL editor that supports all the DataProviders from .NET. So, if you're bored.. :rolleyes:

                              Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss: If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^][](X-Clacks-Overhead: GNU Terry Pratchett)

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                              mBuchwald
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #35

                              I... really liked the Amiga. I would be strangely fine with this.

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                              • J James_Parsons

                                I really want to make something.I'm bored, I have not touched any code for 6 months and as a bonus, it looks good to employers to have side projects (supposedly) The problem is, I can't find and commit to an idea. I want to make something practical. Sure, I could make a clone of something or make yet another boring todo list, but what's the point. Employers aren't going to care that you built a clone of (insert something here) that has 0 active users and just sits in a Github repo. I've also tried the whole "make something you would use" and wind up finding out someone has already done it and better than I could do it.

                                i cri evry tiem

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                                C Offline
                                ClockMeister
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #36

                                I wrote a budgeting system that we use (for Windows desktop). Replaced Quicken with it because Quicken was an overkill. Started the project about six years ago. Took 3 to get it to a reliable state, it's all I use now. Have given it to a few others also who find that it helps them. Got us out of debt. Good "side" project. I'm now developing a web-based version of the program as a way of learning ASP.Net, AJAX, etc. I can appreciate your boredom. Try to pick a task that you would like to automate and just get started with it, don't over-design it and don't "scrum" the thing, it's your project. Maybe you can find someone who needs a membership-tracking system written or something, do it for free (or swap). One of my "side" projects is a management utility for our local cooperative farm. We've got lifetime veggies in exchange for that project (which is constantly ongoing). Do not worry about it if someone else has already written something you want to do, your solution will be unique in some way and you'll have the joy of creating it. It doesn't have to impress anyone but you. ;-)

                                If you think that hiring a professional is expensive wait until you try hiring an amateur! - Red Adair

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                                • M mBuchwald

                                  I... really liked the Amiga. I would be strangely fine with this.

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                                  Lost User
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #37

                                  mBuchwald wrote:

                                  I... really liked the Amiga

                                  A multitasking windowed OS in half a megabyte. There is nothing not to like :)

                                  Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss: If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^][](X-Clacks-Overhead: GNU Terry Pratchett)

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                                  • L Lost User

                                    mBuchwald wrote:

                                    I... really liked the Amiga

                                    A multitasking windowed OS in half a megabyte. There is nothing not to like :)

                                    Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss: If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^][](X-Clacks-Overhead: GNU Terry Pratchett)

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                                    patbob
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #38

                                    Eddy Vluggen wrote:

                                    A multitasking windowed OS in half a megabyte. There is nothing not to like

                                    No MMU. That's the only thing I didn't like about developing on mine. Every wild pointer meant you had to reboot. Kinda lengthened the edit-compile-test cycle :)

                                    We can program with only 1's, but if all you've got are zeros, you've got nothing.

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                                    • P patbob

                                      Eddy Vluggen wrote:

                                      A multitasking windowed OS in half a megabyte. There is nothing not to like

                                      No MMU. That's the only thing I didn't like about developing on mine. Every wild pointer meant you had to reboot. Kinda lengthened the edit-compile-test cycle :)

                                      We can program with only 1's, but if all you've got are zeros, you've got nothing.

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                                      Lost User
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #39

                                      Guru Meditations, so much better than a BSOD :laugh:

                                      Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss: If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^][](X-Clacks-Overhead: GNU Terry Pratchett)

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                                      • L Lost User

                                        Guru Meditations, so much better than a BSOD :laugh:

                                        Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss: If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^][](X-Clacks-Overhead: GNU Terry Pratchett)

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                                        patbob
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #40

                                        Absolutely. And utterly hilarious when one day the local cable company was broadcasting a GURU meditation number for a few hours :laugh: Made me wonder what the non-initiates thought was going on.

                                        We can program with only 1's, but if all you've got are zeros, you've got nothing.

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                                        • J James_Parsons

                                          Of course the people who advanced the PC market had the connections, money, marketing to do so.

                                          i cri evry tiem

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                                          M Offline
                                          Member 8326644
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #41

                                          There is a book by Livingston about the early PC industry. I lived through it all CP/M, DOS, Windows. None of those guys had anything but brains and the gall to think they had something great. So they found contacts. You'll find Marketing is ever elusive to us Dev types. We just don't understand it. Money you can always use as an excuse. Get on one of the freelance programming sites. Since you don't care about monetary concerns do those tasks. If you want exposure, join an open source project that tickles your fancy. There are over a million of them out there and they need the help. As far as "its been done before". The cell market was already done when Steve Jobs flipped it on its head. Also he flipped the music industry on its head with the dollar a song model. They all made massive money from this new scheme. Good Luck.

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