I'm currently in my first semester of a computer engineering program and feeling a bit frustrated. The coursework so far has been mostly repetition of high school material, just using C instead of Java. The assignments are incredibly basic, like adding up numbers or calculating areas of circles. I want to create some interesting projects for my GitHub portfolio, ideally something like a chess game in TypeScript, which I chose because it's easy to convert to JavaScript and host on GitHub Pages. However, I'm finding it really challenging to break down the project into manageable parts. Even simpler projects, like a basic To-Do list app, feel overwhelming. I have Asperger's syndrome, and while I've been told that breaking down problems is a strength of mine, I'm struggling with this aspect of programming. Any advice on how to tackle real projects?
5 Answers
Remember, not all serious projects need a graphical UI. A chess engine without a GUI can still be a valuable project. Your classes may not cover GUI development because there's just so much to choose from, so keep that in mind.
The key is to build your skills gradually. Start with very small features and work your way up. It's not a straight path, so don't expect to go from zero to a fully-fledged app right away. It's all about incremental progress!
Don't stress about creating a complex app right away. It's only your first few months! If the course pace isn't working for you, supplement your learning with books that dive into application architecture and beyond the basics. And look out for deals on tech book bundles; they can provide great resources!
Consider using Electron if you're interested in desktop applications. You can turn a website into a desktop app, which is pretty rewarding! I did it for my point-of-sale system, and it's a lot of fun to learn. Making apps that install and run smoothly feels much more 'real,' plus it gives you loads of tasks to tackle.
What you're experiencing is super common! The school problems are bite-sized and straightforward, while real projects are complex and messy. Instead of aiming for a complete app like chess or a robust To-Do app, try to build something smaller first, like just adding tasks to a list without any other features. Focus on the data model first and then tackle the UI later. GitHub values completed projects over impressive ones, so aim for lots of small wins!
Totally agree! Just focusing on finishing something is a great strategy.
This makes so much sense! Starting small is definitely the way to go.