I'm studying a computer-related major at university, and classes are starting soon. I'd also like to work on personal projects, but I don't have a strong preference for any particular area yet. I'm interested in learning broadly and making tangible progress, whether that means software development, robotics, embedded systems, or something else.
I considered buying a Raspberry Pi, but the total cost of the board, case, cooling, and accessories feels a little high right now. I experimented with Arduino in middle school, although it seems somewhat basic for what I want to learn today. I've also heard about STM boards and ESP32 devices, but I'm not sure how they differ from microcontrollers or single-board computers.
For software, I was interested in making games with Godot but never finished a project. I know some Python, have fluent English skills, and have already made a basic Snake game with Pygame. I'm open to web development, programming tools, games, hardware, or any other worthwhile direction. What would be a practical and affordable way to choose a project and expand my skills?
4 Answers
Web development is another practical option because you can start with only your laptop and immediately see the results in a browser. Learn basic HTML and CSS, then add JavaScript and a small backend later if you enjoy it. A personal dashboard, study planner, or project portfolio would give you a concrete goal while teaching useful fundamentals. You don’t have to decide on a permanent specialization—finish one small project, reflect on what you liked, and use that to choose the next one.
You could return to game development, but use a smaller tool or a narrowly defined goal. Pygame is deliberately simple and gives you the basic building blocks without making you learn a large engine first. Try projects such as Breakout, Tetris, a turn-based dungeon game, or a small multiplayer experiment. Once you can finish a few of those, moving to Godot will be less overwhelming because you’ll understand the underlying game logic.
If you want to explore hardware cheaply, an ESP32 is a good starting point. It’s a microcontroller, not a full single-board computer like a Raspberry Pi. It can read sensors, control LEDs and motors, connect to Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, and run small programs. STM32 boards are also microcontrollers, but they are often used in more industry-oriented embedded work and may have a steeper learning curve. ESP32 development feels fairly familiar if you have used Arduino before, and many boards support MicroPython or CircuitPython.
I already have a laptop, so I was unsure what a thin client would add. An ESP32 sounds more useful if I decide to experiment with physical projects.
You don’t need to buy hardware to start building useful projects. Since you already know some Python and have made Snake, try expanding into a small but complete application: a note-taking app, text editor, file organizer, habit tracker, or simple command-line tool. Rebuilding something that already exists is still excellent practice because you’ll learn about design, data storage, testing, and packaging. Pick one project and keep improving it instead of jumping between technologies.
That makes sense. I was worried I would need to learn several languages first, but starting with a useful Python project seems more manageable.
I’ve already made Snake with Pygame, so I could try something a little more advanced before returning to Godot.