Hey everyone! I'm a private math tutor looking to build two programming projects but I have very little experience. I'm hoping to get some guidance here.
First, I want to create a personal math learning app for my students where I can assign them individual problems, like multiple-choice questions, and provide full solutions afterwards. I would prefer a simple login system, maybe with just a name and password, as I only have 2-3 students.
Second, I love being the DM for my DnD group, but I face challenges with sharing private information during games. I'd like to create an app that allows players to have a chat where they can receive private information without the group knowing, along with a feature for secret rolls.
Any advice on how to get started?
6 Answers
If your group is all on Android, definitely learn Kotlin! If they’re on Apple, Swift is the way to go. Otherwise, try learning front-end development with HTML, CSS, and JS to make a website first, then use a messaging API to add communication features.
It’s awesome that you have long-term goals! But, I'd recommend starting with the basics of programming first. Spend a few weeks or months learning fundamental concepts like variables, functions, and loops. Once you get more comfortable, you'll have a better idea of what it takes to build your app, which can be pretty complex!
You might want to look at existing tools like Roll20 for your DnD needs; they’ve been around for a while. Also, it’s vital to start with smaller projects before jumping into something big to avoid overwhelming yourself. Maybe try building a simple game like Snake or Chess first!
Both of these projects will require some sort of web server for the communication part. Honestly, as a beginner, tackling multiple devices might be really challenging. It's best to start with something simpler first.
For the DnD app, have you thought about using Discord? You can set up different private channels for private chats, which could serve your purpose well.
That's a good point! But I want to learn programming skills and work on more ideas in the future, like tracking NPC relationships in the app.
These ideas are really great because they address real problems. For the math app, you could start small with HTML, JavaScript, and Firebase. You don’t even need full authentication, just store names and questions. As for the DnD app, considering a basic chat app with Socket.io (Node.js) for real-time chatting is a smart choice. Remember to build it gradually and get feedback from your users. Good luck!
Thanks for the encouragement! It's amazing how motivating positive feedback can be, especially when I'm feeling stressed out.
Perfect! Everyone is on Android, so Kotlin it is!