I've been programming for some time now and learning few languages, but being unable to work now, how would one exercise her programming knowledge and not forget it? After having enough knowledge to start the basic programs programming, I don't have anything to do and programming becomes kind of boring when you don't have anything to do. I read books, I'm looking to find some 'open-source project' that most of you would put on his or her resume, but nothing comes up now.
Write a 3D game or a compiler.
Both are rabbit holes that can keep you busy indefinitely.
>>2,3
Impossible with my current knowledge, I need more to advance. While I am gaining more, I need a simpler task to keep myself busy with programming, since it starts to be boring when you come to the advanced topics.
Various old people reminisce about Nibbles and Qbasic. There are modern clones, but I had no need to note their locations.
There are some interesting tutorials on different subjects. Like OpenGL at www.videotutorialsrock.com (bouncing balls in lesson 10 was what I needed).
I personally use down time to make better tools. Like a file manager. Each one has weaknesses. For example, if I work on files in 2 directories I have to bring up 2 Windows Explorer windows, size and position them side by side, and move them to the file I left off working on. I got irritated enough with that I wrote my own file manager that remembers where you left off (number of windows, size/position, file name, etc.) and takes you back to that set-up in one button click. Another example is a spreadsheet. I work with lists of things like files so often it was worth it to make a spreadsheet-like list handler. That happens to also be a good intro to any widget set, like wxWidgets.
So, pick the task you do most often, and look for a faster way to do it.
http://projecteuler.net/ if you're not scared of maths.
There's always anoncoreutils to contribute to.
>>8
Haha, desperation...