Cementing Your Programming Base:
If you wish to brush up your coding skills, this would be a great to time to register with competitive coding websites such as CodeChef or SPOJ. These websites emphasize on algorithms and logic, which not only improves your logic, but also teaches you to code efficiently with time and memory constraints. Rosetta Code is an online programming chrestomathy which has a compilation of common programming algorithms in almost all programming languages.
Project Euler is a website with a mathematical approach to programming. It features numerous computational problems that can be solved using a computer. Though it is mathintensive, some problems don’t even require a computer. But it’s still a great way to practice programming; especially if you plan on going into mathematical projects. You should be able to solve at least 10 – 15 initial problems even if you don’t have a background in mathematics.
These aren’t the only websites, there are tons of other websites such as w3schools or dreamincode for help with projects. Additionally, stackoverflow.com is useful when you are stuck somewhere and unable to think of a solution. Understanding the skill requirements Building projects isn’t just about writing and compiling source code. Instead, it entails building a complete environment where your application will interact with various entities around it, such as users or other devices.
However, it isn’t necessary for a project to interact with some external entity at all times. It is still essential to master these skills besides programming. These involve usage of various APIs (Application Programming Interface), building user interfaces, database connectivity and maintenance etc. If you learn a skill that is in-demand and is uncommon in the software industry, it might improve your employment prospects.
UIADI provides an Authentication API using Aadhar ID and demographic/biometric information.
Even after the completion of a project, testing and debugging is an uphill task. It’s a myth that testers don’t code. Even if you plan on delving into software testing as a vocation, sufficient knowledge of programming languages and their implementation is essential. Testing is a major part of projects and takes place before deployment. It is a sought-after asset since it requires good observation, analytical and communication skills to interact with the end user.
Developing ideas for the project
Ideas rarely happen to strike out of nowhere. They are mostly inspired by practical problems or the needs created in day-to-day life. They can consist of solutions that improve the quality of life and technologies that simplify common tasks. If you are struggling for a project idea, these tips may come in handy.
There are a lot of websites that can help you with the decision. Programming subreddits and other forums often host discussions regarding new projects and technologies. Frequenting such forums is a smart way to put out project ideas for feedback from fellow programmers.
Google Summer of code has some very good projects to get some inspiration.
Additionally, you can refer to Google Summer of Code (GSoC) archives for a host of ideas recorded since its inception. GSoC is a project that encourages students to code. It is held annually during summers. Although this programme is only open students, the ideas showcased there are inspiring and can help budding programmers to develop projects better.
Join an open source project:
An open source project or software is a freely available software along with its source code. The source code is available to everyone and can be studied, changed, and redistributed by anyone. A major advantage provided by opensource software is that it is constantly improved with collaborative efforts of participating individuals.
Popular open source projects include WordPress, Firefox, Chromium, VLC Media Player, Android etc.
Contributing to the open source community is considered to be a good practice. Numerous projects such as Firefox, Android, and OpenOffice allow inputs from the community for developing and improving their ecosystem. It should be noted that coding is not the only way to contribute to the open source community. Other domains where you can contribute your expertise are documentation, testing, debugging, and designing. You can even download existing source code and develop your application on top of that. This can then be released as a free open source project, thereby allowing you to give something back to the community.
Start working on existing ideas
It is not always possible to come up with a striking idea immediately, so you don’t have to worry about it. There are many organizations and individuals around the globe with great ideas who are looking for programmers to implement them. You can contact such entities who are open to outsourcing their ideas. Most of them offer respectable stipends to boot. There are plenty of websites where people just put down ideas for software and utilities expecting programmers to take them up. You can start off by figuring out which one of these projects is worth taking up to hone your skills. This can even be a means for making a quick buck if the project turns out to be successful.
One example related to such practice is the internet wishlist. com, where you can find a pinboard full of user suggested app and website ideas. It is a basic yet unique idea that can potentially inspire startups and entrepreneurs.
If you feel you are relatively new in the programming field and are unable to handle large projects, you should opt for smaller modules of large projects or a small project altogether. You can even approach new startups as they usually don’t ask for a lot of experience. You can learn new technologies and hone your skills by working for these startups while helping them build their products. Some startups offer a minimum stipend while some don’t, but your initial focus should be on learning the technology and mastering
it for the future. Expecting large financial compensation at this nascent stage would be a gross exaggeration of your skills.
Acquiring projects
In order to acquire projects, you have to create an impressive portfolio. GitHub is the best platform to show your contributions to the open source community and to showcase your best projects. You can also create a website showcasing your portfolio and the projects you have been involved with until now.
GitHub is an online code repository, and is home to some of the biggest open source projects.
The next important part is to gathering new clients. Client satisfaction should be at the top of your priority list. This can be achieved by participating in product reviews and feedback sessions, or otherwise interacting with clients. Remember, happy clients will lead to new projects and a larger client network that grows with word of mouth.
Conclusion
The growth of Information Technology in recent years has led to a paradigm shift in business domains, entertainment, and even the society as a whole. This is as good time as any to jump into the programming world and make money while you’re at it.
