HACKER Q&A
📣 purple-leafy

What to build (to get excited again)?


Hey HN, I would say I really enjoy programming - and had so much fun when I knew just enough to do the basics (manipulate some html, loops etc) and my ideas seemed exciting and boundless.

Now I have about 4 years experience and feel like programming has lost its magic. My ideas don’t excite me anymore, because I feel like I know the limits of what can be built solo.

For context I have built lots of browser extensions (I found manipulating the DOM of existing sites In a generic manner a fun challenge), I build full stack sites for work.

So what areas can I explore that will excite me again?

  👤 bosky101 Accepted Answer ✓
Try the following

    - port something you know well into a different language
    - try to build something open source with 0 deps
    - a sub 10k website
    - I heard Chrome manifest version is shuttering, and there are lot of opportunities to replace them
    - try htmlx
    - your own react implementation 
    - your own npm/yarn implementation 
    - a free code minifier/formatter or a pastebin
And remember, it was boredom that resulted in some of the most innovative things.
👤 mettamage
I discovered that I like building chrome extensions. Whenever I am annoyed with a UI, I build my own chrome extension. I am currently at 4 extensions and have only been doing this for a week

Edit: I only read the title. It seems we might be similar.

Give hackthebox.eu a spin

Create a computer graphics engine (linear algebra is required but only for 4x4 matrices).

Create a game with Unity3D after

That’s all I have

👤 piotrke
Learn something new. Go to udemy.com, choose one course with a practical effect, buy it on the discount ($9-$12, not more) and just follow it carefully. I can recommend Max Schwarzmueller as a teacher as I like his style and pleasent voice (https://www.udemy.com/user/maximilian-schwarzmuller/) but it's up to you. Take one thing like, CSS or Vue, as that will give you a quick win with a visual result, achievement and fun beside of trying and learning something new. Best!
👤 Tomte
I feel similarly. My plan is the new edition of "The Nature of Code" and "Mazes for Programmers". Also maybe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4s1h2YETNY
👤 swah
I'm feeling like 3d printing could get me excited for a few months... a whole new class of software, solving little physical problems around the house..
👤 geekodour
explore things outside tech, see what kind of problems attract you intrinsicly, explore it through trying to understand the problem/building the solution using programming as a tool.

this method had me explore deeper software engineering problem trying to solve every stuff. Since there's no deadline you can do it recreationally.

For a feel of recreationally, I really like this tscoding yt channel stream, he does long videos, pretty calming to watch.

👤 revskill
No need to invent something to get excited. You can just start looking at things under new perspectives ! It's the secret of happiness in general, too.