Ask HN: I have 3 weeks off, what should I build? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: I have 3 weeks off, what should I build?

22 pointstducasse65 comments

I'm a software developer, I just quit my job and I start my next role in 3 weeks. I'm looking for a realistic 3 week long project to keep myself busy because I know I'll get bored very soon otherwise...

I mostly do JavaScript by day, but I like to learn new things/languages/frameworks/concepts/etc by night, so send your ideas away! :)

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Build a compiler or small emulator if you want to get better not more web CRUD. But really don't code on your break, i'd say buy some shrooms and walk around the woods.

It's funny how so many people are telling me that I shouldn't be coding while I'm on a break. Do people actually not like it? I really enjoy it!

It may be an age/experience thing. I spent many years coding in my free time, worked on all parts of the stack from boot loaders to single page applications. The magic is kind of gone for me now and I prefer to try to expand my physics and math skills which capture how I used to feel about code.

Ok but you did enjoy coding on your breaks in the past right? So the advice of “don’t code on your break” is more like “do something you enjoy on your break.” Or maybe “beware of contributing to burnout on your break.”

No I think my advice is don't code on your break because coding is boring, repetitive and the culture is shit and it took me too long to realize this.

Yeah I would agree that the magic is kinda fading for me too, but there's always something new in our field. Someone coming up with a new project, a new language, a new idea, something... I don't think it'll ever be completely gone for me!

Sadly I can't work on many meaningful or interesting physics problems in my apartment, so im stuck programming.

Dont ever listen to what people think you should be doing. Just because other people think you work too hard or because they judge you for being too nerdy or w/e the case might be. Who cares (of course they do but... thats a reflection of them), If you want to code in your break then code in your break, and own it. Let them go around taking shrooms or playing world of warcraft, or watch netflix. That's fun for them, you do you. And if anyone asks why you dont know what its like to be on acid then just press ignore/delete and move on. They have no right to condescend because they like shrooming-off more than you do.

If you learn new things, you should expect to not produce much in result. If you want to produce something cool, you should consider using technologies you already know well.

If you want to do web stuff, you could try Elm or Rust in WebAssembly perhaps.

Nanowrimo - start writing the book you've always wanted to write! https://nanowrimo.org/

Congrats on your new job!

Since you are good at Javascript and willing to learn a new language, why not try to help port CRDT based library e.g. Automerge to compiled language like D language:

https://github.com/automerge/automerge

It seems that Automerge algorithm is quite stable now just need a good native/compiled language implementation especially for enabling local-first desktop applications.

Congrats on the new job!

I have a week off in early November and I plan on setting up a small homeserver for Jitsi so my family can use that to stay in touch over the holidays. I’m also looking for some kind of self-hosted social media type deal that I can invite a few friends to.

You should go from from backend to front end on a very simple app (perhaps an app to count based on a screen click?) . A summary of sorts, on the process of coding and how to get to a final product. This is something I wish I had alas I am crunching through weeks on codecademy try to get and idea of backend first, and then front end. Not really sure how they are supposed to fit together.

-A wannabe

If you're really feeling like pushing into new concepts, check out the alpha library for IDX (https://idx.xyz) -- uses p2p tech to manage information and identity (for apps and users) in a fully decentralized and direct way. Should work well with other local-first tools like Automerge that other posters have suggested.

Just decompress and come up with ideas for future projects - become an idea machine. At least that is what I would do.

FWIW my best stuff has been written out of hours when the pressure to perform/complete disappears and I can relax into a more creative space.

ps. I've been developing the same freeware for 17 years and it's got me through many difficult times.

Why did you quit your job so early if you had no plans for your own work, but still wanted to work anyways?

After about 7 months of lockdown, I just felt like I needed some time off before I start a new role!

When I say I'm "bored" I don't mean I just stay on the couch wondering what to do, I do enjoy the down time :)

Consider the security aspect of computing: install Qubes OS and try to use it as a daily driver.

Try building an opensource project. It's rewarding to contribute back to the community.

An easy way to start is to make a plugin for a framework that you're familiar with. Find something annoying and try to make it easier with a plugin.

don't write code, literally do anything else.

Why not? I like writing code :)

If you really must! A little static site generator is a nice one. The great thing is, it's the kind of thing you can pick up whenever you have a spare few minutes, as there's always some new little feature you can add...

Ah yeah, and I could probably build it using a new language I know nothing about just for fun. Great idea!

Other than not being bored, what do you want to get better at? Start with a goal based on "wouldn't be cool if I could Z, or I had X, or the world had a Y", and find a project to suit.

You've got a backlog of some kind, be it games, movies, other projects, etc.; take a break and get through some of that. You know it'll only grow otherwise.

For design, I recommend reading solidbook.io - Focuses on Domain-Driven-Design, plus it's a great quick read.

Do what makes you happy. For me I built a queuing system. Someone asked me why?. I said because I could. Have fun

Build a game if you haven't built one.

ah, you're bang on! I just finished my first game using Godot :)

Would love to give it a shot !

https://cryptopals.com/

A peer-to-peer backgammon game where you can challenge friends using an invite link

Try Elixir LiveView! You may not return to JS for interactive apps again :)

I did Elixir for a full year and I completely forgot everything about it. When I open my own code, I’m like “what wizardry is this?”

I've already tried this actually, it's pretty neat :)

try some nodejs lambda jobs w a nosql db. pick a national park and go travel.

Can't go outside, there's a stupid virus :(

The only thing stopping you is yourself.

A skill for Alexa

I actually have an echo show, and no idea what creating a skill involves, so that's a great idea! Thanks!

I've been looking into it myself lately and think it would be a neat little project

Be bored. Explore what being bored really is. Let that guide you and motivate you

In other words take the time to find out what interests you, not us.

My thoughts exactly - some very long walks in the fresh air and some good nights of sleep would be my top priority!

I'm under lockdown right now, so long walks and fresh air are a thing of the past haha

Can you explain the lockdown rules and what area you're in? In the UK I'm now in the highest risk area and still allowed to walk and cycle from home and travel around my county by car. That could easily be a 20 mile walk or 50 mile bike ride from home if I had time on my hands. I could take a mask and buy takeaway food from a shop or cafe. Just trying to compare the rules in different areas.

Harshest lockdown in the UK was probably in Scotland where you were restricted to not be more than 5 miles home which could still easily allow a 10 mile walk.

a whatsapp logout button.

get out from behind the keyboard and go the f*ck outside and explore the world for the next 3 weeks. seriously... there is more to life than programming the next great thing and 3 weeks is a long time in this life. you might find your soul mate in the next 3 week.

here are some ideas to start:

http://www.weirdus.com/

https://www.geocaching.com/play

1) I'm pretty happy with what I have on the soulmate finding side haha 2) covid still being a thing, I can't really go out right now!

You can't get in a car and drive to some wilderness within a few hours?

Nah, not allowed

I've heard about this in places like Ireland. Complete hysteria.

yes you can... which is why i gave you links to a couple of sites for activities you can do outside without involving groups. you can do geocaching or weird exploring with just you and your partner. wear a mask, bring some hand-sanitizer (especially if you're geocaching), bug repellant (again... especially if you're geocaching) and enjoy the out doors.

Mmmm I'm not in the US. I'm literally not allowed to go out.

But thanks anyway!

:( that sucks dude

Lol go travel. Why would you waste 3 perfectly good weeks doing the same thing you do all the time for your job?

Unfortunately travel is not allowed where I live, still under lockdown :(

You can't go anywhere? Just drive/rent a car and go somewhere within 2 hours, in nature. Muse on life, hike. Way more "productive" than anything else.

Nah, I can't go further than 20km away

Damn what country? Maybe just go for some hikes around and try some mushrooms.

Melbourne in Australia. Restrictions will be easing very soon though :)

But yeah basically lockdown in some form or another since mid March here

Build an operating system with full GUI and file system support that executes in the browser. Its what I am currently working on.

Ah interesting idea!

Reminds me of this project by Fabrice Bellard: https://bellard.org/jslinux/

In 3 weeks!? If you want something tricky a compacting memory allocator in C should be doable in 3 weeks. Maybe I'm just slow! :(

Train a neural net model which when given a database table, and an expected json output, generates the query, parsing and formatting function.

Then train a model which when given a json object, and expected visual output, generates the React component.

Then contact me, because I’m so over it.

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