Hey, so pretty much I'm looking to make a career change from .. well, waiting tables.. to being a programmer.

So far I've taken the first two programming classes you can take at my local community college, and I've learned some basic C++, java, some HTML and some python, which is great and all - taking some kind of need or demand and brainstorming/building a program to satisfy it is awesome - but I feel like I've hit a road block, in the sense that I don't really have any ideas for 'projects' to build. At first I used the euler project site for ideas - but most of it can be solved with just basic programming, and I want to get knee deep in the stuff - in other words, I want to have actual value as a programmer besides a CC class or two.

So I'm thinking, wouldn't it be great if there were some kind of job out there, maybe like some job entering data in spreadsheets or answering phones, where you're not necessarily programming yourself, but you're in an office full of programmers.

Kind of like how if you're the person at the front desk of a clinic, even if you're not a doctor, you can't help but absorb medical knowledge second hand from all the other doctors who talk to each other in front of you, show you different things, ask you to grab stuff for them for this and that.. y'know?

What do you guys think? Have any ideas of any kinds of jobs that fit this kind of niché?

Thanks for reading

Sounds like a silly idea imo. but what you're asking for is to be a QA/tester. you will see the results of the programs and verify it works.

If you want ideas, just look at other websites/programs and mimic them. Or get some internship as a programmer. Best thing you can do is build experience, not getting coffee for programmers.

This post was edited by carteblanche on Feb 6 2014 09:27pm

I wish I had someone to bring me coffee and snacks at my office. I have to walk my own ass to the break room to get this. What's your rates, kid? You can be my "Administrative Assistant." Not sure if it will fly with the security folks or anything, seeing as how I can't get you an ID badge to get you through the doors. But you can wait in the halls I guess, and when I come out to smoke or something you can hand me coffee and hear me bitch about last minute design changes, asinine client requirements, and other developers changesets that broke everything under the sun due to their incompetence.

Could be fun?

Honestly OP, you should try to challenge yourself more. The best way you really learn is by writing code yourself. Theres no limit to what you can code, so this roadblock you are talking about should not be existent.

If you want a fun project, try this

1) install netbeans and set up the gui mod : https://netbeans.org/kb/docs/java/gui-functionality.html and familiarize yourself with how it works... very easy, just dragging in buttons / text boxes. If you prefer C++, I'd recommend eclipse or qtgui

2) Think of some kind of software that can be used in a company

3) Start designing the project. Alternate between design and source to understand the code structure

4) Google is your friend - for almost every programming issue you run into, you can find tons of boards that can help solve your problem

Make it your goal to finish the project and not quit working - you'll be surprised how much you can learn

This post was edited by oOn on Feb 6 2014 11:06pm

I'm now taking applicants for being my unpaid intern that makes my coffee while I write code. Please don't all apply at once.

I called dibs bro

Hired. I take my coffee with one cream, one splenda and brewed strong.

No no no. I meant dibs on OP. Lol I want my own assistant.

Damn, back to weeding through all of these resumes.

I can lease you mine on contract when I'm not using him.