Here’s a dilemma I’ve struggled with for years: I love programming but I never want to make a career. Where does he leave me? How can I enjoy this activity without making it the center of my life? Maybe you also had thoughts like this.
1. Arduino
Arduino is the perfect blend of electronics, programming and randomness. It is an open source microcontroller (i.e. a tiny single circuit computer) with various components and programmable logic. Think of it as LEGO for adults using real wiring, circuitry and coding.
And it’s not as difficult as it sounds. All you need is an Arduino starter kit and our Arduino getting started guide to point you in the right direction. Note that although Arduino supports multiple programming languages, you will likely find it easier to stick to the official C-like language.
Ready to dive in? Check Out These Beginner Projects For Arduino Beginners 15 Great Arduino Projects For Beginners 15 Great Arduino Projects For Beginners Interested in Arduino but not knowing where to start? Here are some of our best Arduino projects for beginners to get started! Read more .
2. Raspberry Pi
If you like the Arduino idea of coding a small gadget that does what you want but hate the aspects of electronics / circuitry, then you will be happier with the Raspberry Pi Pi What is a “Raspberry Pi”? Who did that? What’s the point? What can you do with this? We find the answers for all the most frequently asked questions about the Raspberry Pi. Read more . It is a single board mini-computer complete with CPU, GPU, RAM and I / O including USB ports, audio and video ports, and Ethernet port.
The two official programming languages are Python and Scratch, but others are also supported.
We recommend starting with Raspberry Pi Zero Getting started with Raspberry Pi Zero Getting started with Raspberry Pi Zero Whether you bought a magazine with a sticker stuck to the front, or found a kit online, chances are you are now the proud owner of a $ 5 Computer: the Raspberry Pi Zero. Read more why it’s the simplest and cheapest at just $ 5, yet powerful enough to create some amazing projects 10 of the best Raspberry Pi Zero projects so far 10 of the best Raspberry Pi Zero projects so far With the lack of full-size USB o Ethernet ports, Pi Zero’s designs are both attractive and inspiring. Here are ten great Raspberry Pi Zero projects to get you started. Read more . Also Check Out Newbie Raspberry Pi Projects Raspberry Pi Projects For Beginners Raspberry Pi Projects For Beginners These 10 Raspberry Pi Projects For Beginners Are Ideal For Getting An Introduction To The Pi’s Hardware And Software Features And Will Help You Get Going No Time ! Read more .
3. Drones and robotics
Not all drones can be programmed, but many can, and doing so can be a fantastic way to have some fun in the garden or park. It is still unclear whether drone racing will become a “thing,” but this is another way you can have fun with drone programming.
Or you can take it a step further and immerse yourself in full-blown robotics. It’s a more challenging process, of course, but it’s perfect if you have the same love of coding and circuitry. Many robot kits are Arduino-based, but you can also look at Lego Mindstorms, Tinkerbots, and others.
4. Modding the game
Years ago, I used to pour hours to create custom Spaceship and Warcraft 3 maps as well as mods for AMX in Counter-Strike . These days, you can do a lot more with custom maps for Starcraft 2 and Dota 2 as well as modding for games like Skyrim , Kerbal Space Program , and ARMA .
But perhaps the best known and most flexible example of modding in the game is Minecraft . You can practically change any aspect of the game, resulting in completely new gameplay experiences. It is a great way to practice Java while still having a lot of fun. See our introduction to Minecraft modding for more details.
5. Game development
Just because you enjoy playing games doesn’t mean you should start making them. It’s a double-edged sword – think carefully before taking this as a hobby. On the one hand, you will appreciate more the work done in your favorite games, but on the other hand, games will lose a lot of their magic because you will start “seeing behind the curtain.”
If you want to give it a try, check out these free game development tools.5 Free Game Development Tools To Create Your Games5 Free Game Development Tools To Create Your Games Here are the best software and game development tools free that you can use to start making your dream game today. Read more . Unreal Engine, Unity, and GameMaker are the big names with Godot Engine quickly catching up. For coding-only frameworks, look at LibGDX (Java), Monogame (C #), LOVE (Lua), and HaxeFlixel (Haxe). There has never been a better time to dive into game development.
6. Web Development
Web Development Programming and Web Development: What’s the Difference? Web programming and development: what’s the difference? You may think that application programmers and web developers do the same job, but this is far from the truth. Here are the main differences between programmers and web developers. Read More is a very “professional” type of programming. Not only is it one of the easiest ways to be a freelance programmer, but it doesn’t really lend itself to hobby work. If you want to run a website, you would probably use a framework like WordPress. Many people don’t like making websites just for fun.
But if your future plans involve turning your hobbies into profitable projects, web development is an excellent option. Popular professional frameworks include Django (Python), React (JavaScript), Ruby on Rails (Ruby), and Laravel (PHP).
7. Mobile development
Maybe it’s just me, but mobile development has a certain appeal that other types of development don’t have. Seeing a self-managing app running on your smartphone (and especially on your friend’s smartphone) can be exhilarating, and if you can improve people’s lives with your app, so much the better.
Like web development, mobile development has great potential as a “hobby now, career later” option 10 Computer programming jobs available right now 10 Computer programming jobs available right now Since landing a programming job can be difficult in the current landscape, it is advisable to focus on one of the following concentrations to improve the chances of success. Read more . Unlike web development, where your goal is to develop skills to work as a freelancer, the usual plan in mobile development is to create a viral application. A hobby app that hits gold is pretty much the dream.
8. Open source contributions
The world would be a terrible place without open source software What is Open Source software? [MakeUseOf Explains] What is Open Source Software? [MakeUseOf Explains] “Open source” is a term that’s thrown around very often these days. You may know that certain things are open source, like Linux and Android, but do you know what that entails? What is open … Read more. Can you imagine where we would be without Apache, MySQL, VLC, Firefox, LibreOffice, GIMP, Blender, Android, Linux or WordPress?
And none of these projects would be what they are today without open-source contributors. If you have the time and know-how, lending your energy to some of your favorite open source projects could be a great way to hone your skills, expand your network, and give back to the community.
Not sure where to start? Here are a handful of open source projects. Top 10 Open Source Projects You Should Volunteer To Help You With The 10 Best Open Source Projects You Should Volunteer To Help You You don’t have to be a programmer. You could be a writer, designer, translator, just a Facebook or Twitter addict, or someone who just wants to donate money to the cause. There are … Read More
9. Puzzles and challenges
Some people love puzzles. Others love logic games like Sudoku, crosswords, and even browser-based puzzles. 20 Awesome Puzzle Games You Can Play For Free In Your Browser 20 Awesome Puzzle Games You Can Play For Free In Your Browser Browser-based games are perfect for quick, casual play. Choose one from these quick puzzles to stimulate your brain. Read more . But as a programmer, you have something more challenging and more rewarding at your fingertips: programming kata and challenges.
We’ve covered programming contests and contests, but those are against other programmers. Kata and challenges are done alone, so there is less pressure and more opportunities for growth. Notable examples include CodeWars and CodinGame, which are two of the best programming games to improve your programming skills. your programming skills Programming games help you learn faster with hands-on practice and experience — plus they are a lot of fun! Read more .
10. Application Specific Scripting
You may not realize it, but many of the apps you use on a daily basis can probably be extended or customized with scripting.
Rainmeter, Geany, TeamSpeak, VLC and Vim can be extended with Lua. Winamp plugins are made with C ++. Sublime Text plugins use Python while Visual Studio code extensions use JavaScript. Automation bots for services like Twitch and Discord can be written in all kinds of languages.
AutoHotkey is an elegant scripting environment, with its own language, which allows you to create hotkeys and key macros based on Windows 10 or Cool AutoHotkey scripts and how to create your own 10+ awesome AutoHotkey scripts and how to create your own AutoHotkey it’s an easy way to add shortcuts to your computer. You can download ready-to-use scripts or write your own. We show you how to become more productive with automated hotkey activities. Read more . And don’t forget the OS layer: batch scripts, PowerShell scripts, bash scripting, etc.
What are your programming hobbies?
There are so many ways to use programming today and we haven’t even started doing our best yet. Now is the right time to start learning to code, even if you think you’re too old 3 reasons to unleash the myth even for a third year of unleashed reasons to start coding even at an older age Have you ever wondered if you are “too old” to start learning programming, the simple answer is that anyone can get it. The real question is, should you give it a try? Read more . The future will be full of opportunities for anyone who knows programming.
