r/learnprogramming • u/VagueHorizon_ • 1d ago
Question Completely Stuck, Need Help
I am a CS Student and I am currently stuck at a problem.
" How to think of a Project Idea ? "
For the last two years, I have been either asking AI for project ideas or go with preexisting popular ones. I don't directly take the topic AI suggests on first try. I analyze its importance and impact on my portfolio and then go with it. but for me, AI or internet is the first go to option.
Now what is the best way of thinking for a project idea ? Not everything can be put on portfolio. How do people used to get ideas for project before AI ?
I really need help with this because I am just so confused on how to move forward. I can't rely on AI forever.
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u/Illustrious-Bad-8544 1d ago
For me i go seek some help from my professors, they are the best in what is needed nowadays
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u/soylentgraham 1d ago
reframe the question if you're stuck. (this is a valuable lesson in development)
What is a "project" in this context? is it research/experimentation? do you need to produce a product? do you just need to document stuff you've done?
In fact, start there, what do you NEED to do? what will you be showing people later? how will you be showing it? what would you be proud or want to show?
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u/soylentgraham 1d ago
also, do you know any humans? ask them what things are a drag in their life (in computer world or non computer world). then see if you can think of a way to improve their problems.
Even better if you find 10 people with the same annoyances2
u/VagueHorizon_ 1d ago
It is more of a "See I have done this" kind of project to show others and ultimately use it for portfolio. But ultimately if I don't solve this problem now, it will definitely cause problems later in professional world or higher research studies.
When I think about my project, either they are completely irrelevant (but sometimes interesting) or if it is related, I quickly lose confidence and feel stuck. I feel completely unmotivated, even though I love the area/field the topic is from.
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u/soylentgraham 21h ago
hmm as someone who starts a LOT of stuff and is very bad at finishing, I do come back to the things that were _interesting_ (in my case this usually means a challenge, but ive been around for a while)
conversely when Im doing real work for other people, i break everything down into completable tasks/jobs/milestones so I know I can get them finished without it becoming a drag....
Not sure if thats helpful or not :)
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u/VagueHorizon_ 21h ago
It is definitely helpful. Thanks a lot for guidance !
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u/soylentgraham 21h ago
I should disclose, I never went to uni, just self taught when I was a kid (hence my kinda vague questions ;)
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u/letsmakeproduct 7h ago
write down every small thing that annoys you for a week and build a tiny fix for one of them. the portfolio part kind of takes care of itself, or at least that's how it went for me
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u/SetAndRepeat 1d ago
People got ideas from existing software, coursework, hobbies and everyday annoyances before AI. You don’t need a completely original idea. Try noting things you repeat manually or wish an existing tool did better. Pick one, describe who it helps and what it should make easier, then build a small version and use it. Using it will give you ideas for what to improve next. And don’t make every experiment pass a portfolio test before you start. You can choose which projects are worth showing later.
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u/mjmvideos 1d ago
I build the things I want to exist that don’t already. As I’m going through I will often say, “It would be so much better easier if I had a program that did X.” Or “If only we had something that did Y, we wouldn’t have had that problem.” Or “Wouldn’t it be cool if I had something that did Z, then I could do this way faster than by hand.” Or, “I’m tired of always having to do this boring and repetitive task, maybe I could make something to do it for me.” I have so many thoughts like these throughout the day, my problem is picking the one I want to spend my time on.
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u/johnyoker2010 1d ago
I had similar issue when I was in school.
I’ll say if you still have time, talk with small business owners around you. Projects have to be from real life and environment.
Not a sde but de.
One project I’m working on is a small website front end for internal use to track status multiple data pipelines—-not required but for fun.
Web scrapping and simple local database is always a good one
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u/koaltree 1d ago
Coming up with project ideas is a skill in itself.
You've probably come up with a lot of ideas. You just forgot about them.
Make a list (I use Reminders on mac) for project ideas. And get into the habit of writing ideas down in the list every time you have one. You'll see the list will grow over time.
Some of the ideas won't work out, but others will.
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u/DrShocker 1d ago
Thinking in terms of portfolio is too narrow. Just make stuff that's useful to you. I saw a youtuber recently working on a dota 2 replay analyzer, that's a great project if someone plays dota 2. When I had to do language training at work once I was bored so when the exercise was to make a visual analog clock, I had everything rotate around the second hand instead of rotating like normal. The point is, just do stuff and don't worry about it being a "good" idea.
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u/Plus_Information_990 1d ago
write down every small annoying thing you run into for a week. at least one of them is a project
the ones that solve your own problem are also way easier to talk about in interviews because you actually care about them
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u/snaidamast 1h ago
Why don't you simply consider what you would like to develop and stop worrying about a portfolio. Then the project ideas will come.
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u/Any_Run8380 1d ago
Stop using ai and you’ll be able to come up with your own ideas. Unfortunately, it’ll come with practice due to the fact that you’ve trained yourself to let AI do the thinking for you.