What Application to build next?

[sheikh78]

Hey. I have run out of ideas for applications to make in Visual Basic .Net 2005. Do you guys have any ideas for an application to build? Thanks.

[Datacide]

Some kind of MySpace layout generator or friend adder, or comment poster. That's what I'm working on cuz I saw someone selling one online for like $30 bucks.

Mind would be free of course, but full of Google ads.

[mendhak]

What areas have you covered in programming? There could be other areas you could step into which you haven't covered, such as network programming, databases, graphics.

[penagate]

Snake game.

[sheikh78]

I have little experience in Network Programming, I have some experience with databases, no experience with graphics, and I am experienced with the .NET framework and language.

[Hack]

What areas have you covered in programming? There could be other areas you could step into which you haven't covered, such as network programming, databases, graphics.

An excellent question, to which you would respond how?

The answer may prompt some suggestions you would find useful.

[darth vador]

Here's a great project for you.
I commited to writing my sister a piece of software specifically for her day care center. But. You should do this instead. ( I knew you'd agree.)
you could write my sister a Day Care app that keeps track of student attendance, the food program the state of Oklahoma requires (healthy food etc... portion sizes, meats, fruits, veggies, milk and other items served - they day they served them. The number of children served etc...) While you're at it, make it incorporate time and attendace for employees too where they clock in/out using the app and it can generate attendance reports. You could use the 3 of 9 font with a scanner to scan employee badges? Ever done a scanner app before? FUN! You'd love it!! Go ahead and use an access database because she has access on her little pc there at the office.

This would be an excellent exercise for you. And ... again .... fun! You'll love it! ( no ... really. ) You would gain a lot of experience too. You could put it on your resume. (something like you've developed proprietary software for companies in the child care industry utilizing ADO.NET 2.0, developed bar code scanning applications, etc...) It'll look really good! Bill Gates would jump at the chance to hire you.

But. most importantly, if you do this. I won't have to.

[sheikh78]

Lol. Nice. Anyway, if I did this, I would need to understand what you meant by this line:

the food program the state of Oklahoma requires (healthy food etc... portion sizes, meats, fruits, veggies, milk and other items served - they day they served them. The number of children served etc...)

I don't understand. What database should I make for this? What am I supposed to do about these items served? Could you please clarify?

[darth vador]

That's the hard part. They have a list of required 'healthy' foods to server to their students. Certain portion sizes of each etc... on a weekly basis. I think the best way is to have a table that lists the items they serve and then let them generate meals from that table. Then each day, they specify which meal they served.

[sheikh78]

Any other ideas? I am open to suggestions because I will take on any project; from a very complicated and difficult one to any project at all. I can't do a project in ASP.NET though because I am just learning how to use it and implement it. I can do close to everything else. Anybody have an idea? I am open to anything! REMEMBER AS DIFFICULT AS CAN BE IF NECESSARY!!! I AM READY TO TAKE ON A CHALLENGE IF NECESSARY!!!!!

[penagate]

Automate my home lighting system?

[sheikh78]

Is there even a way to do that? - Any other ideas?

[penagate]

There would be. But that's my point, you did say "open to anything".

Look at it this way. What's a problem you commonly face?

Then build a program to solve it for you.

[sheikh78]

I did... but what device controls the electrical flow to a light? a switch...or something.....but you would need something to push the switch of a light or have some kind of device that controls the whole home's lighting system.

[mendhak]

It'd be done through an interface port such as COM, where you build an interface that controls a circuit. Not about pushing a button, just connecting and disconnecting the circuit.

If not that, what areas are you interested in? We could think of something in that area.

[sheikh78]

have little experience in Network Programming, I have some experience with databases, no experience with graphics, and I am experienced with the .NET framework and language. I am interested in anything! Something fun/challenging.

[mendhak]

Make a game. A snake game, no joke this time. Have you seen/remember nibbles.bat?

[sheikh78]

Nope. What kind of snake game? What is a snake game? Remember I'm very young so I wouldn't know.

[mendhak]

Uhm... how do I explain it. Ever played the games on a Nokia phone? There is a snake game there. A snake moves around and eats stuff, its length always increasing with every thing it eats.

Have a look here:

http://www.gginc.biz/games/snake/snake1.jsp

It contains a java applet, so wait for it to load.

[sheikh78]

you would need to use GDI+ for that right?

[mendhak]

GDI+, OpenGL, DirectX. You'll get lots of help in the game development section. You'd be best off starting with a tutorial and the building up on that.

[sheikh78]

I'll give it a go but in the meantime while I'm learning GDI+ and OpenGL, and DirectX programming, do you have an example of a database program I can build?

[sevenhalo]

About home lighting (and all other home automation); you could use X-10:

http://www.x10.com/

As unprofessional and gaudy their site is, they do have some nice kits.

[Gameunreal]

lol yes their site is quite unprofessional...

[sheikh78]

Yes I agree.....anybody else with a database idea (not too hard)....

[Iron Skull]

What about a Reminder Program that Minamizes to SystemTray and almost doenst use CPU..?

[sheikh78]

So pretty much a calendar based program which will have set times and dates when to annoy you (message you)...hmm I'll try that.

[mendhak]

Yes I agree.....anybody else with a database idea (not too hard)....

Content management system.

[sheikh78]

What's a content management system? Like something that holds information?

[Iron Skull]

So pretty much a calendar based program which will have set times and dates when to annoy you (message you)...hmm I'll try that.

Cool then I dont have to make one :P I am looking for days for a good one.. And I just decided to make on my own when I saw your post
I'd love to have the project when its done

[sheikh78]

yea....I'll start and see how far I get....

[mendhak]

What's a content management system? Like something that holds information?

Imagine a web based software which allows you to add sections to your sites, content to those sections, files, etc. Like Share Point Server, or DotNetNuke or PHP Nuke.

This allows even morons to create their websites and manage them without knowing anything about programming.

Hence, the popularity of blogs.

[sheikh78]

Got it.

[sheikh78]

Ok ran out of ideas again....*bump*. I would like to do something in the field of productivity something that helps others in school or work like Word, Outlook, OneNote, Address Book, something like that. Anybody have any ideas?

[dclamp]

Snake game.

haha

[dclamp]

Point of Sale Program. I am creating one and it is quite fun. i learned all kinds of new things while making it.