What I Planed to Do

It is great to have some plan, right? Over next few years, I planed to challenge my skills by various independent projects, which I will list here in no particular order. Some of these projects are very hard, yes, and I am not even sure if I can complete them all (some may very well over my skill), but all of them will be a very good challenge.

Game Development

• OpenTTD-like game – I don’t know about other, but while OpenTTD itself is already very good, I find it lack a lot of things that is essential if you aim for realistic gameplay. Mainly, the scale isn’t realistic at all. (C++ or Java project, 3D Graphics)
• Harvest Moon Fan Game – Okay, it is actually just farming simulation game. For computer nonetheless. The closest game to what I have in mind is probably Stardew Valley. (C++/Emscripten project, 3D Graphics, Sounds)

Web-based Game

• TypingMania – okay, this is already probably done, but I am migrating it to either Canvas or WebGL. (Canvas/WebGL/Web Audio fundamental)
• osu!/DJMax/O2Jam-like game – but with dynamically generated beatmap using Javascript Web Audio API (WebGL/WebAudio intermediate)
• ASCII-art based game – probably Airport game or some silly RPG like CandyBox/CookieClicker. (DOM?)

Programming

• Lite IDE – basic IDE written from scratch. Aimed at beginner. But this may as well evolve into sophisticated editors, who knows? (node-webkit/HTML5/nw-gyp)
• Heavy IDE – no need to say more (Java/IntelliJ Platform)
• Perhaps some compiler? (Assembly among other things)

Web Platform

• irccloud-like clone – because IRC is freaking important. And it doesn’t look hard. (Javascript, perhaps Node.js)
• BitTorrent tracker – again, this look interesting (Node.js, perhaps)
• Otaku-culture based
  • Manga reader – look easy enough to learn AngularJS (Javascript/AngularJS)
  • Javascript Subtitle Renderer – not probably really related only to otaku-culture though (Javascript/Canvas)
  • Streaming system – Again, not probably related to just otaku-culture. (C++/x264/ffmpeg)
• Online Programming System (all-in-one system) (C++/Javascript/low-level/GUI/etc)
  • ACM-like
  • Online Judge System
  • Learning System – Basic: Khan Academy CS/CodeAcademy; Advanced: Specialised Topics
  • Online evaluation/Online IDE

Productivity

• Avisynth+ – well, I am actually already doing this. (Assembly/C++/etc.)
• Avs-based Video NLE GUI – one that doesn’t suck. When I do editing, I actually find that a lot of things are easier done with script, and vice versa. So Avisynth-based editor should be ideal. (C++/GUI/Video)
• Audio Program – might or might not do, whether I can find other application I am satisfied with before (C++/GUI/Media)
• Image Manipulation – because it looks interesting after doing video processing (C++/GUI/Image Processing)

Yes, that’s a lot. Yes, I doubt I will complete them all. But it is always good to have roadmaps for yourselves, especially if you are young and still learning. If you look closely at what I plan to write these applications in, you can see the patterns:

• Javascript: It is undeniable now that Javascript will not ever die. It is standard of web client-side programming, and that’s unlikely to change anytime in foreseeable future.
• Node.js: While I am still not sure if this will actually get mainstream like Python, the technology and innovation itself is outstanding. The only thing I find lacking in Node.js is probably Threading. IMO, its only competitor are JVM-based languages.
• C++: Ultimate language. You can do everything possible in this language. I personally find well-written C++ the most elegant code of them all.
• Image/Audio/Video processing: These are actually quite math heavy topics, but if done correctly I find result really rewarding.

Of course, everything combined ultimately land to “Online Programming System”.

Let see how many I can finish. Bet welcomed (but won’t be honored).