| If you have trouble picking a project, code katas are really fun to try. The instructions are broad enough that you can solve them in different ways. Take a crack at one, solve it. Reflect on what was easy and what was hard or painful. Come back some time later, re-do differently - maybe this time optimising for what was hard the first time. Also you can take a look at classic data structures and reimplement them from scratch. Don't look at the current implementation, just at how it's supposed to work, and try implementing a List (array or link based ?), a Map (hash, tree?), etc. Then you can compare with the existing implementation. Or play those coding games you're talking about ! Start easy, work your way up. When it gets too hard, take a break, try another game. Let it rest a bit, come back to it when you have fresher ideas in 2 weeks time. In general, flex your muscles where you think you're lacking. E.g.: think you overcomplicate ? Do a kata, finish it. Then look at it and try to simplify what you've done. Good luck in your practice, I hope you enjoy it :) |