[ryan-allen]

I agree, build something. But I don't think it has to be anything too 'juicy', especially not at this stage.

At this point I think it's about building something that will be a bit of a stretch but nothing too big that it's too difficult, too long, as that will only demoralise the poor person.

In the past I've known people who found a little project for themselves, a couple of times I've had to provide make up project briefs because they were unable to come up with one of their own.

I can think back on my own trajectory and the real stepping stones were the ones I was able to finish.

The other advice is to try to join an IRL programming community like a local meet up, if they still exist in 2022.

[ioblomov]

Good call on setting stretch goals: steady progress, maybe tempered by a little pain, would be ideal. Applies to all learning in general really.