Code kata project list

Here's a neat list of 125 project ideas for programming practice.

JavaScript quizzes

For the JavaScript spaced repetition code training tool: some quizzes.

Rosalind bioinformatics sequence

Rosalind [hnn] is a really neat sequence of bioinformatics problems and a grader (it generates a data file and checks your output - you program it however you like, but you've got five minutes from getting the data to submit your response).

It's got a forum system, badges, the whole nine yards, and a branding thing if you want to use it in your class.

I'm working through the sequence - but it's a good target application, too.  But yeah, bioinformatics is kind of neat!

StartupSea - target application treasure trove

You want katas?  I'll give you katas: pick anything on StartupSea, and clone it.  When you're done, repeat step 1.  Do that until you can whip out an app in a day, in your sleep.

The original code katas

Here.

These are nice thought-provoking exercises to do to study programming - both your toolset and your mental structures.

Code katas for Web developers

A nice little list of possible beginner Web projects - intended to be weekend projects - to wit:

1. Simple blog with comments.

2. Pastebin with short URLs.

3. Todo list site (sans JS).

4. Add authentication to 1 and 2.

5. Site to send text messages with Twilio. (API use.)

6. Upload target site on E3.

7a. AJAXify #3.

7b. Add user accounts to #3.

8. Create a JSON/XML API for #3 or whichever.

9. Wrap said API in a package in your language of choice.

10. Expense tracker with pretty graphs and export to CSV or Freshbooks or whatever.

There are other simple project ideas along these lines that I'd like to start to catalog, but this is a great start. Normal people would use these for learning a new language. I'm using them to build one.