<p>I just finished an online college level java class. Last year I took a year long scheme class. And now, I really want to "do" something real world with java so I can get better at programming. I know I can always do usaco stuff but I would like to do something that helps someone in the real world. ANy ideas? Also, are there any other online classes I could take in java or is practice the best way to get better? Anyone got any ideas?</p>
<p>ideas for stuff to program? Anything you want really, take a project on sourceforge and port it to java if you can't think of anything. As far as continuing education, theres TONS of online java tutorials, and books, some at the very advanceded level, but the real way you're going to get better is just by getting out there and programming. As far as what to program, thats for you to decide :-P</p>
<p>What is sourceforge?</p>
<p>Sourceforge is website that has many open source projects hosted on it. Go here: <a href="http://www.sourceforge.net/%5B/url%5D">http://www.sourceforge.net/</a></p>
<p>oh and honestly, don't go around porting random sourceforge things to java! (it was a joke) Just find something you do that could be made easier or better, and program it!</p>
<p>I don't really understand what you are saying about sourceforge.Should I go to the people section and see if I can volunteer. I don't know if I have enough experience. We used the Lewis and Loftus book software solutions to learn java. Is that a good basic intro to java?</p>
<p>I was joking! sorry, I thought everyone knew about sourceforge :-P Just start reading, and start programming, thats the way to learn!</p>
<p>Ok.I am in 8th grade and only have 2 years of programming experience which is why I probably haven't heard of sourceforge. I know I have to read and practice programming. That's why I posted my post. We don't have cs at my school or at the high school. I am trying to do this on my own. I was hoping someone would have some helpful suggestions.</p>
<p>I want to put in a plug for USACO. The training materials are great. It's interactive, so you find out immediately how well your program ran. It isn't particuluarly "real world" problems, but it will really build up your programming skills and your knowledge of algorithms to tackle more compex problems wherever you find them. It's a great program. And younger kids are favored in camp selection, so an 8th grader who did reasonably well in the internet competitions would have a very good shot at a free training camp at some point. Camp is great. I know of people who have done various training camps, and the USACO one is considered one of the most fun. Camp also gives the best student programmers in the country an opportunity to get to know each other. Most of them learned to program on their own rather than through their schools. And the coaches are great!</p>
<p>Another contest people might be interested in is <a href="http://www.topcoder.com/%5B/url%5D">http://www.topcoder.com/</a> It is geared towards working programmers rather than students (although plenty of students do it), and is used as a recruiting device by companies, so the problems are less abstract than USACO problems. You can also win money (but you have to be over 18).</p>
<p>another idea, if you have summers free: get an internship at a business, college, or gov't lab over the summer and program for them. i've had friends do everything from redesigning the NOAA website to creating databases to writing programs to calculate crazy complex math stuff, and they all loved it. it might be tough to get an internship when you're only in 8th grade, but it's definitely a great way to get real-world experience once you hit high school. good luck!</p>
<p>Hey I was like you in 8th grade. Now I am in 10th. You should start by looking into various fields of comp sci. The language java itself won't get you very far. It is the theory and concepts that get you there. Learn more programming language. What I did was I got into neural networks, and other stuff.</p>
<p>Can you explain what you mean by "got into neural networks?". How? Did you self-study, take classes/have a mentor?</p>
<p>He means that neural networks interest him, so he is doing his own research project on it. (Not self-study, more like pursuing a passion) Just find something you are interested in and try to find a solution to through programming.</p>
<p>While you're at it, maybe you'll find a way to create a program to fix the education system. hehehe</p>
<p>He is taking the AP Comp Sci class, using the same textbook as you. (I'm in his class)</p>