I am also very under-prepared for DSA, btw, because I’m using C for solving questions - I should have picket Java or C++, I think. I have some basic understanding of both front and back-end development. I also know a bit of CI/CD and container stuff. I’m looking out for simple projects I can complete quickly, while also being able to touch various parts of the tech-stack (JSON Web Token, websocket, service workers, etc) - anything that is considered good enough for an intern/entry-level full-timer to be considered.
Honestly if you are applying for an internship you just need a finished product of some kind, ideally with unit tests. Make sure it has a pretty front end, works on mobile, and is deployed to a server. It should use at least some JS on the front end, maybe a framework like React if you’re interested in web dev. On the backend, make a server with Java and Postgresql. Make sure it has a CI/CD pipeline, which you can do for free with GitHub Actions. Make sure it has a server, which you can do or very cheap with AWS EC2 free tier and Let’s Encrypt. Put an MIT license in the repo. If I couldn’t think of anything, I would try making a Lemmy client, because this one does too much on the front end and is super slow as a result.
There is a different way to go here, which is focus on your C skills and try to do low level or embedded development. I don’t know as much about this, but maybe some project involving an OS kernel or a piece of embedded hardware? Maybe something Arduino or RPI? The same idea applies that it should be in a GitHub repo with tests and documentation.
Also, my hot take is that you don’t need to be that good at DS&A for entry level if you stay away from big tech companies. Like sure, Google will quiz you on big-O. But what if you were a developer for a grocery chain, or a bank, or a small web firm, as your first job? That’s what I did, and it has been chill and easy so far. And I haven’t gotten laid off like my FAANG friends.
Sorry if what I am asking for comes in the spoon-feeding territory, but can also also recommend few ideas? I’ve been told that some projects are not good enough and that they will be instantly rejected - like a todo list, or a websocket chat app. Was wondering about the complexity of the project I should be looking at.
Sorry I didn’t get back to you. Basically your project should solve a problem. Nobody actually needs a to-do list app, because we can just put a lot in our notes app or use an actual piece of paper. Also, it’s a little bit too simple. But a chat app could be good if you can explain why your chat app is different, and it is somewhat sophisticated. There’s no magic type of project that will get you hired. The point of a project is to show a company that you can solve problems with your software, which is why they want to hire you in the first place, and also to give you something to talk about in the interview.
Basically don’t overthink this. Having a thing that works is awesome, and better than having a “perfect project” that you never finish. There must be some kind of site / app that you would find useful in your life, or that you use but don’t actually like very much. A partial clone of it would be the perfect project.