Summer Downtime (Give me a project!)

[tikkus]

Hrm, may try out XNA. The Microsoft rep at our University was orgasming over it.

[tikkus]

To nobody's surprise, I really haven't done anything this summer. I fucked around with PHP/MySQL/Apache a little, but still haven't made anything productive.

The problem, I think, is that I start something and immediately feel overwhelmed by it all. I have no set path or procedure in order to learn a language or create anything worthwhile.

My experience with programming is a bit pigeonholed with C++ and just the basic theory that lies therein. I don't know jack about communicating with web apps or anything advanced.

[Sticks]

A good requirements document would help you not be so overwhelmed. Use cases are a great way to figure out the functional requirements.

Sample system requirements document - AC

is an example. The main thing to notice is You have a perfect case scenario. Then after that you think of any alternate paths that may take place and document them.

Then you want to model out a class diagram. Visual Studios has a class diagram layout you can use. It can generate diagrams on code you already have.

If you want to get real fancy you can use UML and use something like MS Visio.

UML basics: The class diagram has a nice little starter for UML. UML is something that is used a lot in real world OO software development and is something you will want to get familiar with at some point.

In short, you want to model out all your methods, data members and events(C# terminology) before you start any actual coding. Before you do that you want some requirements documents so you know what you will need to accomplish.

[Sticks]

If you are still interested in a project, consider this fictional project:

Your firm has been selected to work with the consulting firm, Modern Factory Designs, in preparing a computer simulation model of our proposed new automobile factory. The factory will be located in Mexico, at a site that has not yet been finalized.

The simulation model you create will assist Modern Factory Designs and our company in choosing the most cost/effective configuration for our new factory.

The Assembly Line Simulator will have the following stations: Chassis, Engine, Transmission, Wheels, Body, and Paint. The simulation will allow changes in the rate that components are delivered to each station and in the installation time at each station.

These features will allow us to model the output and costs of the proposed new factory to achieve the optimal mix of equipment.

The Assembly Line Simulator will enable management and designers to answer the following questions:

• What is the lowest cost configuration of equipment that will yield a production time of 48 hours per automobile?

• What is the cost of a configuration that will produce an automobile in 36 hours?

• What is the effect on production time and cost of doubling the equipment at the Paint station?

• What is the effect on production time and cost of doubling the equipment at the Body station?

• What is the average wait time at each of the stations? Wait time is the time an automobile unit waits for service at a station.

• What is the total service time at each station? Total service time is the sum of wait time and service time at the station (time spent installing or painting).

• What is the cost of production of an automobile for each modeled configuration?



The Assembly Line Simulator will use the following assumptions and requirements in its logic:

• There will be a maximum of three servers at each station. A server is the set of equipment required to perform the work of the station.

• The breakdown rate at a station varies from 1 breakdown per 5 work days to 1 breakdown per 11 workdays

• Time lost due to installing an additional server is 8 hours – 24 hours

• Time lost due to upgrading the equipment at a station is 12 – 24 hours

• Service times, reliability of equipment, and cost of each piece of equipment will be provided to you in an XML file.


The Assembly Line Simulator must implement the following behaviors:

• Visually represents the production line, with its stations.

• Provides a visual simulation of the movement of an automobile unit through the production line and onto the outgoing parking lot

• Provide a range of colors for the painting of the automobiles. At least 10 colors must be used

• As a unit passes along the production line, the components are added to the visual representation of the automobile ( add a chassis, then add an engine to the chassis, etc.).

• Permit the visual representation of multiple servers per station (to a maximum of 4 servers per station)

• Provides a log of all automobile movement. The arrival time and departure time of a unit must be shown for each automobile at each station. The log information is by automobile.

• Provides a summary of each simulation run. This will include the cost of the configuration, the number of units produced during the run, and the average cost per unit produced, and all simulation parameters.

• Provide the ability to vary the length of a simulation run from 1 day to 5 days.

• Provides at least 3 help files which will assist users of the simulation in understanding how to use its facilities.

Members of my management team are available to answer questions about this project, and to provide additional details you may require.

I look forward to your response, and hope you will be able to participate in this engagement.

[Malakie Torsade]

Keep this stuff coming! Not sure if the OP is still interested, but I am. I want to get back into programming as a hobby, but want to learn what I need to know for a corporate job in the unlikely event that I can ever get back into the industry instead of being chained to fucking tech support for the rest of my life (wtb run-on sentence.)

Also, what are some good general resources for C#? I obtained some tutorial videos from the learnvisualstudio.net site and it seemed to be a good starting point. However, I'd like to find a good C# site that has information and useful forums. Any book suggestions would be appreciated too. I remember the basic principles (variables, if..then, case statements, etc) but everything else is a blur since I've not seriously written a line of code in like 6 years.

[Hachima]

I haven't looked at it myself but often the SAMS teach yourself in 24hr books do a good job at guiding you through some stuff.

Sams Teach Yourself C# in 24 Hours

free web version, you can find e-book versions too, which are a bit easier to read. There is a 21 day version too.


Can always look at what is popular with torrents. It can be an indicator on what books are popular

csharp torrent search

[tikkus]

I do appreciate the feedback.

I'll have ~a month of absolutely nothing to do starting Aug. 1. At that point, I'll be undertaking one of these projects.

Edit: Oh, I'll update you all with what I do. I'll post my finished project as well, if anybody cares. :P

[Hachima]

Here is a sample simulation for the car factory project

http://www.hachima.com/files/factory.avi

[Ham n Cheese]

anyone looking for some shit to fill summer and is advanced at building databases or anything (anyyyyythiiiiiiing) that would help out the new site we're hoping to launch by the end of the month please send me a PM~

[AngryGerbil]

I got a project for you. Re-side my house. I'll buy the beer.

[tikkus]

Here's something that I made:

Its a mind reader game. The computer keeps track of the patterns of your choices (Either heads/tails) and guesses what you'll choose next accordingly. You simply cannot win.

[Cynno]

Post the code for that mind reader program, lol.

It's hilarious

[Neph]

Rather than make a new thread...

I've always wanted to get into the server side of the internet more. I'm fairly computer literate, I read a lot on new technologies and know a few languages (C, C++, java, VB) but never attempted building my own computer/server or attempted to design/host a website. So does anyone know of any good books or websites where I can start?

[Hachima]

Microsoft ASP.NET 2.0 Training Online, ASP.NET Tutorial Videos: Total Training Software Training are pretty easy to follow if you want to get into asp.net webforms

[Dumar]

if you guys want a project, i'll give you a spec to follow. it's a database app that can be done in any language. it was for a class of mine, but i can pass along the spec if anyone is interest. it's worth about 2-3 weeks of work if you do alone.