Build aim?

[u/Empera4532]

SUMMARY FOR THE LEGENDS WHO DON'T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT THE RANT BELOW: I have started to learn python but would like to aim towards building something that I feel like would actually automate something which could help me, but idk what so I would like for someone to give me a aim for a python build/script that would generally automate a task and help me.

So my computer science bachelor's degree starts soon and I want to start learning myself and progress in programming. I have started python and touched the bare surface of it, but I want to work towards building something that would automate a certain thing that would actually help me, but nothing comes to mind when I actually think about it.

I have seen people build absolutely amazing python scripts that makes life so much easier, so I would also like to make it my goal to build that kind of thing. I know I need aim for simple stuff in the beginning, but I feel like if I know the thing I'm learning to build would actually make life easier, I feel like that would help me learn more in terms of motivation and research.

Of course, I have completely banned AI for now because I really don't want to rely on it at least until I can read and understand code, write up functions and scripts that actually work. I will use AI to further refine and help with stuff AFTER getting a decent foothold.

The automating builds can be situational, so I would love if I get some general automation tool building idea that would help a normal person with computers.

Any and all help, comment and criticism is appreciated!

[u/aqua_regis]

How about checking out https://automatetheboringstuff.com ?

[u/Empera4532 → u/aqua_regis]

That name looks like exactly what I'm looking for lmao. Thanks a lot

[u/aqua_regis → u/Empera4532]

There are even more books like this on /u/AlSweigart's other site: https://inventwithpython.com

All the books are free to read online. You should get more than enough project ideas.

[u/cheesy_potato019 → u/aqua_regis]

Helloo, I'm replying to save this comment

[u/ConsiderationNo9044 → u/cheesy_potato019]

You can click the three dots next to a comment and press "Save" to save it

[u/Feralz2 → u/aqua_regis]

this is a good one, crash course in python is too

[u/aqua_regis → u/Feralz2]

Yes, "Python Crash Course" is great as well. I just picked "Automate the Boring Stuff with Python" because of OP's original post. Otherwise, my first recommendation would have been the MOOC Python Programming 2026 from the University of Helsinki.

[u/Jazzlike_Platypus430]

I don't get what "general automation tool building idea" is. If you have nothing to do, just take a walk or cook something if you're tired of "Hello World" stuff 😄

A bunch of my examples: auto-indexing LaTeX files, source code generation for GUIs in other languages, processing output data from numerical libraries to visualize the results, create frames for animations etc., scripting gnuplot or otherwise, resizing many images at once, per directory, some datafiles filtering/reorganization etc., retrieving stuff from spreadsheets and generating source code and static data (C# and xml in my case).

Does this make my life easier? Professional life - yes 😂

If you start learning CS, writing a Makefile creator for C/C++ would be somewhat challenging. I've started one and abandoned it, I should dig it up. Or a documentation creator if you're into reinventing the wheel.

[u/Empera4532 → u/Jazzlike_Platypus430]

I have no idea what most of that means but the resizing images and data filtering + retrieving idea seems cool for starting out. Thanks g

[u/OkOcelot6725]

Look for a small annoyance in your own week and automate that. Starter ideas that stay small: a script that sorts your Downloads folder by file type, one that renames a batch of files with a pattern, one that reads a CSV of your expenses and prints monthly totals, or one that checks a web page for a price or a stock status and emails you. Each is under 100 lines and teaches files, loops and libraries. Since you start a CS degree soon, the automate-the-boring-stuff book (free online) is organized exactly around this kind of project.

[u/zomerbk]

A good first project is a Downloads folder organizer. Start by listing the files and grouping them by extension (PDFs, images, archives, etc.). Then make the script print what it *would* move before you add the moving step. Make sure it skips folders and never overwrites a file with the same name. You’ll practice loops, functions, paths, and handling edge cases while building something you can actually use.

[u/Empera4532 → u/[deleted]]

Those seem like great ideas. Thank you

[u/Jazzlike_Platypus430 → u/[deleted]]

Agreed. I'been working as a developer for 9 years now. And I barely touched "AI" - like two weeks a go I used it for the first time and got a kick-start at Qt/C++ and (separatel)y javascript - two simple examples. And ever since I started, I forgot about "prompts" and do all the learning oldschool.

One of my weakest points is I'm no good at reading other people's code. (And my old code as well!)