10 Cool Things You Can Do with Basic Coding Knowledge

The IT industry is a world of opportunities. The number of technologies existing out there is endless. However, unless your plan is to become a Tesla engineer or make a breakthrough in the tech industry, do not rush. Sometimes, to simplify your life, all you need is knowledge of HTML, CSS, and Python or JavaScript. So, let’s dive in!

Chatbot

Do you need a chatbot for your student startup? Well, if you don’t, then you must have no startup. Without a chatbot, you are losing a lot! Chatbots have revolutionized the world of e-commerce. By creating one, you can save your time as well as the money you would spend on hiring support representatives.

Don’t you need that time or money? You will be able to finally catch up with your studies instead of hectically searching for an expert and writing “I need help with math homework now”, or you can actually hire the expert on the money you saved and handle like half of your academic tasks if not the majority of them. So, a chatbot can help you get rid of the workload both at school and in business, and, as a bonus, you will sleep well.

Quiz

If you desperately need (for no particular reason) a quiz you can’t find on BuzzFeed, it is high time that you apply your coding skills. There is not much to work on – you should know how to handle arrays and objects and write simple functions, that is basically it. Also, you can create custom quizzes only your friends can answer and have a fun party!

Widgets or Extensions

To create a desktop widget or extension, knowledge of working with API and Vanilla JavaScript should be enough. For example, you may need some basic stuff like:

• Weather forecast
• News
• Countdown 
• Currencies rates

Or, you may need all of them together! Google Chrome can easily help you develop an extension that will integrate and display all the required information. If you beef up your skills a bit, creating a widget for your phone will also be a piece of cake!

Resume

Want to impress a recruiter? Then go beyond presenting a Word file or a PDF one exported from Canva. There is nothing wrong with Canva, really, HR representatives love it! Yet, looking at a website created by the applicant is even better.

Do not forget to create a responsive layout since you do not know what device the recruiter will use to have a look at your resume. Make sure you have at least three breakpoints: for a mobile phone, a tablet, and a laptop.

Portfolio

One-page resumes are a must these days unless you have a decade of experience or more. So, even if you have completed a number of projects and can boast of a great portfolio, it might be problematic to include all the valuable content in your resume along with the rest of the information. 

That is when a separate website for your portfolio will be your saver! All you have to do is to include a link to it in your resume and add an explanatory sentence. When presenting your projects, make sure you include their names, description, timeframe, tech stack or tools used to complete them, and main highlights. If you add some interactive content, it will be a plus, especially if you need to show off your web development skills or UX design knowledge.

E-Diary

Are you obsessed with taking notes of your highlights of the day but not a fan of handwriting? Create an e-diary/blog with custom design, layout, and ability to add media. The main pro is that you don’t have to register on an existing website and there are fewer chances for your data to be stolen. 

Randomizer

Try generating random numbers or phrases by using native Math methods from JavaScript. Such an app can be useful if you need to choose a winner of a giveaway, for instance. Also, the randomizer can be used as an app: 

• similar to the That can be my next tweet one – this gibberish can be quite funny;
• to get recommendations on which episode of your favorite series you should rewatch today;
• what game to play when you can’t choose one, and so on.

Progress Tracker

Do you fancy crossing out a task or ticking it off? Have you ever had a history exam or another complex task you would like to break down into parts? If there is at least one ‘yes’, you should consider creating a customized progress tracker. Just for yourself, with your favorite design and perfect layout.

It can be a progress loader or a list of tasks – whatever you prefer and whatever is easier for you to do. That way, you will not only practice your coding skills but also improve the way you study or work.

Slider

Create your own cool tool for showing images or slides with various effects and amazing design. You can make an electronic photo album out of it, or a nice video for your grandma’s birthday – it is completely up to you.

Hangman Game

In case you need to improve your vocabulary or simply get a custom game, the Hangman is the one. It is just an example though. Any time-killing game can be created by using JS, HTML, and CSS. Even if you are stuck with something, there will be no difficulties to google a tip since such simple games are often created as pet projects of aspiring developers.

Summing Up

See? There are a lot of tools and simply funny stuff that can be created without knowing the intricacies of coding. The nice thing is that by treating coding as a hobby and means of extra help in everyday life, you may also want to grow further, experiment, and come up with your own solutions. It is one of the best ways to hone your skills!