Spec me a program.

[touch]

Ok, so im currently in year 3 of a computing degree and, if all goes well, next year will be a placement year. So, as well as sending out a cv to various companies, i will also compile a portfolio of my programming work. My first problem is that i havnt written any useful applications Second problem is that i cant think of much to do. Im going to try a basic network messenger (msn style) and maybe some sort of file renaming app (for organising my music library etc) but im stuck for any other ideas.
Can anyone help me think of anything that is not too complicated to build but looks impressive?

 

[spicypixel]

Do a opensource windows batch backup program, you know, auto FTP's files every X hrs and has lots of spiffing features like auto compression to zip etc. That'll be swish.

 

[Skidilliplop]

Single screen AD account creation would be nice something that allows you to create users add groups scripts etc exchange mailbox AND auto creates the profile directory and sets permissions on it. Plus some other neat features could be added like auto generation of user names and default passwords based on the name fields using rules the admin can specify. All in one screen in one place. maybe even go nuts? have batch user creation options where it creates many users from the same set of properties?
It won't be a majorly groundbreaking thing, there are plenty out there that do this but it'll bode well for your portfolio as it'll involve LDAP stuff and toying with Active directory which everything wants to do nowdays

 

[EffBee]

What about a windows file/directory copying & moving program with explicit control over file verification after copy, and which doesn't just stop when it hits a problem but carries on as best it can, to include an optional full report on every file copied and whether the optional verification was OK, and a detailed error log covering failures during the copy.

 

[Kreeeee]

Windows specific apps are pretty much worthless when it comes to showcasing what you can do, no matter how useful renaming music is to you.

They just simply require no skill.

 

[Tomsk]

Try a fixtures program for sporting leagues.

The one I wrote for my badminton league still has difficulty acheiving 100% fixtures. The 'free' web based ones just aren't flexible enough.

If you want more details of what my fixtures program has to cope with, email in trust.