project to explore C++

[ed0c]

hi folks,

I have to develope a program of my choosing for a practical course at my university. It should be doable in about 160 working hours and meet the following requirements: developed on Linux, no networking, nothing concentrating to much on graphics.

I am also free to choose a language and so decided for C++, because I want to collect some experience with it (I come from Java, which I know pretty well). I already did a C++ course and caught up the basics and now would like continue with templates and STL.

So, I'm searching for an idea which lets me explore C++ and puts framework usage in the background. Thing is, I just seem to come up with only boring stuff, so I would be grateful for any suggestions.

[Elysia]

String class complete with iterators and std::swap support & similar?

[ed0c]

thanks for the suggestion. hm, I fear that task might be a bit to small though.

[Elysia]

Well, not if you make it complex.
A string class should handle both char and wchar_t.
It will most likely have traits.
Make iterators and make the class iteratable.
Make find results iteratable. Add possibility to replace a given search result with something else.
It gets complex pretty fast, believe me. Give it a try.

[medievalelks]

Perhaps a string class would be challenging if you made it complete, but it's rather boring and you may as well use C.

Write a simple text based adventure game, which will let you model the problem with objects.

Model the world after your university campus to make it interesting for people to play.

[Elysia]

Perhaps a string class would be challenging if you made it complete, but it's rather boring and you may as well use C.

That's not true. C++ has a lot to offer in this area that C can only dream of. And don't forget that the standard library has stuff to offer, as well, such as std::copy and the like.
It will be an interesting challenge if you try writing generic code. Free functions that will work for any given string class and iterators that will work with any given class.
And if you can make it work with things such as iterate over search results and replace a range of characters at once using iterators, then you've done something useful and somewhat challenging.

[Dave++]

> I am also free to choose a language and so decided for C++, because I want to collect some experience with it...

Wow, I was there once...

Consider creating some classes that contain things and manipulate them. Working with classes, structures and methods will take you far.

So you could "build a car" ... class auto { ... }
and include in this numerous features and functions
which runs out of gas first?
Apply an algorithm to "evolve" them. Which cars survive?

How about the old question: "are you a man or woman"
the user would be asked a series of questions and the results could be strikingly funny
class human {...}
class man {...}
class woman {...}

if done in Jave they would be sub-classed? Ha!
but in C++ they are derived ! Yes!

Regards