TL;DR
CodeCrafters published a curated list of 73 programming project ideas aimed at developers who want meaningful side projects. The collection spans systems, ML, web, games, databases and more, with links to papers, tutorials and implementation notes to help learners dive in.
What happened
On Dec. 30, 2025, CodeCrafters posted a roundup of 73 project ideas intended to help developers pick substantial, educational side projects. The compilation, authored by Karan Kalra and Sarup Banskota, deliberately avoids trivial prompts and focuses on tasks that teach core concepts: examples include building a BitTorrent client to learn P2P networking, implementing a Wordle solver to explore information theory, and creating a lightweight container runtime to study kernel namespaces and process isolation. The list also covers distributed systems (RAFT), databases (Redis, SQLite, Bitcask), tooling (diff tool, DNS server, web server), media and ML projects (deepfake via optimal transport, audio fingerprinting, background-noise removal), and creative tasks like procedural crossword generation and game remakes. Many entries point to specification documents, research papers, or tutorial videos so readers can follow up on implementation details.
Why it matters
- Projects are chosen to teach practical concepts rather than offer trivial exercises.
- A broad set of domains helps developers explore new areas (systems, ML, networking, UI).
- Linked resources (papers, specs, videos) provide starting points for deeper study.
- Implementing these projects can build problem-solving skills and technical breadth.
Key facts
- The post lists 73 distinct programming project ideas.
- Authors credited are Karan Kalra (Developer, CodeCrafters) and Sarup Banskota (Co-founder/CEO, CodeCrafters).
- Published on the CodeCrafters blog with links to specifications, papers, and tutorials for many entries.
- Projects span systems programming (container runtime, filesystem, web server), distributed systems (RAFT), and networking (DNS server, Googlebot).
- Several database-related projects are suggested, including Redis, SQLite and Bitcask clones.
- Machine learning and signal-processing ideas include deepfakes using optimal transport, audio fingerprinting, depth estimation, and noise removal.
- Developer tooling and algorithms are covered: diff tool, autocomplete system, UML visualization, and procedural generation.
- Front-end and browser-native work is present, such as a client-side video editor leveraging WASM and WebGL.
What to watch next
- Which of these project ideas gain follow-up posts or community implementations — not confirmed in the source
- Whether CodeCrafters expands the list or publishes walkthroughs for individual projects — not confirmed in the source
- Case studies showing how building a specific project impacted a developer's skills or career — not confirmed in the source
Quick glossary
- P2P (Peer-to-Peer): A network model where nodes (peers) connect directly to share data or resources without relying on a central server.
- RAFT: A consensus algorithm designed to manage replicated logs in distributed systems and make it easier to reason about correctness.
- CRDT (Conflict-free Replicated Data Type): Data structures that allow concurrent updates on multiple replicas and automatically resolve conflicts to reach eventual consistency.
- WASM (WebAssembly): A low-level binary format for executing code in web browsers at near-native speed, often used for performance-critical client-side tasks.
- Optimal Transport: A mathematical framework for transforming one distribution into another while minimizing a cost function; used in some image and shape-matching tasks.
Reader FAQ
Who authored the project list?
The list is credited to Karan Kalra and Sarup Banskota of CodeCrafters.
How many project ideas are included?
The post contains 73 project ideas.
Does the article provide resources to get started on each project?
Many entries include links to specifications, papers, videos, or tutorials to help with implementation.
Are step-by-step code walkthroughs included for each project?
not confirmed in the source
Login About Pricing Gifts CodeCrafters About Pricing Gifts Log in Try a challenge → Blog • Monday, Apr 14th 2025 73 Programming Project Ideas to Inspire and Challenge You Karan Kalra Developer,…
Sources
- Project ideas to appreciate the art of programming
- 🔥 200 Project Ideas from Beginner to Advanced with Open …
- 73 Quantum Computing Startups Challenging Industry …
- 199+ Hackathon Projects : The Ultimate 2025 Guide
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