**Learn a variety of [programming paradigms](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Programming_paradigm "Programming paradigm - Wikipedia"):**

<table>
<tr>
  <td>Write a program in assembly language</td>
  <td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
  <td>Write an application in a functional language</td>
  <td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
  <td>Write an application in a object-oriented language</td>
  <td>✓</td>
</tr>
<tr>
  <td>Write an application in a prototype-based language</td>
  <td>✓</td>
</tr>
<tr>
  <td>Write an application in a logic programming language</td>
  <td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
  <td>Write an application using the Actor model</td>
  <td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
  <td>Write an application in Forth</td>
  <td></td>
</tr>
</table>

**Experience the ins and outs of programming for different platforms:**

<table>
<tr>
  <td>Write a nontrivial web app</td>
  <td>✓</td>
</tr>
<tr>
  <td>Write a nontrivial desktop app</td>
  <td>✓</td>
</tr>
<tr>
  <td>Write a nontrivial mobile app</td>
  <td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
  <td>Write an embedded app</td>
  <td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
  <td>Write a realtime system</td>
  <td></td>
</tr>
</table>

**Enhance your understanding of the building blocks that we use as developers:**

<table>
<tr>
  <td>Write a networking client (e.g., HTTP, FTP)</td>
  <td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
  <td>Write a device driver</td>
  <td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
  <td>Write a B-tree database</td>
  <td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
  <td>Wrap an existing library to provide a better (more pleasant) user experience</td>
  <td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
  <td>Write an application or framework that provides a plugin model</td>
  <td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
  <td>Write a testing framework</td>
  <td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
  <td>Write a programming language</td>
  <td></td>
</tr>
</table>

**Enlighten yourself with koans, katas, and the wisdom of ages:**

<table>
<tr>
  <td>Complete five [code katas](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kata_\(programming\) "Kata (programming) - Wikipedia")</td>
  <td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
  <td>Complete the [programming koans](http://sett.ociweb.com/sett/settJan2011.html "Learning Programming Languages with Koans - Object Computing, Inc.") for a language that you want to learn</td>
  <td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
  <td>Attend a [code retreat](http://coderetreat.com/ "Code Retreat with Corey Haines")</td>
  <td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
  <td>Read [SICP](http://mitpress.mit.edu/sicp/ "SICP web site") and complete all the exercises</td>
  <td></td>
</tr>
</table>

**Program in the open:**

<table>
<tr>
  <td>Contribute to an open source project</td>
  <td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
  <td>Have a patch accepted</td>
  <td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
  <td>Earn commit rights on a significant open source project</td>
  <td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
  <td>Publish an open source project</td>
  <td>✓</td>
</tr>
<tr>
  <td>Perform a [Refactotum](http://thinkrelevance.com/blog/2007/04/03/twir.html "Refactotum") of an open source project</td>
  <td></td>
</tr>
</table>

**Learn by teaching others:**

<table>
<tr>
  <td>Present a lightning talk</td>
  <td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
  <td>Present at a local user group</td>
  <td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
  <td>Present at a conference</td>
  <td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
  <td>Deliver a training course</td>
  <td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
  <td>Publish a tutorial</td>
  <td>✓</td>
</tr>
<tr>
  <td>Publish a constructive code review of an open source project</td>
  <td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
  <td>Write a programming book</td>
  <td></td>
</tr>
</table>