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

* Write a program in assembly language
* Write an application in a functional language
* Write an application in an object-oriented language
* Write an application in a prototype-based language
* Write an application in a logic programming language
* Write an application using the Actor model
* Write an application in Forth

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

* Write a nontrivial web app
* Write a nontrivial desktop app
* Write a nontrivial mobile app
* Write an embedded app
* Write a realtime system

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

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

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

* Complete five [code katas](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kata_\(programming\) "Kata (programming) - Wikipedia")
* 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
* Attend a [code retreat](http://coderetreat.com/ "Code Retreat with Corey Haines")
* Read [SICP](http://mitpress.mit.edu/sicp/ "SICP web site") and complete all the exercises

**Program in the open:**

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

**Learn by teaching others:**

* Present a lightning talk
* Present at a local user group
* Present at a conference
* Deliver a training course
* Publish a tutorial
* Publish a constructive code review of an open source project
* Write a programming book