My First Software engineering project might be my last and here is why…
Four weeks ago, I embarked on a personal project to gauge the direction of my software engineering training. Creating this maze game allowed me to discover my true passions within the field. As I worked on every aspect of the project, I found joy in exploring various technical areas. This game is designed for fellow tech enthusiasts seeking relaxation after a hectic day. Through this project, I identified the aspects that captivate me and leveraged them to enhance my IT career.
As an IT systems enthusiast, I am always fascinated by the intricate workings of each system within a company’s infrastructure and how they contribute to overall success. Building a complete software project from scratch was a challenging and demanding endeavour. It made me realize that while I sincerely and will always appreciate and work in IT, my true passion may lie in understanding and optimizing the interplay between various systems rather than the nitty-gritty of software development.
The result of the project was a fully functional maze game, developed using a combination of tech tools and programming languages. I utilized C programming language as the foundation for implementing the game logic and algorithms. To handle graphics rendering and user input, I leveraged the SDL2 library. SDL2 provided powerful capabilities for creating captivating visuals and efficient event handling. The project also involved utilizing various development tools such as code editors, compilers, and version control systems to streamline the development process and ensure code quality. The culmination of these tech tools enabled the creation of an immersive and enjoyable gaming experience.
Throughout the project, I encountered several challenges that impacted the smooth progression of development. Initially, there were minor hurdles with using GitHub, but they were swiftly overcome. However, the major obstacle arose during the installation of SDL2 and the compilation of the code. Switching from Ubuntu 14.04 LTS to Ubuntu 20.04 LTS proved instrumental in resolving most of the issues. Despite the persistence required in uninstalling and reinstalling SDL2 multiple times, perseverance ultimately led to a successful resolution on Ubuntu 20.04.
Through this project, I have come to the realization that my true passions lie in working with and building IT systems rather than spending hours writing code. I find greater fulfilment in relating with human beings and leveraging my technical skills in roles such as product management. This project serves as confirmation that my career path aligns more with IT rather than software development. Additionally, it reinforced my preference for Vi as the best editor on earth.
The project can be found on GitHub and you can hear more about my Tech adventures here.
