What do I do next?

[wirate]

Hello all,
I am a beginner in programming. I started with C and C++. I have studied classes and objects etc. Now when I move forward, I see virtual functions, namespaces and the like which usually deal with better program organization, readability and efficiency. However, I don't do projects big enough where these things actually make a difference and the one project that is big enough, I am unable to use these nicely. So the question is, where do I go now?
Thank you

[juancarlospaco]

Do something useful with those skills...

[wirate]

Do something useful with those skills...

like?

[fct]

Pick an open source project you like, study the code and help with its development.

[juancarlospaco]

Pick an open source project you like, study the code and help with its development.

Or start a new one, something that is missing from the repos, and create an alternative.

[Tony Flury]

or find something that you do regularly, that you think a program could do more efficiently - and write that.

Don't pick something that someone else has suggested - it wont hold your interest.

[cgroza]

Why not start a project of your own? I brings a lot of experience and teaches you a lot as you encounter problems and finding ways to solve them.

[Jacks0n]

Now try writing a kernel module

[PaulM1985]

How about a simple computer game like paddle and a ball? Once you have done this, maybe look into making more complicated games.

A customised media player for yourself? (I mean using a pre-existing media player library, not making the entire thing for yourself. The aim of something like this would be to improve on your placing GUI widgets and getting used to creating user interfaces.)

Some backup application to backup files in specific folders on your computer?

I have loads of things that I want to do but don't have time to start.