What can I build during winter break?

Submitted by Iluvbread123 on November 13, 2025
Winter break is coming in 2 weeks for me and I want to build something then either to add to my portfolio or just learn some technologies while having some fun. Anyone got any ideas?

Open to anything computing and hopefully not too expensive if not for free.

I'm entering a machine learning role in early Jan if that's relevant.

47 Comments
+9
Level 51
Nov 13, 2025
build and program a jeppy that shoots out confetti every time you get 5/5 points on a featured quiz
+4
Level 79
Nov 13, 2025
A browser plugin sounds interesting

Might look into that

+3
Level 56
Nov 13, 2025
Doesn't it already do that? Or do you mean physical confetti?
+5
Level 51
Nov 13, 2025
i mean physical
+3
Level 56
Nov 13, 2025
That's really early. Mine won't start until December 20th.
+4
Level 61
Nov 13, 2025
Same
+3
Level 79
Nov 13, 2025
Work starts on the 5th of Jan for me so if it started any later I think I'd go insane
+1
Level 56
Nov 13, 2025
That's 5 weeks of break if my math is correct. I only have 4 weeks (actually 3 weeks dejure but there's a so-called "preparation week" with no classes)

Appreciate what you have.

+5
Level 79
Nov 13, 2025
Well it's just short of 5 weeks because my exams finish early. If I was unlucky with it I'd have 4 weeks too.

Also dude you didn't really have to compare those, in no way does the duration of a break reflect the amount of energy to be put in and school terms vary a lot by region anyway.

+1
Level 58
Nov 13, 2025
Mine starts on December 22.
+1
Level 56
Nov 13, 2025
I'm counting the weekend before Dec 22 as well, hence Dec 20
+2
Level 71
Nov 13, 2025
Mine starts in the middle on July next year...
+2
Level 56
Nov 13, 2025
By "winter break" we meant the one in December and January.

We know seasons are opposite Down Under.

+3
Level 61
Nov 13, 2025
A snowman. Also why Winter Break in 2 weeks?! I have Thanksgiving break next week and Winter Break is next month for me (always around Christmas)
+2
Level 78
Nov 13, 2025
Judging by that person's 'countries visited' on profile page, we're clearly not talking about christian majority country, and it's most likely a country without harsh winters.
+1
Level 61
Nov 13, 2025
Maybe a sandman or a dirtman then?
+3
Level 79
Nov 13, 2025
Never seen snow in person unfortunately

Also not sure that works digitally

+3
Level 71
Nov 13, 2025
Hey, gave some hope... It was at the end of spring in Australia, and it hailed so much the ground looked like it was covered in snow!
+3
Level 56
Nov 13, 2025
ooh can u build a little machine that fits in ur pocket with :

a red button - which nukes u onto the planet of uranus

a blue button - which lets u see 67 years into the future

a green button - which lets u teleport to the nearest ikea store

and a yellow button which inserts a fluid through a syringe giving u unlimited knowledge for a few seconds

+5
Level 79
Nov 13, 2025
I will build a purple button that when pressed launches the entire country of Argentina at you
+4
Level 56
Nov 13, 2025
sounds like fun
+1
Level 41
Nov 13, 2025
+1
+2
Level 81
Nov 13, 2025
Last winter we built a playset at my grandmother's house for our cousins. Maybe try that?
+2
Level 79
Nov 13, 2025
No yard to work with unfortunately :(
+1
Level 82
Nov 13, 2025
It depends, what are your current skills relating to IT?
+1
Level 79
Nov 13, 2025
Not very specialized as of right now honestly

Interest-wise I kinda want to get into LLMs but don't know where to start

+1
Level 82
Nov 13, 2025
um, I would advise you to learn then the basics of computing (architecture, binary, etc..), also preferrably some Algorithms and Data Structures, then at least 1 programming language (if you want to get into machine learning then python would be ideal). Also having some knowledge about Databases would be helpful.

You can use yt vids and other tutorials, but I think you'll get more solid foundations if you use actual textbooks (you can find some open source ones online)

+1
Level 79
Nov 13, 2025
Oh I have all that foundational knowledge already, just kinda stuck at the not knowing what to specialize in stage

Maybe I'll be firmer with this when I get actual work experience

+1
Level 41
Nov 13, 2025
build a computer
+2
Level 79
Nov 13, 2025
Lacking the funds for that :c
+2
Level 45
Nov 13, 2025
Make a giant catgirl plushie and make it have a speech bubble that says: "uwuwuwuwuuwuwuwuwuuwwowwuwuwuwu"
+1
Level 41
Nov 13, 2025
+1
+1
Level 79
Nov 13, 2025
bruh
+1
Level 15
Nov 13, 2025
Lego robotics
+1
Level 79
Nov 13, 2025
Might be better to just buy an Arduino kit or a Basys3 board to play with

Although I do like legos

+1
Level 61
Nov 13, 2025
Maybe make some kind of device that can help with flashcards, and respond to verbal or hand signals for flipping cards and such? (May be too expensive though)
+1
Level 79
Nov 13, 2025
I suck at hardware but something that can help me study is cool
+2
Level 27
Nov 14, 2025
when i was doing virtual school for covid back in seventh grade i would pass the time by making little buildings out of colored construction paper and tape, photograph them, then burn them out in our firepit. it’s a fun little circle of creation type deal and enjoyable if you like both being creative and also destroying stuff.

i eventually got pretty good at the paper building craft, making buildings with furniture, interactive doorways and windows, multiple floors and attics, balconies, and even experimented with details such as billboards and solar panels. i eventually made vehicles.

my best creation was when i spent a few weeks making two blocks of a whole paper city inside one of those cardboard soda pallet type things from Costco. it had roads and a city park, as well as high rises and cars. i made an oil tanker semi truck and made it look like it crashed in the park. my dad and i covered it in lighter fluid and the whole thing burned in 58 seconds

+1
Level 71
Nov 14, 2025
Wow. Sounds extremely fun
+1
Level 27
Nov 14, 2025
it really was
+2
Level 79
Nov 14, 2025
Sounds fun but not exactly what I'm looking for though

(Also don't have a fireplace)

+1
Level 71
Nov 14, 2025
Wait, do you want digital or hardware stuff to build?
+2
Level 79
Nov 14, 2025
Digital preferably
+1
Level 71
Nov 14, 2025
I actually have no idea... have you tried coding stuff? Creating games or programs on Scratch, or tried coding an SVG?
+1
Level 79
Nov 14, 2025
I have software engineering experience already, that's not what I'm looking for but thanks for the suggestions
+1
Level 55
Nov 15, 2025
Make a new website in whatever subject you like.
+1
Level 56
Nov 16, 2025
You should build an alarm that goes off whenever someone goes too close to your door