18 software project ideas to inspire you in 2024

As a software engineer, there’s nothing more satisfying than working on a rewarding project. Projects can help build your experience, boost your portfolio, and drive innovation forward. They can even lead to a public launch.

However, whether you’re a beginner in software engineering projects or highly experienced in development, it can be challenging to come up with new ideas.

To help, we’ve collated some of the best software project ideas for 2024 to suit your current development level. That could mean creating a new AI-powered tool, developing a simple weather app, or working on a fingerprint-based technology. Read on to get an idea for your next project.

Software is a collection of data, instructions, or programs that enable computers to perform functions. These functions solve problems and address the end user’s needs and wants.

There are two main types of software:

1. System software: this type of software provides foundation services for computer systems (operating systems for computers, utilities, and device drivers, for example).

2. Application (app) software: app software is related to specific programs that perform tasks. It runs within the system software and includes solutions like website browsers, photo editing software, music apps, social media platforms, calendars, and video games.

Software development brings software programs to life. It’s a set of processes related to creating, designing, and developing software. It includes specific phases like coding, design, testing, deployment, and maintenance.

The process of software development can be complex. Software developers tend to specialize in certain types of products or platforms. More highly skilled and experienced professionals have completed increasingly complex software projects.

Software development projects involve creating new software via a planned process. Software engineers follow a series of steps to develop new software, such as an app or operating system.

Software engineering projects typically involve significant planning, project goals, and a defined scope, timeline, and budget.

The actual software creation process is typically made up of four key steps:

1. Design

2. Development

3. Testing

4. Deployment

A team of stakeholders may need to come together to help the software developer bring the project to life. The more complex a software development process is, the more likely there will be multiple parties working on the project, including a project manager, UX experts, researchers, designers, and more.

With the global rise of technology, software is increasingly in demand. Computers, smartphones, apps, and tablets are widely used, meaning new software is always needed.

New operating systems, apps, and AI tools are created every day. They are used across a range of sectors, including healthcare, finance, entertainment, education, and technology.

Software engineers can typically find employment around the world while earning competitive salaries. Experience as a software developer can be attractive to prospective employers who often require this expertise in their business.

Theoretical learning can be helpful, but the hands-on experience you gain from practical project-based training is crucial. For example, learning about different brushstrokes from a textbook has its purpose, but it can’t replace the experience of putting a paintbrush on canvas and trying it out for yourself.

In the same way, learning software development through projects rather than theory can be much more effective. Project-based learning requires the software engineer to solve real problems as they arise. They can see their creation come to life and gain an understanding of how software development works in the real world.

Here are just some of the reasons why project-based learning is effective:

• Learning in context: learning within a real-world project rather than learning theories and methods allows you to apply methods in context. Results show immediately, so a newcomer can see how different methods work (or don’t work). They can continuously learn from their mistakes.

• Practical skills: you’ll gain the practical skills needed to succeed as a software engineer. Whether your school or college has set the project or it’s self-set, learning in the context of a realistic problem can help you further your career by gaining real-world, relevant skills.

• Problem-solving skills: roadblocks, errors, and challenges will arise from real-life projects. This helps encourage a problem-solving mindset—essential for all software engineers—that can be applied to any project.

• Creativity: engaging with development can also inspire a creative mindset, not just to solve problems but also to make improvements. Innovation and creativity are often born from project-based learning.

• Boosted portfolio: gaining experience as a software developer with real-world projects can help boost your portfolio, show prospective employers your skills, and prove your value to clients.

When starting in software development, some projects will make more sense than others. Some projects’ requirements and functionalities will be clearer and more familiar, meaning you’ll experience an easier uplift and be less likely to run into major issues. The completion time will also be faster, which can be quite satisfying for starter projects.

Here are six software project ideas for beginners:

1. To-do list application

With a basic user interface design and simple data management, a to-do list application is a great software project to get started with.

To-do list apps allow users to set reminders, mark tasks as complete, and edit or delete items. They have many real-world applications and can be very helpful for a variety of users.

2. Weather app

Developing a weather app can be relatively straightforward, depending on the interface’s complexity.

Getting started with a weather app involves setting up a basic user interface. Next, you’ll need to receive weather information from an API to be displayed by location.

The project could become more complex if you choose to add additional features as you learn and develop your skills.

3. Web scraping

Web scraping involves extracting data from websites and repurposing them in a new format. It can be useful for market research, content aggregation, lead generation, and data analysis.

Learning web scraping can be useful for developers as it’s a skill required for a range of projects. 

To get started on a simple project, consider developing a news headline aggregator. Headlines from news sites are gathered from various sources and displayed on one web page or within one app.

4. Social networking

Developing a simple social networking platform like a user profile system can be a good project for beginners. With a user profile system, users can create personal profiles, update their information, and add content like photos and text.

For software engineers, developing a user profile system involves database management, user authentication, and profile editing functionality. It’s a good starting point for other user-based software.

5. Basic game development

Developing a basic game can be a great way to boost your software development skills, and the process can be a lot of fun.

The process requires basic input for user interaction, a simple game layout, and game development concepts (like game looping, input handling, and game logic).

Some of the best simple games to get started with include tic-tac-toe, snake, or a memory game.

If you enjoy developing games, you can advance to more complex game designs as your experience grows.

6. Blogging platform

A simple blogging platform is another useful project to complete as a beginner. The demand for blog platforms is growing, with many people interested in sharing information online.

Blogging projects involve user authentication, database management, and what’s known as CRUD (create, read, update, delete) operations.

A blogging platform project could become more advanced as you add more features, like profile connections.

Once you feel more confident with your software development skills, you may want to progress and create intermediate-level projects.

Intermediate software projects typically involve building out multiple areas of functionality, wider considerations such as data security, and tasks that require more advanced software engineering.

Here are six suggestions for intermediate projects.

1. Fingerprint technology-based ATM

Fingerprint technology allows users to authenticate an account with their fingerprints. This can provide a faster, more seamless, and more accurate way to secure accounts.

Developing fingerprint-based technology can be an in-depth project for intermediate software engineers.

The development includes creating a user interface to allow users to scan their fingerprints for authentication, data storage to house the fingerprint data, and stringent security measures to ensure the data is kept secure. It also requires hardware integration to build the technology into the ATM.

Because the project involves a range of different features and technologies, developing something like this may require more than one software developer or a team to complete.

2. Developing an e-learning platform

E-learning and online education platforms are becoming increasingly common. Developing an e-learning platform can be a complex but worthwhile project.

The development process involves creating a user interface, user profiles, data storage, content management, and course management.

The user management skills you learned in more basic projects are elevated with the content and course management concepts, so these projects are best suited for intermediate developers.

3. Credit card safety application

Financial security is a rising global concern. Some applications can protect users’ funds and data to boost credit card safety. 

The requirements for building such an application involve secure user authentication (such as multi-factor authentication), transaction monitoring, data storage, spending controls, secure payments, stolen card assistance, and more.

These areas can take time to develop and maintain. The project would typically involve not just one person but a team of software engineers.

4. Gesture language translator

A gesture language translator is a system that recognizes human gestures like sign language and translates them into text. This can boost accessibility and inclusivity for people facing communication challenges.

Creating a gesture language translator involves a range of complex processes, including machine learning, user interface design, and translation integration.

5. Airline ticketing system

An airline ticketing system allows users to book plane tickets, view schedules, select seats, and make booking changes and payments.

Several development components are required to create this type of platform. You’ll need to develop the backend infrastructure, APIs for managing user data and flight schedules, the database structure, and a user interface. The system will also need an admin dashboard to allow users to make changes and manage their information.

6. Patient tracker application system

The rise of medical monitoring is allowing patients to be assessed and monitored by healthcare professionals when they are outside of a medical center. This can help reduce readmissions and ensure patients are managed more effectively. Patient tracker applications can make a big difference for medical professionals and patients alike.

A patient tracker system requires data management, database management, stringent data security measures, authentication, and a user interface that allows users to manage their data and information.

Advanced software projects tend to involve complex functions, a wider variety of platforms and languages, stringent security requirements, and sequencing that require advanced software engineering.

Here are six suggestions for advanced software engineering projects:

1. AI-powered personal assistant

There’s an increasing demand for AI tools that can solve everyday problems and speed up tasks. 

For advanced engineers, developing an AI tool that can recognize and act on speech commands, manage a calendar, respond to emails, provide personalized recommendations, and perform other tasks can be complex, challenging, and rewarding. 

To create an AI-powered personal assistant, you’ll need to implement machine learning models, natural language processing (NLP), and speech recognition technology. 

2. Fingerprint voting system

Accuracy and security are of critical importance in elections. Developing a fingerprint voting system requires database management, biometric technology, a user interface, and hardware integrations. Most importantly, it needs stringent security processes to protect personal data and the validity of the democratic process.

This is a highly complex project given the wide-ranging considerations, including accuracy, security, the potential for fraud, and legal restrictions and obligations.

A team of software engineers would be needed to develop, integrate, and rigorously test the fingerprint voting system.

3. Suspicious activity tracker

With the global rise of AI, there are increasing concerns about data security and safety. AI-powered tools could potentially pose a threat to data security. On the other hand, they may also be used to help increase security processes.

An AI-powered tool could help identify fraudulent behavior by spotting inconsistencies in a system. It could also identify issues faster than humans to help boost security by leveraging machine learning algorithms that detect patterns and suspicious behavior.

4. Emotion-based music player

Developing an emotion-based music player requires an advanced algorithm that can spot patterns in behavior, analyze a user’s mood, and provide recommendations based on that information.

Emotion recognition can be analyzed via a range of formats, such as facial recognition technology that can understand facial expressions, voice sentiment analysis, or user-inputted information. Machine learning would also be necessary to spot behavioral patterns and recognize those patterns as different emotions.

Emotion–user mapping could then connect emotions with a relevant soundtrack to fit that mood.

5. AI-enabled healthcare diagnostic tool

In the healthcare space, AI is being used to predict outcomes, diagnose illnesses and diseases at earlier stages, speed up processes for doctors, and even assist with operations.

Machine learning and natural language processing (NLP) are both required to develop AI-enabled healthcare diagnostic tools.

There is a high level of complexity in developing these systems because patient data security, accuracy, and legality are all of critical importance. You’ll need to be a highly experienced developer to create and test these products.

6. Augmented reality navigation

Augmented reality is an interactive experience that brings computer-generated content and real-world content together. It’s growing in popularity as it can provide a fully immersive experience.

In the context of a navigation app, augmented reality could offer enhanced visuals by providing cues that help users navigate more easily.

Developing a navigation app with augmented reality would require GPS data, digital cameras, and AI technology.

Creating software engineering projects can boost your skills, broaden your problem-solving skills, and increase creativity and innovation.

For software engineers, there’s nothing more satisfying than working on rewarding projects that further your experience and help others solve problems and complete daily tasks.

Real-world projects enable you to build out a portfolio for prospective employers and clients, increase your chances of securing successful roles, and even enable you to create products that you could launch publicly.

There’s continued demand for new software products such as AI-powered tools, accessible apps, innovative platforms that solve key customer problems, and exciting new games. This means there’s a plethora of opportunities for engineers.

Information technology (IT) and software are two different disciplines. IT professionals focus on maintaining and fixing pre-existing software and hardware. This involves bug fixes, system maintenance, and running updates.

IT professionals generally help users solve issues within their systems, ensuring that computers and their software elements run effectively.

Software engineers, on the other hand, create new products from scratch through the software development process. This process involves ideation, design, coding, testing, and deployment.

Software engineers come up with new concepts to solve everyday problems or improve the lives of the end users.

Some software engineering projects are better for college students than others.

Smaller or starter projects are usually best for students and newcomers. Simpler projects involve a smaller uplift, fewer complex processes, and fewer components. This allows beginners to grasp the basics before moving on to more complex projects.

Good software projects for college students can include developing a simple user interface, a to-do list application, a weather app, a basic game, an expense tracker, and more.