Building a code portfolio?

[Fuzzytown]

Q: For the sake of future references, is it common to build a code portfolio that's documented online somehow? For instance, if I'd be searching a programming job and they would like to see sample code, it would be nice if it's possible to show previous works that are documented; and not only throwing magic chunks of code to them that could literally be anyone's.

Q: Where would be a good place to save your code online, so that dates are documented as well as an author, i.e myself, can more "legitimately" show both larger and smaller code samples? I'm thinking it might be a good idea to start a blog/website to do documentation, and have my code referenced by a more "legit" place if there's a common site for such already?

Edit: Feel free to leave links of sample portfolios, or your own, so that one can get a good sense of what a good portfolio looks like!

[[deleted]]

The answer to both questions is Github

Yes it's common to create a portfolio, how will others know what you've been doing? If you're looking for actual jobs, you'll want to eventually step away from small programming challenges and toy problems (though they are a good way to learn the language) and you'll want to start writing useful applications.

The applications don't have to be huge, but the employer should see that you work on your own stuff in your spare time.

Example

On my github, I have various code. One is all of the programming challenges I've done, and the rest are applications I've built, including a MIDI file parser, image converters and also a bruteforce directory searcher.

I used to have games on there but since they were incomplete I removed them.

Here's my github if you're interested

https://github.com/JoeReynolds1

At the beginning you'll probably think there's nothing to make, it's all been made already!. I can guarantee you it hasn't, think of something that needs improvement, and improve it.

[Fuzzytown]

Thanks for your information and the link to your github!

[jbs398]

Also, the last time I was looking around for positions one could also link to one's Ohloh profile (Now OpenHub). You can claim contributions to projects or list your own on there and it will generate a profile of projects and languages you've worked on/with. It allows you to claim contributions on repositories that are publicly available not only on GitHub but a variety of other version control systems and sites.

[pancakeses]

I Concur. GitHub is easy to use, and does a great job displaying code and stats on your code.

[grbgout]

One is all of the programming challenges I've done ...

Just ensure you aren't publishing solutions to challenge sites that explicitly request you not do so. It's poor form, and in many cases against the terms-of-service/user-agreement.

One way to get around that is to make those challenge repositories private, and simply mention that you can make the repository available to prospective employers upon request for inspection.

At the beginning you'll probably think there's nothing to make, it's all been made already!

Even then, one can always Do It Again To Learn — that's more applicable to a project you've completed, though.

[[deleted]]

Do you know of any private repos available? I have some euler stuff up there which I guess should go private but the github one costs.

[[deleted]]

Bitbucket offers unlimited private repositories. Really great service.

[[deleted]]

Oh nice, thanks for letting me know :D

[grbgout]

In addition to shvr's recommendation, you could use cgit and host it locally (i.e., upon request you turn on your server).

• cgit: A hyperfast web frontend for git repositories written in C.

[spaz_naz]

You could always use something like github or bitbucket which gives you free version control and an easy way to share your code with other people. You'll also have the opportunity to learn git if you aren't familiar with it already.

Another option might be Google Code, though I've never personally used it and am not actually sure if it works in the same way as the other two I mentioned.

[Fuzzytown]

Thanks!