I have a working OnePlus 3T lying around (battery is weak, slow charging), and I’ll have ~2–3 months of free time before starting college (likely environmental engineering).
I want to use this time to build something practical + slightly impressive — not just basic reuse, but something that teaches me skills useful for future internships or tech-adjacent roles.
Skill level:
- Comfortable with basic computing concepts
- Open to learning Linux, networking, scripting, etc.
Constraints:
- Old hardware (limited performance)
- Battery degradation (will likely keep it plugged in)
What I’m looking for:
- Projects that fit into a self-hosted / automation space
- Things that demonstrate real-world skills (not just gimmicks)
- Bonus if it can tie into environmental monitoring / data collection
Some directions I’ve thought about:
- Pi-hole / network-wide ad blocker
- Personal cloud / file server
- Monitoring dashboard (home or environmental data)
Would love suggestions on:
- Specific project ideas
- What stack/tools I should learn alongside
- Whether this device is even worth using vs switching to something like a Raspberry Pi
Appreciate any guidance 🙏
u/Automatic-Grab-986 — 19 days ago