r/ComputerEngineering

Hello, I'm a second-year Computer Engineering student who needs to choose between four specializations. I'm open to exploring different fields, but what do you think is the wisest choice in the long run?

1. ML and AI
2. Big Data
3. Networks
4. System Development

I have a background in coding of less than a year but wanna learn through practical approach, I know C and C++ as of now. What kind of projects should I start with for self learning and a profile building with what I have?

Hello po ask ko po sana if alin po may problem about my computer, nago po ung monitor and matagal na samin ung cpu yet no signal nagpapakita pag kinokonnect. ano po mas maganda gawin? thank you po need po for review ng boards😭

I'm doing some research to better understand the software engineers actually use in industry and where the biggest productivity pain points are.

I'm interested in both professional tools and the smaller utilities you can't live without.

Some examples:
\\- CAD: SolidWorks, CATIA, Creo, Inventor, Fusion 360, NX
\\- Simulation: ANSYS, Abaqus, COMSOL
\\- Electrical: Altium Designer, KiCad, OrCAD, LTspice, PSpice
\\- Controls: MATLAB/Simulink, LabVIEW
\\- PLC/SCADA: TIA Portal, Studio 5000, Ignition
\\- Programming: VS Code, Visual Studio, Eclipse
\\- Other engineering tools you use regularly

A few questions:

\\- Which software do you spend the most time in?
\\- What's the most repetitive or frustrating task you do every day?
\\- Is there a feature you've always wished existed but still doesn't?
\\- Are there tasks you still have to do manually because the software makes them painful?
\\- If you could improve one engineering tool tomorrow, what would you add?

I'm especially interested in hearing from mechanical, electrical, civil, controls, embedded, HVAC, manufacturing, and automation engineers, but I'd love to hear from anyone.

Not trying to sell anything—I'm just trying to understand where engineers lose the most time so I can identify opportunities for better tools. Looking forward to hearing what drives you crazy every day.

I’m a Computer Engineering student at TMU going into my 3rd year, and I’m making this post to hold myself accountable. I’ve had enough.

I recently realized that just passing classes is not enough if I actually want to land a solid internship or co-op. University gives me the theory, but I know it won’t automatically make me job-ready. If I want to compete for better roles, I need to start building real skills on my own.

Right now, I have some background from school in OOP, data structures, algorithms, software design, digital logic, VHDL, FPGAs/CPLDs, microprocessors, and electronics. I understand a lot of these topics at a theory level, but I haven’t applied them enough in real projects. That is the main thing I want to change.

My goal is to break into a strong technical career path, whether that is software engineering, big tech, or finance technology. Recently I’ve been looking more into capital markets technology, market data, trading systems, low-latency C++, and maybe FPGA-related trading infrastructure later on. I know these fields are competitive, so I’m not expecting anything easy.

The main problem is that I get overwhelmed when I try to start. There are so many things people say to learn: C++, Python, SQL, LeetCode, projects, operating systems, networking, computer systems, finance basics, FPGA, and more. I sit down ready to work, then I start overthinking what to do first and lose momentum.

So I’m starting today and trying to stay consistent. I’m not asking anyone to do the work for me, but I would appreciate advice from people who are already ahead. If you were in my position, what would you focus on first to become internship-ready? Should I start with C++ and computer systems, data structures and algorithms, or small projects?

Any honest advice, project ideas, or guidance on how to structure the next few months would help a lot.

I'm a girl from Nepal and I'm really confused about my career. I recently finished my final school exams, and while everyone around me seems to know what they want to do, I still don't. One thing I do know is that I want to be financially successful because my family has gone through financial struggles, and I want to improve our situation, make my parents proud, and become independent. Right now, my main options are engineering or finance/management. I come from a science background, but I don't know much about finance. I've been thinking about computer engineering or an IT-related field because I'm good at computers and math, but I hate physics. My biggest concern is that tech fields seem very competitive, many people talk about software jobs being saturated, and AI is changing the industry so fast that I'm worried about job security in software engineering, cybersecurity, data science, and even AI itself. I also want to study abroad and eventually get a stable, well-paying job, whether abroad or in Nepal. Am I overthinking all of this, or are these concerns valid? What career path would you recommend for someone in my situation?

i am a rookie developer, who wants to build his 1st software, idk anything about building them its just i want to clear some doubts and want someone to guide me once, JUST ONCE! and then i can continue building things, pls do reply to this if you know how to build software for windows.

Hello guys I'm learning computer technology engineer it's last year and we have to make 2

projects

1. internship one: (We tried to make "AI powered blood and organ Donar using geolocation" it will help in emergency letting us know where and in which hospital blood and organs are available in emergency by our near by location the idea was to create easy access without any random decision and hurry. but someone from our class stole that idea it was our internship project we tried hard but damage was done we feel hopeless now because we spent so much time thinking on it as it was unique.)

Can't think any new one right now because BETRAYAL was big.

2.Final year.

The problem is no matter what we think of (problem statement) they are too similar like copy and past is actually hard to find the decent project on we can work on.

Repeated ideas and modules and all PREDICTION AND SOLUTION these things it's over used we want something different.

We are looking for it but staff and other classmates are coming up with different ideas.

I'm thinking we are behind but we want to stand out than others.

Pls recommend and suggest some decent ideas or any every day problem you face that you want to be solved whatever it is no matter how weird just tell.

Edit: Hi guys so I know software Engineering and computer Engineering arent the same. In my university - they literally said in intro that we are going to follow electronic/electrical engineering classes and software engineering (I looked at the curriculum- it’s literally the same classes mixed together. In my country the computer engineering degree is literally translated to “Software and electronics” - engineering (before switching name to CE.)

The reason why i used the software engineering example was because I had CS classes first! Again we follow around 40-50% of software engineering courses!

—

First of all, I want to say that I’m extremely new to tech! I’m more of a history, psychology person, but I felt bored as I know a lot and wanted to challenge myself, so I decided to challenge myself and enroll in a technical university in Northern Europe at 23. It's probably important to say it's a Bachelor of Science.

I do have autism/ADHD (and anxiety/OCD), which essentially means my brain is wired completely differently, and I look at things very critically and objectively and even analyze things maybe way too much. Yes, I’m the stereotypical “perfectionist” OCD type of autistic person (and yes, it is hell).

Anyways, the more objectively I look at my degree plan for Computer Engineering the more nonsensical it seems. Especially for someone who has never written code, has to get used to stuff like VS Code, and all of that.

None of the courses feel naturally well connected at all. I don’t understand how it is possible to study about 4-6 different tracks of different tech/stem fields at the same time. My first semester I’m supposed to both learn the software track, which just randomly ends after the first semester. It only introduces you to basic problem solving programming. Then it just stops there. Also, there is too much ambiguity in the course names and the objectives. I have to ask someone in the 4th semester in a software class, "DO YOU LEARN ANYTHING ABOUT BACKEND?" and they said no. Mind you, I barely know anything myself. They didn't even tell us what a documentation site is, or anything like that. Also, it was super weird that we were studying two languages at the same time. It doesn't touch on how to build applications, how backend works, or real life applications. This makes no sense.

And then my hardware track in the same semester. We were just not even the slightest introduced to the basics of it. Just expected to know logic and all of the basic principles?. Then there are a lot of heavy math courses, which really, in my opinion, cannot be studied in 4 months on top of that, and heavy theoretical courses such as algorithms with no final "real life" projects. And let’s not forget the general courses such as physics and chemistry popping up in random places stressing you out.

My biggest criticism is how it touches on some very important, interesting, but complex topics but keeps them vague and only for one semester, with no final project to actually build something valuable, or there is one, but it is so rushed you barely even actually learn something. When I look at the importance, there are a lot of fundamental, important things, insights, and skills that shouldn't be rushed, especially as a new learner in tech. All of the interesting stuff or the basic stuff I feel like I should learn -I had to dig deep and literally search for it. Mind you, this takes time because there is a huge range of terminology and functions across the broad spectrum of computer engineering.

Sometimes the classes have no parallel correlation sometimes, and sometimes one class is needed to understand the next, but it's introduced later or were introduced to early?

There is one conclusion I came to, which is that in order to actually get something valuable out of my degree, I heavily have to do A LOT of self studying and project organizing because of either the lack of it or the rush of it (I don't understand anything because it goes by too fast). There is no practical, realistic project - I have to create them myself, which also takes time. I literally had to create a fake project to get through my first programming class because there was none.

I don’t know. I’m terribly confused as a very neurodivergent person about how this is actually possible to learn.

I’m actually really interested in the world of electronics, but the way my university introduces and teaches the subjects seems beyond miserable.

edit: guys i know software Engineering and computer Engineering arent the dsme i just used the example from my cs focused class.

Is anyone else university like this??? I don't understand. Ours seems like a mix between math, hardware, software, electrical engineering and then a bunch of stem courses: physics, chem, biology. At 5th and 6th semester is super random with AI and electives ....

last edit:

Thank you so much for your responses. I’m reading all of them!

After sleeping on it, I realized that if I could choose a new major, I probably would’ve picked something more specific and less broad so I could really specialize. A huge part of any technical engineering degree is math, so something that would’ve been “easier” for my brain might’ve been mathematical engineering, since I’d be building on my math skills within engineering. Or maybe even pure math at another university.

I can also imagine I would’ve run into the same problem in other degrees like software engineering or biomedical engineering. Anyway, I was a bit ignorant about how technical degrees actually work.

Thank you all for the comments!

Hello as the title says I'm currently a career switcher and grad student in CE. I have realized I am struggling greatly with my physics 1 summer class and unlike other concepts of computers and programs I absolutely have no interest in classical mechanical physics like calculate the force or pull of something or tension etc. Do I need to

be good / like this to succeed? This is my college program.

https://catalog.uhcl.edu/preview\_program.php?catoid=25&poid=7072

Hello all, just wondering if it would be a good idea to go back for a second bachelors in CE after graduating with a CS degree? Has anyone done it, what are the pros/cons?

For a bit of background on me; I graduated in CS near the end of Covid, landed a good role in the finance sector, and realized there’s still a lot I don’t know about computers. I mainly use C++ in my day to day, and sometimes inspect the assembly when comparing different solutions, so I think fairly low level compared to most CS jobs. Knowing ASIC and/or FPGA development would be good skills to stay in this field, and I learn best in a formal environment.

Sorry if this falls under the school/job rule. The weekly pin isn’t showing for me at the moment. And before anyone asks, yes this is partially AI fueled, not out of fear but annoyance.

Like do you still have the passion for it?

I love computer engineering and embedded systems, but I'm worried that I might lose my passion for it after like 10 years of doing a job in it

Because if I'm gonna hate my job either way, I might just get a degree in EE and work with uncle (who's also an EE) instead

Ok so I'm about to start my undergrad position in college, majoring in computer engineering. I've been interested in computer science and coding for a long time. However, with AI taking up more positions in software and coding, I've been made to wonder whether majoring in Computer Engineering would still get me a future career or it'd end up being a waste of my time and money. Are there any other careers that I can work at where AI won't possibly take it?

I really want to choose computer engineering degree for my bachelors but I have been hearing a lot of gossip online about how with the current status with ai that this degree may not be the best option.

I would like to hear input from people who had this degree and if it was hard to find a job.

I have the opportunity to follow Computer engineering, Mechanical engineering or Civil engineering at a recognised local University.

Since childhood my dream has been to become a computer engineer. If someone asked what I love to pursue between Computer, Civil and Mechanical I would definitely pick Computer engineering. Internet articles related to Computer engineering still manage to spark my curiosity. But if I'm being honest my technical knowledge related to Computer engineering field is currently at a beginner level.

I think I can find happiness through the life style of a computer engineer than the life style of a civil, electrical or mechanical engineer.

But with the current situation in the job market I'm having doubts about pursuing computer engineering. Should I pursue Mechanical engineering? That question pops up in my mind. My family is connected to mechanical engineering field. Though I'm currently at beginner level in Mechanical engineering field too compared to my fellow batchmates.

So the question is should I pursue Computer engineering like I always wanted or switch to the Mechanical engineering field thanks to the job market situation? Would appreciate your feedback though I think I might go with Computer engineering.

The next question is if I choose to pursue computer engineering what advice would you give to a currently beginner level undergraduate, to land a job in upcoming 3 years?

( I feel like I'm beginner level compared to other batch mates even though I scored A grades for the programming modules I studied so far)

If you are going to start computer engineering what is the best track you would choose and why , because I am now in that situation where I am really interested in a lot of tracks and trying to study the general things until I see something shine but ain't seeing anything till now

Hii everyone , im looking for job , i need verybadly for my family , if anyone can help