Where to use new found knowledge?

Just an idea but if you want some inspiration on what to do just for some experience without any payment, maybe you can try a site like BriefBox for dummy briefs to work on.

Have you thought about duplicating the functionality of a site you like to use? That way you can cherry pick the skills you already have, have a reference guide, and will certainly learn a lot as you go. I've done that before. It's kinda fun.

Matthew;

Here are some suggestions for projects, but coming up with your own idea can be more rewarding. The other thing to think about is that it is perfectly reasonable to expand your knowledge of one aspect of a project and then not finish it off. For example, it you want to build a website that allows users to post and share photos and other users to comment on them, you need things like user/admin accounts, data storage, connections between users, etc. Well for an educational project you wouldn't necessarily need to flush out all the CSS and JavaScript that a live site might have, but you could learn quite a bit from user accounts for example. That being said, here are some general ideas.

1. CMS system
2. Build a simple game like Rock-Paper-Scissors , track user wins/losses. Add more logic to the game and make it a Rock-Paper-Scissors-Lizard-Spock game.
3. Create a simple online store with a cart, products, pricing, shipping, taxes, etc.
4. Employee scheduling system, time tracking.
5. Contact management/address book.

You mentioned that you have learned PHP, and in looking at your profile I see that you have some Python skills as well. Build some of the above projects with both languages to see the difference in development, performance, library support, etc.

Just some thoughts.

Happy coding,

Ken

Why not make a personal website? If you've gone through college or are really good at something, make an online portfolio for yourself. For the same site, you could also have a page where you tell a bit about yourself and maybe a page for contact information.

If this isn't something for you, perhaps you or some relative to you has a shop or a service in your town for which you could make a site for?

If not, find a local business and volunteer to make a site for them for free -- you'd be surprised how many small shops have nothing more than a half-used facebook page or a website from 2002. So go out there and ask! I did my first freelance project last year for a local hairdresser.

Another idea would be to make a small web-application that collects information that's valuable to you. Maybe that's collecting data from your favorite sports team and convert that into stats that you can display with charts and graphs. We all have our "first-thing-in-the-morning internet-routines", so whatever that is for you (be it sports, stockmarket, news, etc), maybe you can find a way to get the information you want more focused and easier to access. Just make sure that it's something you think you'd enjoy and really utilize -- otherwise you'll quickly get bored.

If you feel you are really good at it, perhaps you could sell your services online, such as Fiverr.

I'd recommend the free freelance project though. Doing something for someone else adds pressure and the sense of responsibility to try your best to make something unique and useful -- and when push your limits you'll eventually explore new things and learn in the process!

Good luck! :)