I am new to Linux and Unix Programming..I have been using Slack for quite a while and recently,decided to take a plunge into the real thing..the Programming.I have begun reading Richard Stevens..its full of sample code..but nowhere the implementation part is provided..I want to put into code what I learn..can some one suggest me of some project or something similar to that..which improves my programming Skills and makes me a real Unix Programmer or more aptly a Kernel Hacker??I would be thankful to anyone who suggest me to start with some Project ..Thanx in advance....

unix networking programmer doesnt actually make you a kernel hacker (sorry for having burst your bubble).
to become what you call a kernel hacker:
for starters you could write a packet hijacker sort of a thing that would take the packet from the network interface, before it is actually processed by the network stack functions, you can find such projects at phrack.org

as for the network programming, you can try out the projects that you might find in the stevens bible itself, pick and go through all the things in that project.

Thanx..for those nice suggestions...and for your comment part..My aim is not to acquire titles by the way..If that's what the impression..I conveyed to you..I am sorry..then..anyway...I would check on those projects..you have said...anything else is welcome..I just want to meddle with my OS by writing code..name it what ever you like...Kernel Hacker..Network Programmer...ur wish.

well, well.... kernel programming? You have to learn to crawl before you learn to walk... in this case you want to RUN!

Calm down, man... my guess is that the kernel is complicated to require you to spend several hours (and when I say several, i mean several) programming simpler stuff. Those guys (kernel programmers) are the ultimate kind of programmers... semi-gods.

Try to find the tao of programming.

You can get a good intro here : http://www.advancedlinuxprogramming.com/

Hey..calm down fellas...I think I just got it all wrong..I just want to design some basic applications for the Linux..I mean..some basic programming involving Unix System calls..and all that stuff..I am going through the wget source code at present..I want to create some application like that..ofcourse..not again..some thing as big as it..but to start with..some application which is worth posting on freshmeat.net...again..dont think of some thing vast.I am just a rookie and want to get into some good Linux Programming stuff..atleast from an year or a couple of years from now...I want to be a serious Unix Programmer....any one got any suggestion...please do so....I'd just grab..it..

why aren't any one speaking of?any one of you got any idea of any starter applications..which I can give a try ..using the Unix programming Knowledge I am developing.some one please help me out..

umm...yo uwant some small thing that you want to put on freshmeat or you want something that you can learn networking with?

if it is the former, then i guess you can try doing some sort of a multiple connection handling client server project, that would teach you a lot of stuff on n/w programming (read stevens to find out how to do stuff)

if it is the latter: try doing something like a network monitor that can get the statistics of a particular machines performance.

this should be easy enough and interesting enough...

there are propreitary products that do this stuff...but htere is no harm in a small application that can do this for me...for free....