With holidays just round the corner and Rust alpha being less than a month away from release[0], I think its high time I sit down and learn the language. As most of you agree, the best way to learn a new tech is to build something with it. Having been a web programmer mostly (i.e. systems programming experience = zilch) I'm quite clueless as to what should I (or rather can I) build with Rust.

Ideally, it should be something that pushes me out of comfort zone but not be so daunting that I get demotivated and give up. From what I've glanced, concepts like borrowing and ownership will be challenging enough.

Any ideas for good month long projects that I can look at?

Thanks!

[0] - http://blog.rust-lang.org/2014/12/12/1.0-Timeline.html