Leetcode and onset depression
Have been trying Leetcode, codewars, hacker rank for months now. And I am ashamed to admit that I am failing pretty hard. Sure some things work out but I find that I am unable to do most of the medium level problems. I can’t quite wrap my head around what the questions are asking for. It’s like they are written in the worst way possible (at least for me). Does anyone else struggle with this? Looking for honest answers if possible, I am really having a hard time.
Don’t worry if you are struggling. Try this: look at the solution and try understanding it. Use a pen and paper first. Remember you are not the only one struggling. Many people are. It took me 1.5 years to really understand the easiest problems. May be I wasn’t ready the first time. Leetcode and chilll!
Have you tried sorting by problem type? That helped for me to practice specific techniques per problem type ie. sliding window for arrays.
Yeah. I have done this a bunch I guess it’s just highly depressing to feel as if I have been making no progress in the close to 1 year that I have dedicated to practicing consistently. I also do a lot of Udemy and Lynda courses on the parts of programming and languages that I am weak in. Along with trying to read reputable tech blogs. I am putting in a lot of effort because I really do want to get better at what I do.
Focus on easy and do more. It’s about quantity
A lot of them are poorly written. Just skip them or read the discussion to understand what the question is actually asking.
I really thought it was just me. I read a lot just because I enjoy it and would like to believe my reading comprehension is pretty solid but some of the problems seem like they were written by someone going through a manic episode. Not trying to make fun of bipolar folks. It is just the most appropriate analogy I can think of at the moment to get my point across.
If you don't get a problem, never try to look into someone's code to understand it. That is the best way to lower your confidence.
I have discovered this mostly through work experience. Whenever I ask someone about some code I have no exposure to and that has no significant or meaningful comments and they say the code is the documentation I have learned to push back pretty hard. Reading through line after line of code is doable, but time is valuable and it’s dumb to waste it that way if it isn’t necessary
Do all the easier problems first
I’ve done a huge number of them and continue to do so. It’s just the very hard barrier that comes with moving up to the harder problems and that has remained virtually the same for months. I’d say at least 6, that’s where the sense of failure comes from. It makes everyone else seem like some sort of god damn wizard, and I’m just over here failing to tie my laces.
There is no end to coding difficulty, and it's not all about coding, find a company that values you as a person instead
Honestly, you won’t get any answer helpful here because you know everything. I would suggest take a break, find out where you are failing, write all the onsite/interview questions on a single doc. Failing in life is a part, Deloitte’s current CEO was failed in his first attempt to Deloitte. I’m pretty sure you have very good basics, just keep practicing.
Maybe you need to do a course on Data Structure and Algorithms before you attempt to practice those questions.
I’ve been going through these courses. I try to take them slowly so I really understand what’s going on. I have also been using the Cracking the Coding Interview book. Along with just generally reading up on data structures and algorithms. Part of me wants to just stop all of it and do the MIT open course classes on data structures and see how that works out.
As someone who was in similar shoes as you - you might want to focus a bit more on the ocw classes and lesser on the problems . Yes its more time consuming but I'm the pay off is better in the long term. Leetcode does not teach algorithmic thinking but is more about just the application of it.
Wtf this guy did everything people suggested.
I’ve been trying really really hard, is that a bad thing? I like that people are suggesting stuff. Just because I might have tried it doesn’t mean I won’t go back and make a more focused effort if others suggest something. Also never said I was a guy.
Tc
No. I want to focus on the practice of getting better. I would prefer the conversation not devolve into how much or how little people are making.
you came to the wrong place buddy