Leetcode is soul destroying

Splunk
TCurl

Go to company page Splunk

TCurl
Jul 18, 2021 32 Comments

Programming is a creative activity. Is there anything more banal than solving problems with known solutions?

These companies want innovation, but ask questions that reward conformity.

The leetcode treadmill never ends, it’s big O is larger than years in your life.

TC: 265k
YOE: 10

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TOP 32 Comments
  • I’ve been hard grinding leetcode for like 2 weeks. I think it’s actually giving me minor depression
    Jul 18, 2021 1
  • IBM
    poor‎

    Go to company page IBM

    poor‎
    unpopular opinion: i actually really enjoy daily leetcode
    Jul 18, 2021 2
    • New
      JaiRamJi

      New

      JaiRamJi
      Me too. After a certain level it's quite addictive.

      Its still useless, but fun :-)
      Jul 19, 2021
    • Twitch
      ryoCodes

      Go to company page Twitch

      ryoCodes
      Yeah I find it fun to do as well (when its spread out and completed at leisure). For me it has been useful because I'm learning language constructs I'd prob never master otherwise (priority_queue, std::remove, std::erase, etc).

      I find the longer I remain with a company, the more I am expected to lead/mentor and the less time I have to code. So LC has been alright.
      Jul 19, 2021
  • Okta
    Authz

    Go to company page Okta

    Authz
    Sure, but can you destroy your soul in linear time?
    Jul 18, 2021 2
  • Facebook / Merch
    -Grogu

    Go to company page Facebook Merch

    -Grogu
    LC and stop whining
    Jul 18, 2021 0
  • Google
    G O O G

    Go to company page Google

    G O O G
    Opinion: your don't need to LC for long, doing like 40 problems should be more than enough just ensure you did a good variety. I also recommend doing the interview process at a few companies you wouldn't care about an offer from to practice before targeting your dream job.
    Jul 18, 2021 2
    • more like 240 problems (and understand+memorize their "optimal" LC solutions, and common patterns)

      it's funny when someone says "i didn't have to prepare much to get that FAANG job, just brush up on your data structures & algorithms, bro"

      if you get into google with only a few (or none) LC problems solved you're either
      1) lucky
      2) have done programming competitions during college (e.g. ICPC)
      3) have gone through a few internships rounds which forced you to grind hundreds of problems (may be on Codeforces or Topcoder)
      4) have gone through LC grind in your 3-5 previous job hunts
      5) just love solving little programming puzzles for fun on e.g. Project Euler, and spent hundreds of hours doing do, or
      6) all of the above
      Jul 19, 2021
    • IAG
      JNSF6

      Go to company page IAG

      JNSF6
      Yes exactly.

      Most people doing "500+" problems are doing it because they're teaching themselves algorithms from scratch.

      Which is not an unusual thing to have to do.
      Jul 19, 2021