My professor recommended Project Euler because many of our quizzes and exams are inspired by its problems. I've worked through the first several challenges, but the difficulty jumps noticeably after problem 10. I'm looking for something with a similar mix of programming, mathematics, and problem-solving, but with a smoother learning curve. It doesn't have to be purely mathematical, and free resources with community discussions or solution explanations would be especially helpful. What would you recommend?
5 Answers
You could also stick with Project Euler for a while. The problems are challenging, but working through them can broaden how you approach programming. Getting stuck is often part of the value, especially when you research the underlying math or look for a more efficient algorithm.
LeetCode is worth considering if you want more traditional programming and algorithm exercises. Project Euler tends to be much more math-heavy, while LeetCode covers topics such as arrays, strings, recursion, data structures, and algorithm design. It may be a better match for an introductory programming course.
Exercism is a solid free resource if your main goal is improving programming fundamentals. It has exercises in many languages and emphasizes readable, maintainable code. It’s less focused on mathematical puzzles than Project Euler, but it provides a gentler way to practice consistently.
Advent of Code is another strong choice. It offers daily programming puzzles with practical themes and a continuing story, and the previous years’ challenges remain available. The early problems are approachable, while later ones become substantially harder. It’s meant to be fun, but the challenges still require serious problem-solving and often build on techniques from earlier puzzles.
Codewars is a good fit. Its difficulty levels make it easier to progress gradually, and you can filter challenges by math-related tags. After solving a problem, you can compare your approach with other users’ solutions. Exercism is another option if you want to focus more on writing clean code and getting feedback rather than solving heavily mathematical puzzles.
That sounds useful. I’m in my first year taking Fundamental Programming, so I’d like something that reinforces the basics without being too easy.