I know that real programmers often don't just focus on solving LeetCode problems all the time, but I'm curious if doing LeetCode exercises can serve as a benchmark for assessing my overall programming abilities. I'm currently searching for an internship and find that while easy problems are manageable, I really struggle with the medium ones. Sometimes, after looking at the solutions, I feel lost and think there's no way I could've arrived at that answer. My goal is to consistently tackle medium problems in under 30 minutes and to skip the hard ones altogether. Does this sound like a reasonable approach for leveling up my skills? I plan to work on projects and join clubs as well, but I intend to dedicate a little time each day to these exercises.
6 Answers
Just keep in mind that LeetCode emphasizes memorizing algorithms more than real-world problem solving, so it's important to consider what skills you really want to develop. If you're aiming for coding interviews, then yes, it’s beneficial. But if you want to become a better programmer overall, balancing LeetCode with hands-on projects and learning could be a better route.
Using LeetCode is a solid way to reinforce and test what you've learned, so if that's your aim, then go for it! It helps build certain skills that can be useful for coding interviews, but don't forget the importance of projects and practical experience too.
I totally relate to your struggle! After years of coding, I still feel underprepared for interviews, especially since I haven't worked on real projects. It’s a tough spot, but practicing on LeetCode can help, even if it feels daunting sometimes.
LeetCode really targets a specific area of coding that could eventually become less relevant thanks to AI, which is pretty good at solving these well-defined problems. In real-world development, you're generally making tweaks to existing code to fulfill business needs, which is a bit different from what LeetCode execises. So while LeetCode can help, it's not the whole picture.
Once you do enough LeetCode problems, you'll start recognizing algorithm patterns, which makes things way easier. Getting familiar with strategies like the sliding window or two-pointer techniques can really help you pick the right approach during interviews.
Don't shy away from hard problems! Sometimes, it's about the specific skills you're comfortable with. I even managed to solve a hard problem while still finding the easy ones challenging. So, focus on your weak spots and keep pushing your boundaries. LeetCode can indeed be a reasonable benchmark, but it also requires problem solving, programming knowledge, and some math skills.
Exactly! It's tough to feel ready when you haven't applied your skills in real-world projects.