I'm curious about everyone's thoughts on Leetcode. Do you believe it actually helps improve coding skills or is it more of an ineffective practice? What has your experience been?
4 Answers
Leetcode is a bit like practicing a language with flashcards. You might get good at the tests, but when faced with a real-world problem, you might find it doesn't help as much as you thought. It's a necessary part of the job application process, but it's not the full picture of being a good programmer.
It's definitely a double-edged sword. While it can help you sharpen your skills, many companies stick to Leetcode-style questions as a form of filtering. It’s best to learn the basics of coding before diving into those tricky problems. I always recommend starting with the easier questions to build confidence!
I totally agree with this approach!
Honestly, Leetcode is good if you're prepping for interviews, but you'll seldom need that specific knowledge in your job. Focusing on actual projects will serve you better in the long term. Companies want to see what you can build, not just how you handle puzzles.
Practicing on Leetcode can feel similar to prepping for IQ tests; it's great fun but doesn't necessarily make you a better developer. Some employers look down on it, fearing it's not indicative of real-world skills. I know people who have plenty of relevant experience but have never touched Leetcode.
That makes sense, some real-world tasks can be way different!
That's an interesting analogy, I can see where you're coming from.