How I mastered Leetcode the unfair way

Summary

In this inspiring video, the speaker shares their journey from struggling with coding problems to acing technical interviews at top tech companies. They reveal key strategies like the Goldilocks approach to balancing struggle and learning, emphasizing quality over quantity in problem-solving, leveraging the 80/20 rule to focus on high-frequency interview questions, and the importance of mock interviews to simulate real interview scenarios. The speaker also highlights the significance of recognizing patterns in coding problems and the necessity of consistent practice, even in the face of frustration and failure.

Takeaways

• 📅 Start with a clear timeline: The speaker reflects on their coding journey from struggling with a single problem for over 24 hours to solving medium-level problems within 15 minutes in a 2021 interview with Meta.
• 🔑 The Goldilocks Approach: Striking the right balance between struggle and learning is crucial, with a focus on not spending too much time on a single problem without progress.
• ⏳ Time Management: Limiting problem-solving attempts to 60 minutes and then moving on to learn from others' solutions can be more beneficial than endless struggle.
• 🛠 Active Learning: Reading top solutions passively is not enough; actively coding them out and understanding why each part works is key to learning.
• 📚 Building a Mental Library: Developing a deep understanding of problems and patterns helps in building a mental library of problem-solving tools.
• 🔢 Quality over Quantity: Focusing on understanding a few problems deeply rather than trying to solve a large number superficially is more effective.
• 💡 The 80/20 Rule in Coding: Concentrating on high-frequency problems that are commonly asked in interviews is more beneficial than trying to cover all possible problems.
• 🎭 Mock Interviews: Practicing with mock interviews helps bridge the gap between solving problems alone and performing in a real interview setting.
• 🔑 Recognizing Patterns: Identifying common problem-solving patterns rather than memorizing individual solutions can make the process more efficient.
• 🌟 Consistency is Key: Showing up and working on coding problems regularly, even when not feeling motivated, is essential for long-term success.
• 🚀 Overcoming Failure: Accepting and learning from failure is a part of the process, and it's important to show up the next day ready to continue the journey.

Q & A

What was the speaker's initial experience with LeetCode problems?

The speaker initially struggled with LeetCode problems, spending over 24 hours trying to solve just one problem and getting frustrated.

How did the speaker's performance improve over time?

The speaker improved by solving three medium-level problems in a 45-minute interview with Meta, showcasing significant progress from their initial struggles.

What is the 'Goldilocks approach' mentioned in the script?

The 'Goldilocks approach' refers to finding the right balance between struggle and learning, where the speaker suggests not spending too much time on a single problem but rather moving on after a certain limit to learn from others' solutions.

Why is it important to time oneself while solving LeetCode problems according to the speaker?

Timing oneself helps to avoid excessive struggle on a single problem, which can be counterproductive. It encourages moving on after a certain time to learn from others' solutions and improve faster.

How did the speaker engage with the solutions they read in the discussion section?

The speaker actively engaged with the solutions by coding them out line by line, understanding each part, and experimenting with the code to see how it affects the test cases.

What is the significance of focusing on the quality of problem-solving rather than the quantity?

Focusing on quality helps in developing a deep understanding of problems and their underlying patterns, which is more beneficial than merely increasing the number of problems solved.

What is the 'LeetCode 8020 rule' as mentioned in the script?

The 'LeetCode 8020 rule' suggests that 20% of problems are asked in 80% of interviews, indicating that focusing on high-frequency problems can be more beneficial for interview preparation.

Why are mock interviews important according to the speaker?

Mock interviews are important as they help bridge the gap between solving problems alone and doing so in an actual interview setting, improving communication skills, problem-solving approaches, and the ability to think on one's feet.

What role do patterns play in the speaker's LeetCode strategy?

Patterns play a crucial role as they allow the speaker to recognize common approaches across different problems, making the problem-solving process more efficient and effective.

What is the key to long-term success in LeetCode according to the speaker?

The key to long-term success is consistency and perseverance, showing up day after day to put in the work even when feeling tired, busy, or frustrated.

What advice does the speaker give for dealing with bad days in LeetCode problem-solving?

The speaker advises to sleep over a bad day and show up the next day to continue working, emphasizing the importance of resilience and continuous effort.