side effects of 541 Leetcode problems on brain

Summary

Sahil shares his transformative journey of solving 541 Leetcode problems, beginning in 2016, where he struggled with basic problems despite solid theoretical knowledge. Through persistent practice and overcoming mistakes—such as memorizing solutions and poor code quality—he advanced through five levels of Leetcode. By switching to Python and improving his problem-solving approach, he secured offers from major companies like Amazon and Google. His story emphasizes the importance of focusing on personal growth, not comparing yourself to others, and building a strong foundation for success in coding interviews.

Takeaways

• 😀 Starting from zero: Everyone begins with struggles, and progress comes through consistent effort and learning.
• 😀 Avoid comparing yourself to others: Focus on your personal journey rather than feeling discouraged by others' progress.
• 😀 Structured preparation is crucial: Without a clear plan or roadmap, it’s easy to get lost in the maze of algorithms and data structures.
• 😀 Don’t memorize solutions: Understand the problem-solving process and avoid simply copying solutions, as this doesn't improve your problem-solving skills.
• 😀 Overcoming initial frustration: It’s normal to feel frustrated and doubting yourself early on, but perseverance is key to growth.
• 😀 Quality matters: Prioritize writing clean, efficient code and debugging skills. Bad code signals inexperience and limits opportunities.
• 😀 Learn from mistakes: Every mistake is a learning opportunity, whether it's related to problem-solving or technical skills like debugging and code quality.
• 😀 Don’t rush the coding phase: Take time to think through the solution before jumping into the coding phase, especially in interviews.
• 😀 Experiment with multiple approaches: Don't be afraid to try different solutions to a problem, especially once you’ve become comfortable with the basics.
• 😀 Switch tools if necessary: Adapting to new programming languages, like Python in this case, can drastically improve speed and efficiency in interviews.
• 😀 Trust the process: Consistent practice, improving your skills, and learning from setbacks will eventually lead to success in coding interviews.

Q & A

What was the narrator's experience like when they first started solving Leetcode problems?

The narrator struggled significantly when they first started solving Leetcode problems. They found themselves stuck on easy problems, spent hours trying to solve them, and often resorted to memorizing solutions instead of truly understanding them. This led to frustration and self-doubt.

What was the narrator's biggest mistake in the initial stages of their Leetcode journey?

The biggest mistake was a lack of structure in their preparation. They jumped from one problem to another without a logical progression, which made it difficult to fully understand the concepts and solutions.

How did the narrator’s confidence change as they progressed to Level 2?

At Level 2, the narrator gained the ability to solve medium-level problems, although they couldn't solve them consistently. Solving a medium problem once in a while gave them significant confidence, even though they were still struggling with consistency.

What was the key factor that helped the narrator progress to solving medium problems?

The key factor was realizing the difference between thinking about how to code a solution and thinking about the solution itself. This allowed the narrator to focus more on the problem-solving process rather than coding syntax.

What mistake did the narrator make during the Google interview that cost them the offer?

The narrator’s biggest mistake during the Google interview was the quality of their code. They didn’t focus on writing clean, efficient code, and this gave the impression that they were inexperienced. Additionally, they didn’t focus enough on debugging.

What change did the narrator make at Level 4 that significantly improved their performance?

At Level 4, the narrator switched from Java to Python for their interviews. This allowed them to code faster, debug more efficiently, and test multiple solutions to a problem, which greatly improved their performance.

How did switching to Python impact the narrator’s coding interviews?

Switching to Python made coding interviews much faster and easier for the narrator. Python’s simplicity and less verbose syntax allowed them to focus more on the problem and less on syntax, enabling them to write cleaner code and solve problems more efficiently.

What was the narrator's experience when they reached Level 5?

At Level 5, the narrator could solve medium problems in 15-20 minutes and tackle hard problems in 45 minutes. They felt confident and invincible in interviews, as solving problems quickly became a matter of how many problems they could solve, not if they could solve them.

What key advice would the narrator give to their past self at Level 1?

The narrator would advise their past self to stop comparing with others and to focus on their own journey. They emphasize that progress takes time and everyone starts somewhere, so it’s important to stay focused on personal growth.

What was the ultimate lesson the narrator learned from their Leetcode journey?

The ultimate lesson was that persistence and a structured approach to learning lead to success. The narrator learned that with consistent effort, it is possible to gain the skills needed for success in coding interviews and secure job offers, regardless of the challenges along the way.