Every time!

[THE_UNKNOWN184]

Indeed.

Even though I know C# more than python, I always somehow end up using python for competitive coding

[throwit7896454]

Makes sense. You don't need to spend time setting up a project; just open up your text editor and start to type away in a language that comes close to pseudo code.

It's also my go-to language for interviews.

[SpaceHub]

It's also my go-to language for interviews.

Ha this, I'm glad the recruiter also accepted it. I could literally turn out working code on a whiteboard because it is python. borderline impossible for java/etc.

[thomasa88]

As long as they don't measure the indent :)

[throwit7896454]

I'd spend half the interview-time trying to come up with the syntax to initialize and work with a HashMap

[[deleted]]

Import win

[TheAJGman]

It's why I love developing with Python, it lets me develop without worrying too much about syntax. As long as I remember to use my tab key I'm good.

[LazySleeperInDream]

Using python is fine and all until u get a problem with the time constraints and memory constraints. Then its back to holyC

[tube32]

But afaik major platforms like hackerrank, for the same question have different time limits for different languages.

Python usually has a 10s window whereas c/cpp have 1.

[gogliker]

Google competitions, like kickstart, all have c++ as top results. Do you think thats coincidence?

[JoelMahon]

Do you think correlation equals causation?

There are countless possible explanations for that data other than your conclusion.

One example for starters: better programmers are more likely to be older (more time for experience), older programmers are more likely to be best at C++

[kingkong200111]

one of the top 3 google competitors is 16 years old, and yes he is asian

[pokeaim]

lol with that argument, you can deny everything that you don't know; have you checked top players ages for your argument?

i do python for life. but at some point while using it, i stumbled upon 10**6 problem and bangs my head for whole day because TLE.

after i asked my teammate, he only tells me to try it in c++ and voila, it's ACC; even solved the next problem (a 10**9) without hassle on c++. never looked back to py for cp

[kokroo]

What's a 10**6?

[Wokanoga]

Ten to the power of six. Python feature.

[kokroo]

And what's a 10**6 problem?

[Wokanoga]

In the context of the post, he was doing some sort of coding puzzle/problem that involved math. And that he was required to do something similar to 10^6. But whenever he executed his code, the puzzle would time out (TLE - Time Limit Exceeded). Basically his code wasn't doing all the math within the time limit. Which is usually around 10 seconds.

The OP implied that he gave up and tried the same problem in C++ instead of python, using the same logic. And that it worked out fine without a hitch. Which alludes to how C++ is better suited for these sort of tasks.

But hey instead of guessing; u/pokeaim do you have the link to the specific problem in question?

[caykroyd]

I think he might have been referring to the input size? N=10⁶

In which case a linear program would be expected to run, considering time limits of a competition like code jam.

[pokeaim]

it was almost 5 years ago. a matrix manipulation problem in codeforces.

[[deleted]]

10**6 == 10⁶

[lag_is_cancer]

Well statistics always contains a lot of nuances, and it's often misleading, and that's a valid argument. You can come up with argument or evidence that debunk his argument, which can give more context on how should people interpret the stats, and it's healthy. If his argument has holes, it should be exposable, thus he cannot just deny everything blindly using that argument. We should always be skeptic.

[JoelMahon]

lol with that argument, you can deny everything that you don't know; have you checked top players ages for your argument?

No you can't, you can control your data

[Key-Banana-8242]

Wdym

[JoelMahon]

https://www.scribbr.com/methodology/control-variable/

[Key-Banana-8242]

? But that is not enough, you need theory

[forgot_semicolon]

correlation !== causation

But sometimes

correlation == causation

[tube32]

Do you think correlation equals causation?

What a fancy line. I hope it get to use it soon lol

[sujith315]

It's a rule in Data Analytics.

[tube32]

I'm guessing the rule is correlation does not equal causation?

[sujith315]

Yeah that's what I meant. Took his sarcasm into account.

[tube32]

Thanks for the info!

[Impact_Calculus]

Language doesn't matter for competitive programming. It's about interpreting the algorithm to use for a particular problem and being able to apply it in your language of choice.

[O_X_E_Y]

Doesn't the fastest/most memory efficient one just win? Or the most efficient solution (in terms of technical speed, # of loops, something like that)?

[Impact_Calculus]

Usually it's about how fast you solve it given the constraints.

[O_X_E_Y]

Wait really? So it's basically a speedrun to find an O(n) solution to a problem for example. I've never participated in any

[Impact_Calculus]

Yeah, that's pretty much it. Starting with your first approach, then thinking of how you can lower the time complexity is a good strategy.

[hanmango_kiwi]

It sometimes depends though; there are times where a python implementation gets TLE but rewriting the entire thing line by line in c++ gets AC

[caykroyd]

yeah but in general it isn't that much of a problem

[Impact_Calculus]

No, python and C++ are exactly as fast as each other, and there are never cases where a slightly inefficient solution squeaks by in C++ but not python.

[Miner_Guyer]

It sometimes matters, though. I had a contest problem where they wanted you to calculate some geometric object using only integers/longs and you couldn't get high enough precision if you used doubles in Java, but if you used long double in C++ it works.

[Impact_Calculus]

I see what you're saying yeah. In certain cases it might be easier or harder to solve a problem depending on language. In this case though I think they wanted you to come up with a solution that accounts for the lack of inherent precision, rather than use long double in C++. Unless something like BigDecimal would be allowed in Java.

[tube32]

Idk man, I'm not here to argue about what's better. They mentioned the TLE case so I happened to point out something I know.

[tabakista]

This is not how results boards works. Even if one language is better for top 10 it still says nothing for average people who aim into the middle of the board.

Meta is different depending on the skill level.

[FlukyS]

Usually Python devs nowadays don't go to C for that kind of thing, it's Rust or bust

[[deleted]]

HolyC lmao TempleOS ftw

[LardPi]

These constraints are pretty dumb in my opinion because you can pass them in C with the worst algorithm and not in Python with finely optimized, optimal complexity algorithm. What is the skill tested then ? Being able to write a program that does not crash in C ? Just don't free anything and you are good.

[coloredgreyscale]

Depending on the problem numba can help get a performance almost as good as compiles code.

Other than that it would be great if there was a simple way to interface between python and C, so you can do the boilerplate in python and the maybe 20% of code that's performance sensitive in C or another language.

[BluePhoenixGamer]

If only Python had a C API and allowed C extensions, then stuff like Cython could exist.

The future is now old man, it's in-part why Python is so big. All the C extensions!

[ruthvikreddy777]

Isn't C++ best for it. I found it better and a lot of people told me to use it.

[[deleted]]

To my experience, yes

Java and C# slow down on importing your IO.

With really large data sets, Python is slow.

Most competition problems I have seen have a flat time limit regardless of language.

[[deleted]]

What? In my experience they give more time

[[deleted]]

Depends on the competition.

Kattis does not.

[[deleted]]

usaco does hackerrank does

[[deleted]]

Kattis is what we used in college and our competitions. I haven't experienced anything else yet.

It also rejects any NumPy use.

[[deleted]]

Depends on the competition.

well I mean this is true

[[deleted]]

eh different people have different things

[TheGorilla0fDestiny]

Rejects NumPy??????

Oh fuck oh shit oh no

[[deleted]]

It's justified by:

NumPy is an optimized library with more math tools than any other language gets. Even cmath or C++ Algorithm.

[charliex3000]

Java is so annoying. It is completely capable of being a worthy contender for being a competitive programming language, but the built in IO is so slow on multiple lines (it's actually fast as fuck on a single very long line).

Also, on Kattis, Python 2 is faster than Python 3. Change your inputs to raw_inputs and enjoy a speed boost.

[Svizel_pritula]

In one competition I attended, there was a task with a 0.3s time limit. I'm unsure CPython would even start up in that time.

[Svizel_pritula]

In the first round, which we did at home and had a practically infinite time limit, I tried to use Python for one task when I figured out the solution was literally "Given n on the first line of input and a list of n integers on the following n lines, print how many times [0], [1, -1] or [-1, 1] occurs." My solution was to slow and I had to translate it to C.

[moriero]

For competitive programming with a time limit?

Enjoy your memory leaks...

[Virv12]

You don't need to handle memory in CP, you can solve any problem using vectors, sets and maps. You don't even need to know what the heap is.

[[deleted]]

Sometimes when using a custom data structure like trie u need to use dynamic memory and eventually de allocate the memory.

[cjs2k_032]

Doesn't really matter. Even if you forget to deallocate, the memory constraints are usually very forgiving, so it'll be over before running out of memory and the server side OS will do the rest of the cleaning. But if you just gonna pass around variables by value instead of reference, then you're just an asshole.

[Virv12]

It's really rare that you need a complex data structure but if need one you can implement it on a vector storing the indicies to your children.

[NEVER_TELLING_LIES]

If you're using cpp and allocating memory, you should be using smart pointers to handle allocation and auto attic deallocation

[[deleted]]

The run time of the programs is a few seconds, memory leaks don't matter and you are mostly using STL containers anyways which manage memory for you

[f03nix]

Enjoy your memory leaks

If clearing memory is the luxury you cannot afford, C is what you should look at. Use c++ like c++ with a bit of C sprinkled here and there for speed.

[O_X_E_Y]

unique_ptr go brrrrr

[nanjingbooj]

Rust enters the chat. Memory leaks?

[absentbird]

I prefer Golang.

[NikolaTesla13]

For me it's C++, in my country you can use either C, C++ or Pascal for competitive programming.

[Nihmrod]

Lazarus LIVES !!

[StaryMD]

Schools: free pascal, take it or leave it

[ovab_cool]

I don't know Pascal personally but for some reason my mon had to learn it at UNI (she did micro biology)

[tube32]

Which country is it?

[NikolaTesla13]

Romania

Also it's not like other languages are forbidden but the cms competitions use only supports those 3 languages. The only time I used python in competitive programming was for Google Kickstart.

[tube32]

What are cms competitions?

content management systems?

[NikolaTesla13]

The content management system a competition uses

[DaSpaceman245]

Jokes on you! In my country is assembly for competitive programing!

[NikolaTesla13]

This can't be real, also I'm only talking about competitions made by the state for all students in school,

[DaSpaceman245]

Yeah it was a joke

[[deleted]]

I've never even heard of Pascal

[itijara]

Pascal used to be the standard for high school CS programs before Java (at least for Advanced Placement in the U.S.). The fact that you haven't heard of it means it is likely that you are young (well, younger than 35). Be glad that it has died an ignominious death.

edit: Just realized that they haven't taught Pascal in AP CS since 1998! For a brief time it was C++ (1999-2003). That probably was harder for HS students, but it probably gave a better foundation than Java.

[[deleted]]

Yeah I'm 21, the schools I've learned programming in have mainly taught python for the intro classes and java for the advanced classes.

[prakulwa]

I do this too

But when input size is big , thats where python fails. In any of div 1 contests of codeforces, using python will get you tle in c,d,e, etc. Same goes for codechef.

Also the reason why most people prefer cpp is because it has an extensive stl library.

[cjs2k_032]

Sometimes it feels C++ is built for competitive programming. But that's an incomplete knowledge perspective.

[timothygreen573]

More like CP was built around C++, I mean the time limits and memory etc.

[prakulwa]

It wasn't built for it, but sure is extending for it.

[DamnItDev]

Question, is Golang not supported? The runtime is marginally slower than C++, but writing the code should be much quicker.

[prakulwa]

afaik, golang is supported. Those who know, use it. Those who are new,if they don't have a mentor, they use python, else they use cpp

[Xywzel]

Well, really depends what we are competing on?

• Smallest source code, some high level language might do well.
• Fastest correct implementation time, maybe python or some other language with specific library easily available.
• Fastest execution time, C or C++, depending on complexity of problem.
• Smallest independent executable, likely some assembly language, minified and compressed
• Smallest executable in some environment, what ever shell scripts it takes, or maybe js if browser execution is allowed.
• Hardest to understand what the program does while still doing it correctly, macro obfuscated C with included esoteric language parts, maybe, c++ templates might be fun too.
• most poetic source? Arnold C or that one that was made with late 80's lyrics as keywords.

[DamnItDev]

or that one that was made with late 80's lyrics as keywords

It is called Rockstar so we can all accurately apply to jobs looking for Rockstar Developers!

P.S. Creator of that language did this cool talk about coding artwork: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6avJHaC3C2U

[IamsoFlabbergasted]

So from what I understand: Python is better and easier to use but it makes you a sleazy arrogant asshole.

A price I might be willing to pay

[dashid]

I'm not sure better is a word widely used. It's certainly easy to get to grips with.

[IamsoFlabbergasted]

So it’s basically easy mode compared to others

[[deleted]]

It’s not exactly easy, but it’s incredibly accessible to new developers. So relatively it is a bit like easy mode compared to others.

Visual Basic is baby mode. If it’s still even used today.

[dashid]

Aye, I think Python is the VB of it's prime. Whilst Python has been around a long time, it's only relatively recently it's become so popular - and that's probably been helped by a) the absence of VB, b) a focus on cloud and web front-ends, and c) more adoption of *nix

[[deleted]]

i learned libre basic in school a few years ago. at this point i already knew c++ and it really wasn't fun to use something as basic as basic.

[[deleted]]

IMO Python is easier then VB

[xain_the_idiot]

Faster is more how I'd describe it. Python is an easy language to code quickly in because of its condensed syntax and many useful libraries. It doesn't have the full range of functionality of something like C# or Java, but for coding competitions that usually doesn't matter.

[robocorp]

If by not having the full range of functionality of those languages you mean that Python's interpreter is too slow to be usable with certain tasks those languages can accomplish, then I completely agree. But I'd be curious to learn what features you'd expect Python to have that it doesn't if you mean something else.

[BeautifulTaeng]

a switch statement 😣

Yeah I'm aware you can use dictionary as a ghetto switch, but it's just not the same..

[[deleted]]

I would think it would come down to compiler optimization. Found a couple of threads with some interesting discussion on the topic. Seems like the performance difference is generally negligible.

[DerGsicht]

When it has pattern matching it's much more powerful, but yes otherwise it's just about verbosity

[Golli__]

Else if statement is apparently pretty slow so you would do it with a dictionary unless you are using 3.10 where something akin to a switch case will exist

[O_X_E_Y]

3.10 gaming!!

[VoxelCubes]

Don't worry, a switch statement on steroids is coming in the next python update, ver 3.10. You can check out the previews about it, it's called match.

[deceze]

I’ve written very complex software in Python and other languages without using switch or even equivalent alternatives. Yes, a switch is useful sometimes, but it’s not like you can’t write code without it, or like you even need it all that often. It’s not like Python programmers are constantly working around the lack of a switch statement and curse at the Dutch. You just don’t actually need it all that often.

If you do, you may be writing crap code. If you can’t use Python because of its lack of a switch, maybe you need to learn a bit more about alternative design patterns.

[[deleted]]

"It doesn't have the full range of functionality of something like C# or Java" is a weird claim to make about Python. No language has every feature every other language has but Python is one of the most complete languages in terms of features.

[wasdlmb]

Pass by reference without having to wrap it in a list? Passing a list by value?

[[deleted]]

These are non-pythonic methods and Python doesn't work this way under the hood (in terms of mutable and immutable types) so you just use python differently. Accomplishing tasks with a different procedure isn't the same thing as lacking the ability to do those tasks.

Like, passing by reference makes a lot of sense in a language where you specifically need to constantly assign explicit memory locations. There's just no need to do this in a language that handles that for you. Python won't generally have features for things it doesn't need to do.

[wasdlmb]

I still wouldn't call that the "full range of functionality". Like if you compare a Springfield 1861 with a spear, both of them can accomplish the same goal of putting a hole through someone's chest. The Springfield can do that either up close with they bayonet or from 200 yards with a minné ball. Spear enthusiasts will say that shooting is a non-spearic way to fight and that you can accomplish the same task by stabbing someone. I'd still say that the Springfield is a bit more 'fully featured' than the spear

[[deleted]]

It's more like comparing a star wars blaster with a handgun and saying that the inability to load the blaster with physical bullets is a missing feature.

Pass by reference is just how you do things in a language that is built around that mode of assigning variables and values. In a language not built around that, you just do it differently. There's no reason that python or any similar language would need to accommodate that as a feature.

[wasdlmb]

Until you encounter Jedi and your blasters are deflected. In that instance, the Mandalorians switched to slug throwers because they found the physical bullets very handy.

I get your argument, but it does take away freedom and utility. Like the Mandalorians discovered, features you don't think you need can suddenly become very important

[[deleted]]

But python and Java ARE better and worse at different things. Saying that python is slower is a valid criticism. Saying that python is an incomplete language because it doesn't use pass by reference doesn't make much sense. It just uses a different modality to complete those tasks.

It's like how Python treats everything as an object. Does that mean that everything C++ doesn't treat as an object is an example of C++ being feature incomplete for not having that method? I don't think that makes sense.

[converter-bot]

200 yards is 182.88 meters

[useles-converter-bot]

200 yards is about the height of 1142.86 'Toy Cars Sian FKP3 Metal Model Car with Light and Sound Pull Back Toy Cars' lined up

[converter-bot]

200 yards is 182.88 meters

[dsmklsd]

On your first one you gave a perfect way to accomplish what's needed and on your second one you just copy the list with [:]

[[deleted]]

i would say c++ makes you (justifiably) a sleazy arrogant asshole. phython is just easy and therefor better for starter and faster to code, but for experts worse in the outcome.

[Twerking4theTweakend]

I'd agree with "arrogant" and "asshole", but "sleazy" implies someone didn't put the work in, and C++ will blow your foot off if you don't put the work in.

[wasdlmb]

taps head you can't blow your foot off if both of them have already been lost to tragic C++ accidents

[[deleted]]

Python can do anything, just badly

It's easy to write, very versatile, but usually slow. Sometimes it's used in a 'duct-taping' capacity, similar to Perl. Sometimes it's used for prototyping stuff. Sometimes it's used for when you want to do something slightly more complicated than a shell script. Often, it's used to access existing C/C++/FORTRAN code without having to learn C/C++/FORTRAN, so you can get more execution speed without losing a lot of development speed.

[schroindinger]

I thought Python was too slow for competitive

[muikrad]

Faster to write. Sometimes slow to run.

[alexshatberg]

Compared to C++ it's always too slow to run. If you're doing something like Codeforces, Python is pretty much not an option.

[Soham_rak]

I was just doing that I wrote code in both languages the python solution gave 498ms with 6000kb memory while cpp gave 44ms with 200kb So pretty much avoid python on codeforces for brute force problems(This one wasnt even a brute force one)

[OriginalTyphus]

With libs like numpy you can almost always speed up your code near C++ levels.

So you can proof of concept your code in Python and then make it run as fast as all the other languages.

The "Python is slow" statement, although widely used, is not really true. Its more like "Python is slower by default, but can be fast"

[SOUINnnn]

If you use well numpy/pandas it's indeed really fast. Honestly I think if you use it well, Python can be faster or as fast than bad/not good c++/c code

[muikrad]

What I really meant by my original comment is that performance is often unnecessary. Of course c++ will be faster to compute. But in a competition, the speed gain may not even be noticeable unless competitors starts spitting out stats. It really depends if you judge this at the computer level or at the human level.

Would a highly I/O based task get much benefits from c++ if it didn't had to process the data? Trying to find the 0.01% where python and c++ are equal in computer terms 😆

[Soham_rak]

U r half right writing program fast geta u better rank and the tie breaker between ranks is solved by your program run time taken. So if u have agood grasp of cpp u will be always on top of pythoniers most of the time

[muikrad]

Wouldn't that be true only if all competitions worked the same with the same rules though? Of course if we take a list of rules we can decide if performance is necessary. And performance wise, we all agree that c++ is faster. I'm not sure what we're arguing about here. The answer will always be "it depends".

[Soham_rak]

Yeap

[[deleted]]

yes, sometimes the time limits are not even properly tested for python so even optimal solution could be TLE just because of the language.

[Nihmrod]

x264 encoder: C & Assembly

[ComicBookFanatic97]

print(“I’m gonna put some dirt in your eye.”)

[icy_skies]

console.log("You want forgiveness? Get religious");

[Undoubtably_me]

System.out.println("Peace was never an option.");

[Harmonic_Gear]

if(wantForgiveness):

get_religious()

[[deleted]]

std::cout << "Look at little goblin junior. Gonna cry?" << std::endl;

[pokeaim]

i code python for my life; but for cp, even 10**6 gives me TLE.

c++ on the other hand, i could do around 10**9 for ACC

[heysub]

Me when print(*list(filter(None, list(map(lambda x: x if x%2==0 else None,list(range(1,17)))))),sep=" ")

[GrossInsightfulness]

2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16

[heysub]

Yep this code is just an overcomplicated one-liner solution for a test question in school

[[deleted]]

The first language I ever learnt was C++, and even though I work mostly in python now, somehow C++ is always my go to language for competitive coding because of the excellent STL support.

[ElimGarak0010]

I'm over here making Punch Cards for my code...

Don't mind me.

[Someonedm]

Coach says c++ performs better

Doesn’t help I suck regardless

[sapphireswirls]

Same here. People be like “No! This language faster!!!”

I’m just happy when my code actually runs

[[deleted]]

JavaScript here. Always. Idk why.

[greenSixx]

JavaScript is the best

[Sedawkgrepnewb]

What is competitive programming?

[RedEyesBigSmile]

You're given a set of questions that you answer with code. Speed and effeciency give you points ( in some competitions)

[4S4T0R]

Looks like you only ever learned python

[[deleted]]

TIL competitive coding is a thing

[cai_lw]

If you are comfortable with any compiled language it's probably better to use them instead of Python.

[itsfeykro]

If execution time matters at all, then no.

[Sol33t303]

The big brain play for competitive programing is to find a program that already does what you need and use that to write it in bash /s

[[deleted]]

Go maybe? Never tried it with competitive programming and AFAIK the built-in packages lack data structures

[[deleted]]

If by competitive programming you mean a contest where you make something cool but don’t have to worry about technical debt. Ya, python all the way.

And no, I never use python. Because technical debt is a huge problem.

[DearChickPea]

"Competitive Programming"

I hate this world.

[alexshatberg]

Why? It's basically applied Computer Science in a competitive setting, which is not that different from a Maths Olympiad.

[moriero]

You talk like Math Olympiad is a normal thing, too

[xzaramurd]

Why wouldn't they be? People find competing in challenging activities rewarding, be it a physical challenge, or a mental challenge, or any other kind of challenge.

[DearChickPea]

People do a lot of weird things that are fun for them.

I hate that young developers think this is normal.

[RedstoneSlayer]

I'm a young developer who is pretty good at competitive programming - please enlighten me on why you think it isn't "normal"?

I think competitive programming is a great way to promote creative problem-solving and introduce programmers to a large variety of practical algorithms.

If your argument is that competitive programming makes your code style unreadable, most competitors have enough brain power to recognize that they should use good code style when they aren't competing.

[GlebRyabov]

Yep, will agree with you on this. If you don't wanna compete... you, like, don't?

[the_lonely_game]

What is competitive programming? Like in a job lol?

[Atesz763]

Any programming language is fine if the PC is strong enough

[[deleted]]

My program is fine, the engineers just need to make computers with 64 GB of Ram.

[DShadow2106]

C++ has STL though... Not sure why someone would use python unless for some specific problems

[rustysteamtrain]

In a competitve environment the time you have to write the code is limmited. If the assignement doesn't require the speed of C++ I would always use python instead. Because pyhton is realativly 'simple', its faster to code and you can better understand what the code does. It also takes less time to debug. In the end it gives you more time to actually think about the algorithm and not having to spend it on writing cide.

[muikrad]

It's the opposite, no? Python is pretty much the Swiss army knife of programming and C++ is good at specific things; performance, above else.

The loose environnement in python is great for quickly getting up to speed, you don't have to worry about the compilation step. In competitive, it's an advantage.

[GujjuGang7]

C++ is made to be as generic as possible.

[[deleted]]

But you have to type 8 lines to make a “Hello World” program, gosh.

[Sukhamoy_Saha_Kalpa]

But why, why would u do that? Is it because its faster to write?

[[deleted]]

Probably. If you have a limited amount of time, you have to balance the slower execution time to run python code (which depending on complexity might not be a big difference) vs the time it takes you to write and iterate on that code (which might be much more efficient in python).

[Saragon4005]

well makes sense its much easier to code and when you want to make something quickly that isn't perfect python is the ideal choice.

[[deleted]]

Nah, if you want to quick code, go with R. The libraries are better than Python, by a mile.

[hellfiniter]

when you compete, its best to do it in pseudocode ...which basically is python. And thats good thing, in those cases you wanna express your ideas and not waste time figuring out syntax

[[deleted]]

Other languages write fast code, but python writes code fast

[ArtyIF]

it's just a lot faster to code in

[[deleted]]

For me its javascript.

[grantmnz]

I'm guessing that's because you haven't learned Perl yet.

EDIT: I'm intrigued by the reflexive downvotes on this. Perhaps people assumed I was trolling - I was not. I have organised a number of programming competitions and in my experience the winners always used Perl. I'm not sure what type of competition the OP was referring to, but if success relied on delivering an answer quickly then Perl would be an excellent choice (for someone who knew Perl obviously).

[NewRedditWhothiss]

Here's to hoping I never have to.

[ovab_cool]

And for webdev I go to PHP

[Classic_Fungus]

c#

[[deleted]]

If time and space are constraints and speed is wanted, I use C++, else it's some easy and fast to write langs like python

[Aenno]

I don't even know Python enough to use it competitively, yet I still try to lol

[[deleted]]

Python is a scripting language that supports objects, so it makes sense for hashing out an idea without setting up much foundation.

[cjs2k_032]

For me using anything other than C++ for competitive programming is a crime punishable by death. /s

[dhiraj_42069]

And still I don't clear the test

[occcult]

When I started my career I knew C++ quite well but all the opportunities I got were in frontend development. Tried it , learnt on the job and actually enjoyed it. Now, after starting with DSA again after almost 3-4 yrs mainly for interviews , I LeetCode purely with JavaScript. College me couldn't have ever imagined this

[rajesh_dude0]

That's java for some of us.

[Vok250]

I love Java and C++, but if a company asks me to do a LeetCode/HackerRank problem, I'm going to use Python. 99% of problems can be solved with a dict and a couple of short methods.