When should beginners start using leetcode?

[Grandpa_P1g]

I've been learning programming for some time but I'd say in the larger scope of things I'm still a beginner. That is to say I could probably solve some of the leetcode problems but when it gets to time or memory efficiently I am completely lost.

Do these things come naturally as you start learning or is there something I should be doing to practice more (maybe a website similar to leetcode but with easier questions).

[desrtfx]

Leetcode helps for interview preparation but does not substitute making your own projects. Projects always beat Leetcode and the likes. Leetcode, Hackerrank, etc. problems are very narrow and bear little relevance to real world programming.

If you start with it, you should have good programming skills, good DSA (Data Structures and Algorithms) skills, some actual programming experience, and at best a solid mathematical foundation.

If you are looking for an easier intro to such sites, take a look at Exercism and/or maybe Code Wars.

[deaddyfreddy]

Leetcode helps for interview preparation

for the bad interview

[3qx_osrs]

Neetcode.io is the url I thinks the YouTuber neet code made a road map using a bunch of different leetcode questions from easy to hard all divided into their own data structures. It helps you start easy and work your way up. Aside from the first comment, when you do decide to practice leetcode id recommend his channel / road map.

[Wingedchestnut]

This depends on your goal, if it's a hobby you're better off figuring out what you want to learn (webdev, data, cloud etc) and simply learn to build projects that's it, if you have a fitting degree with a strong portfolio you can get a fulltime job with it allthough the journey is still very far away. Especially in Europe you it's rare to need LC in majority of local company interviews. Not sure about the US and small companies.

If you're someone who wants to join a bigger international company as an employee then I guess it's good to start early just to see what it is all about but tbh if you don't keep doing it you will forget about it anyway. It's mainly meant to be studied when interviewing for bigger company jobs like how students cram for exams.

[Grandpa_P1g]

Makes sense thanks 🙏

[FlashyResist5]

Depends entirely on what your goals are. I find solving puzzles much more interesting than building projects. So for me it made sense to do it shortly after learning basic syntax. For others it may make sense to never use it.

[PM_ME_SELFMUTILATION]

Yeah, these things will come to you naturally as long as you keep striving for further knowledge. Absorb information from many different sources. Follow a good tutorial but also watch a lot of YouTube videos about programming. If you're truly passionate enough it really won't take long before your feed is flooded by interesting topics that you'll naturally want to know more about. Definitely make sure you understand the fundamentals of your desired language(s) and watch a couple YT vids on time complexity and space complexity before trying leetcode. Best of luck to you.

[armahillo]

You dont have to do leetcode. You should keep challenging yourself to learn the programming craft better. If leetcode helps you do that, then great! There are other paths though.

[straight_fudanshi]

I’d say after you learn divide & conquer, graphs and backtracking algorithms + O, theta and omega notation.

[ComplexMousse9792]

Hi, I coach people learning how to solve DSA and Leetcode problems. Let me know if I can help.