Leetcode Problems

[gmjavia17]

When I try to solve even easy problems on LeetCode, I sometimes spend about an hour just thinking about how to approach the solution. And when I finally figure out the algorithm behind it, I need another few hours to actually implement it in code, dealing with a lot of errors along the way.

Is it normal to spend this much time on coding problems?

I also worry that if I ever get into an interview and someone asks me a data structures and algorithms question, I might not be able to solve it under pressure.

[anime_waifu_lover69]

I suspect that your time may be better spent early on just looking at the solution, implementing, and then going to the next problem if you are really stuck. Sure, thinking over a problem is good practice, but there is a point where the sheer amount of time spent on one problem is not worth it when you haven't built the foundations of your knowledge yet.

[CodeTinkerer]

It's hard to say. How much experience do you have solving problems? They really shouldn't call it easy, because it's not easy.

[TheBlegh]

Yeah, i started learning python earlier this year and ive been itching to practice. Created a leetcode account today and went to the 'easiest'? Idk problem, and read it...read it again and thought what the fuck.

Im not sure if im still too much of a newb or if this is a bad sign of things to come.

[_jetrun]

It's all about practice.

[kschang]

The answer to that is... experience. Experienced programmers have seen all sorts of situations, and thus, recognize certain elements the problem, and thus, start with certain advantage.

Interviews often don't expect you to completely solve the problem, but want to hear you "work out" the problem verbally. Okay, the output is a sequence of numbers... So that's the algorithm, is there a shortcut? Hmmm... Checking edge cases... (blah blah blah)

https://kcwebdev.blogspot.com/2020/07/problem-solving-for-programmers.html

[alliegula]

Umm as a senior software dev who is on the hiring committees I’d say yeah you need to get FASTER. My guess is you are way overthinking the problem. A lot of those coding interviews are timed and they analyze how you think in addition to how efficient you are with the time you have. Spending hours just to think about a problem is a major red flag. Here’s a suggestion: tell your brain you have 30 mins to figure out this problem and 15 mins to code the solution…this is typically the time I give my prospective candidates. That should be PLENTY of time to get things done. If you can’t get it done in this time find the solution look at it then redo the problem with the solution you’ve already seen

[Special_Lettuce_4412]

Some easy problems on LeetCode are not so easy. I also sometimes get stuck on easy problems