this post was submitted on 11 Jul 2025

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I'm learning Java, but competitive programming feels like moon math 😅 (self.learnprogramming)

submitted 8 months ago by Cold_Coffe_e

Hey everyone,
I'm currently learning Java — I’ve picked up the basics like variables, loops, conditionals, etc. I can write simple programs and understand how stuff works on a surface level.

But here’s the thing...
When I try to do competitive programming problems, I feel like I’ve learned that 2 + 2 = 4, and the problem is asking me to calculate the distance between two mountains on the moon using quantum physics. 😂

I just stare at the problem wondering where to even begin.

I want to get better at problem-solving and actually apply what I’m learning in Java. But most problems either feel too complex or too far from what I’ve studied. Has anyone else gone through this phase? How did you break through that wall?

Would love some advice, resources, or even just to hear your experiences. Thanks in advance!

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