Competitive programming is an exciting sport where coders come together to tackle challenging problems with their coding skills. The aim is to write programs (computer language sentences) that solve a series of tricky logical or mathematical puzzles as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Success in competitive programming isn’t just about solving the most problems; it’s about solving them swiftly and elegantly. Efficiency, execution time, and the size of your program are all crucial factors that can influence your ranking.
TLDR: Competitive programming is like a race where you solve coding puzzles as fast as you can to win prizes.
Watch this for a quick dive into the world of competitive programming:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kE5QWhrNjqY&t=317s&themeRefresh=1
Before diving in, ensure you’re comfortable with at least one programming language. C++ is a favorite among competitive programmers for its speed and standard library, but feel free to start with whatever language you prefer. Python is also a great choice for beginners due to its readability and simplicity.
Data structures and algorithms are the backbone of competitive programming. They’re the tools you’ll use to solve those coding challenges. Make sure to brush up on the basics and understand how and when to use them effectively.
Understanding where and when to apply certain data structures or algorithms is crucial. Learn about time and space complexity (Big O Notation) to ensure your solutions are not just correct but also optimal.
Choose your language, learn the concepts, and then practice consistently. Use online platforms to hone your skills before stepping into the competitive arena. Practicing variety of problems on programming platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, and CodeChef is highly recommended.