Get Started with Competitive Programming

Get Started with Competitive Programming

What is Competitive Programming?

Competitive Programming is an exercise to level up your programming and DSA skills via solving problems. These are solved under crucial constraints like memory constraints, time limit. You have to give optimise solution with any prefered language. Generally CP is mind sports that force everyone to think efficiently to solve any problem. You will learn how to approach a problem.

How to get started ?

We will discuss ideal strategical approaches that can help you to get started with CP

1) Learn any Well Known Programming Language

You can do Competitive Programming in so many programming language and become proficient with its syntax, fundamentals and implementation. Highly recommended programming languages is C++.Many individuals prefer C, JAVA and Python. But Competitive Programming prioritise time factor. So it's better to choose langauge with faster time of execution.

2) Start Solving Problems on any platform

As a beginner point of view choosing good platform is very important because many times student choose any platform and start solving Problems but end up by loosing their confidence. As per my personal experience if you are a beginner. I will recommend everyone to start with Codechef. It has really beginner friendly interface. It conducts a long challenge of 3 days twice in a month ,which will be very useful for a beginner to take time to solve a question and grade up your ratings. There are 4 divisions available on Codechef. So you can easily solve some questions of any contest. Maybe initially you will find urself struggling with solving even easy problems but there is nothing to worry about it. Don't give up Keep trying. For instance, you can go through the other individual's solutions or editorials. But should be done after putting efforts.

3) Learn Data Structure and Algorithms

Here comes the core aspect Competitive Programming, Data Structure and Algorithms. Learning DSA fundamentals helps you in making program more efficient. I recommend you to atleast cover DSA concepts like Array, Linked List, Stack, Queue, Tree, Searching, Sorting, Time and Space Complexity. Without knowing Data Structures you won't be able to come up with an optimised, efficient and ideal solution for given programming problem.

4) Keep Practicing ...Practicing

Always keep urself motivated enough to solve problem it will help in enhancing your problem solving skills. Try to solve as many problems as possible you need to solve a given problem with an optimal solution and that too in specified time duration and once contest gets over, try to solve these problems again by reading editorials.

5) Stay Consistent

One of the most important things to remember is to staying consistent with the process of LEARNING, PRACTICING, PARTICIPATING. You need to know that it's a continuous process to master CP. You need to get out of your comfort zone and expand your limits. Go on solving beginner level problem to intermediate level and then expert level. Explore various coding platforms and participate in various contests if you are failing or not able to perform well you should stick to your aim and keep participating in these challenges by Rectifying mistakes.

So these steps will help you to get started with Competitive Programming quite smoothly and efficiently.