Doesn’t matter whether you’ve just gotten your computer science degree or are well advanced in your software development career, it’s never too late to get into competitive programming.
Besides having robust coding skills, programmers also need to have critical thinking ability to break the code into smaller chunks and approach difficult problems. Programming is a healthy sport for your brain.
Therefore, competitive programming is nothing but a mind sport that involves a set of participants (sport programmers) to create a program over a local network or the internet.
Because of important skills like analytical thinking, lateral thinking, and time management assessed by this mind sport, tech giants like Facebook, Google, and Microsoft are increasingly hiring people who’ve participated in such a competitive experience.
What Do You Mean By Competitive Programming?
Competitive programming involves sport programmers (programming experts) pitching against each other to arrive at the solution of complex programming questions in a stipulated amount of time. Such programming events are held over a local network or the internet.
The coding participants of the program are known as the sport programmers. During the contest, the programmers are required to solve mathematical or logical programming questions in a coding language that they prefer.
The number of questions asked in the contest can vary accordingly. The results of the competition are announced after analyzing a variety of parameters including – execution time, problem-solving time, total questions solved, size of the program, etc.
What is the History of Competitive Programming?
One of the oldest competitive programming competitions to be held across the globe was the International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC). The mind sport originated in the 1970s and has grown across borders to include 88 countries and in the 2011 edition of the program.
The first internet-based, distributed, and ICPC inspired competitive programming contest was run by Vivek Khera, Owen Astrachan, and David Kotz in 1990-1994.
What are the Benefits of Competitive Programming?
We analyzed the experience of training and participating in competitive programming contests of various candidates to arrive at the following benefits:
1. Get Considered By Major Companies
Participation in contests based on the International Collegiate Programming contest can set you in the eye of several hiring IT companies and make you stand out in the IT sphere. Companies such as Google, Microsoft, and Facebook always keep track of such programs to hire talented candidates.
2. Crack Complicated Coding Problems
During the competitive programming contest, you’ll be given complicated tasks which ordinary programmers cannot take on. You will learn how to approach these complex tasks and adapt to the corporate world. Solving these problems is just like solving puzzles and brain teasers. Such contests can help enhance your critical and analytical thinking skills.
3. Write Cleaner and Better Optimized Codes
Competitive programming trains you to find a better solution towards complex problems. During such contests you not only have to find the correct solution to the given problem but also do it in a stipulated time frame.
If your code is not optimized as per the requirements of the contest, you will not be able to qualify the system test. This helps you acquire important skills of code optimization and take your coding skills up a notch.
4. Write Codes Faster
Even if you are well-versed with the basics of JavaScript, the basics of Python, and other programming languages, it takes time, patience, and practice to become a competitive programmer.
By participating in such mind sports you can polish your problem solving abilities and learn to write code faster. This will help you stay true to the project deadlines in the corporate world and add a new dimension to your resume. Competitive programming is all about writing bug-free and optimized code while sticking to the time limit.
How to Prepare for Competitive Programming?
1. Choose Your Programming Language: Before you join a competitive programming contest, you need to choose a coding language that you’re most comfortable with. If you know the basics of Javascript and its syntax, then choose Javascript and if you are familiar with the syntax of other programming languages like C++, then choose the latter. Always remember that programming languages are a communication channel between you and the computer.
2. Clarity of Time and Space Complexity: The difficulty faced by participants in such challenges is that there are always more than one solution to a problem. Therefore, the competition requires you to arrive at the best optimal solution to the problem. This is decided by the space and time algorithm that is required to solve the problem.
3. Conceptual Clarity on Data Structures and Algorithms: Forming an integral part of programming is; data structures and algorithms. From arrays to linked lists to stacks, a programmer must be familiar with all types of data structures. Also, algorithms such as recursion, sorting, and dynamic programming are also an integral skill for a competitive programmer.
4. Take Multiple Coding Challenges: Once you’ve learned a programming language of your choice and understood the fundamentals of data structures and algorithms, it is time for you to take coding challenges head on. There are multiple online platforms that provide an array of programming challenges. Furthermore, such challenges can also increase your chances of excelling at competitive programming.
5. Regular Practice: To become a great programmer, you need to practice multiple coding questions every day. Consistency and patience are key factors in the life of every programmer. Solving coding questions on a blank whiteboard can help you to become confident about your skills and become a perfect coder in no time!
Conclusion
Competitive programming is just like exercising. The more you do it, the healthier your mind will become.
By regularly practicing your coding skills through such contests can not only help you to enhance your coding abilities but also sharpen your lateral thinking skills.
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