48 my leetcode journey

My LeetCode Journey - 314+ Problems Solved

i've been solving leetcode problems for quite some time now, and i'm excited to share my journey with you. as of now, i've solved 314+ problems across various difficulty levels and categories. this post is a comprehensive overview of my leetcode experience, achievements, and approach to problem-solving.

My LeetCode Profile

Profile: [@1cbyc on LeetCode](https://leetcode.com/u/1cbyc/) Total Problems Solved: 314+ Contest Rating: [Check my current rating](https://leetcode.com/u/1cbyc/) Streak: [View my solving streak](https://leetcode.com/u/1cbyc/)

Problem Distribution

By Difficulty

**Easy:** ~120 problems
**Medium:** ~150 problems
**Hard:** ~44 problems

Notable Achievements

Contest Performance

**Weekly Contests:** Regular participation with consistent performance
**Biweekly Contests:** Strong showing in biweekly competitions
**Rating Progression:** Steady improvement over time

Problem-Solving Streaks

**Longest Streak:** [Check my profile for current streak](https://leetcode.com/u/1cbyc/)
**Consistent Practice:** Daily problem-solving routine
**Quality Solutions:** Focus on optimal solutions and clean code

My Problem-Solving Approach

1. Understanding the Problem

**Read carefully** - understand input/output requirements
**Identify patterns** - look for familiar problem types
**Consider edge cases** - think about boundary conditions
**Clarify constraints** - understand time/space complexity requirements

2. Planning the Solution

**Brute force first** - start with a simple approach
**Optimize step by step** - improve time/space complexity
**Consider multiple approaches** - explore different algorithms
**Choose the best fit** - select optimal solution for the problem

3. Implementation

**Clean code** - write readable and maintainable solutions
**Handle edge cases** - account for all possible inputs
**Test thoroughly** - verify with multiple test cases
**Optimize further** - look for additional improvements

4. Analysis & Learning

**Time complexity** - analyze and document complexity
**Space complexity** - consider memory usage
**Alternative solutions** - explore different approaches
**Learn from others** - study community solutions

Favorite Problem Categories

Dynamic Programming

i particularly enjoy dynamic programming problems because they require:

**Pattern recognition** - identifying optimal substructure
**State definition** - defining what information to track
**Transition logic** - determining how states relate
**Optimization** - finding the most efficient solution

Some of my favorite DP problems:

[Longest Palindromic Substring](https://leetcode.com/problems/longest-palindromic-substring/)
[Edit Distance](https://leetcode.com/problems/edit-distance/)
[Coin Change](https://leetcode.com/problems/coin-change/)
[Longest Increasing Subsequence](https://leetcode.com/problems/longest-increasing-subsequence/)

Graph Algorithms

graph problems are fascinating because they model real-world relationships:

**BFS/DFS** - traversal and search algorithms
**Shortest path** - dijkstra's, bellman-ford algorithms
**Topological sorting** - dependency resolution
**Union-Find** - connected components and cycles

Notable graph problems solved:

[Course Schedule](https://leetcode.com/problems/course-schedule/)
[Number of Islands](https://leetcode.com/problems/number-of-islands/)
[Word Ladder](https://leetcode.com/problems/word-ladder/)
[Redundant Connection](https://leetcode.com/problems/redundant-connection/)

Binary Search

binary search problems require precise implementation:

**Search space reduction** - halving the search space
**Boundary conditions** - handling edge cases carefully
**Monotonic functions** - identifying searchable properties
**Implementation details** - avoiding infinite loops

Key binary search problems:

[Search in Rotated Sorted Array](https://leetcode.com/problems/search-in-rotated-sorted-array/)
[Find First and Last Position](https://leetcode.com/problems/find-first-and-last-position-of-element-in-sorted-array/)
[Median of Two Sorted Arrays](https://leetcode.com/problems/median-of-two-sorted-arrays/)
[Split Array Largest Sum](https://leetcode.com/problems/split-array-largest-sum/)

Problem-Solving Strategies

1. Two Pointers Technique

**Array problems** - efficient traversal and manipulation
**String problems** - palindrome, substring operations
**Linked list** - cycle detection, intersection
**Sliding window** - subarray/substring optimization

2. Sliding Window

**Fixed size** - window of constant size
**Variable size** - expanding/contracting window
**Optimization** - finding min/max subarrays
**String problems** - substring with constraints

3. Backtracking

**State exploration** - trying different combinations
**Pruning** - eliminating invalid paths early
**Recursion** - natural problem decomposition
**Optimization** - memoization and pruning

4. Monotonic Stack/Queue

**Next greater element** - maintaining monotonic order
**Histogram problems** - area calculations
**Temperature problems** - waiting time calculations
**Stock problems** - price analysis

Learning Resources

Books & Materials

**"Introduction to Algorithms"** - CLRS for fundamental concepts
**"Cracking the Coding Interview"** - practical problem-solving
**"Competitive Programming"** - advanced techniques
**Online courses** - various platforms for structured learning

Practice Platforms

**LeetCode** - primary platform for practice
**HackerRank** - additional problem sets
**Codeforces** - competitive programming
**AtCoder** - algorithmic contests

Community & Learning

**Discussion forums** - learn from others' approaches
**Solution explanations** - understand different perspectives
**Code reviews** - improve coding style
**Peer learning** - collaborate with other programmers

Progress Tracking

Weekly Goals

**Solve 5-10 problems** per week
**Participate in contests** regularly
**Review past solutions** for reinforcement
**Learn new techniques** continuously

Monthly Reviews

**Track improvement** in contest ratings
**Identify weak areas** for focused practice
**Set new goals** based on performance
**Adjust study plan** as needed

Future Goals

Short-term (Next 3 months)

**Reach 400 problems** solved
**Improve contest rating** consistently
**Master advanced DP** techniques
**Strengthen graph algorithms** skills

Long-term (Next 6 months)

**Achieve 500+ problems** solved
**Excel in weekly contests** with top rankings
**Contribute solutions** to help others
**Mentor beginners** in problem-solving

My Solutions

you can find all my solutions and detailed explanations on my leetcode profile:

[Visit My LeetCode Profile](https://leetcode.com/u/1cbyc/)

What You'll Find There:

**Complete solution history** - all 314+ solved problems
**Detailed explanations** - step-by-step solution breakdowns
**Multiple approaches** - different solutions for the same problem
**Performance metrics** - runtime and memory usage
**Contest history** - weekly and biweekly contest performance
**Rating progression** - improvement over time
**Solution discussions** - community interactions

Key Takeaways

Problem-Solving Mindset

**Persistence** - keep trying even when stuck
**Learning from mistakes** - every wrong attempt is a lesson
**Consistency** - regular practice beats cramming
**Curiosity** - explore different approaches and techniques

Technical Skills

**Algorithm design** - choosing the right approach
**Data structure selection** - using appropriate tools
**Code optimization** - improving efficiency
**Debugging skills** - finding and fixing issues

Personal Growth

**Analytical thinking** - breaking down complex problems
**Time management** - efficient problem-solving under pressure
**Communication** - explaining solutions clearly
**Continuous learning** - staying updated with new techniques

Conclusion

my leetcode journey has been incredibly rewarding, teaching me not just algorithms and data structures, but also problem-solving skills that apply to real-world software development. the 314+ problems i've solved represent countless hours of learning, practice, and growth.

whether you're just starting your leetcode journey or you're an experienced problem solver, i encourage you to:

**Practice consistently** - even 1-2 problems daily makes a difference
**Learn from others** - study different approaches and solutions
**Participate in contests** - challenge yourself with time pressure
**Share your knowledge** - help others learn and grow

ready to explore my solutions? check out my complete leetcode profile: [@1cbyc on LeetCode](https://leetcode.com/u/1cbyc/)

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*this post is part of my ongoing journey in competitive programming and algorithmic problem-solving. i'm always learning and improving, and i hope this inspires others to start or continue their own leetcode journey.*