91–98 of 98 posts
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Pattern recognition is pretty much at the core of creative work in an engineering context, of which memorizing existing patterns is the first half.
if you just need to apply standard patterns than you are not actually inventing but just doing code monkey stuff, and you can’t really call that engineering
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Pattern recognition is pretty much at the core of creative work in an engineering context, of which memorizing existing patterns is the first half.
if you just need to apply standard patterns than you are not actually inventing but just doing code monkey stuff, and you can’t really call that engineering
You learn the basic patterns, then you refine and combine those over years. For an outsider, this then looks like magic / creativity.
Grinding leetcode is inefficient. What you should be doing is familiarizing yourself with the common patterns you might expect to see in an interview. Look at the blind 75 and https://seanprashad.com/leetcode-patterns/ . Initially, you don’t need to solve any of the problems from scratch. Look up the problem on YouTube and someone will walk you through it. This will build your intuition of when to reach for a heap or…
Working 40 hours a week with two small children does not leave "10-20 hours for personal projects". Spend that time with your family!
My kids are 6 and 2. The only time I have for this is after they are in bed, which is around 9:30 when they're both fully asleep, and I'm usually just ready to sit down and mentally checkout at that point. I feel motivated all day to go to my office at nights, like I do right now, but I'm so drained after parenting kids all day. I'm sure you're aware of this having a 6 year old, but once the 3 year old is a bit older…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
To reword it, leetcode is a barrier to entry for newcomers. It's pure gatekeeping and it says as much when people think they have to 'grind' it to have any prospect of a job. It teaches you absolutely nothing about the rest of the job, around comms and leadership, which most of the time are more important than your ability to solve puzzles. It selects for people who want to get in and want to grind.
On the contrary, Leetcode is one of the most egalitarian ways there is for hiring applicants, because if you can pass the test, you're basically hired, at least at FAANG and adjacent. I'd hate to have employers show implicit bias through such saccharine distinctions as "personal fit."
To put it another way - do you have an opportunity in leetcode to say the value of solving a challenge isn’t worth the time invested?
Earlier quoted context omitted.
On the contrary, Leetcode is one of the most egalitarian ways there is for hiring applicants, because if you can pass the test, you're basically hired, at least at FAANG and adjacent. I'd hate to have employers show implicit bias through such saccharine distinctions as "personal fit."
I think you and the other person who replied to me were dismissing the value of soft skills and the other things you need to know as a software engineer that are adjacent to writing code. To put it another way - do you have an opportunity in leetcode to say the value of solving a challenge isn’t worth the time invested?
Speaking as someone in a similar position, it’s not possible. You can have young kids or have time. Not both. Which, sucks, given that what it sounds like you actually want rather than time to grind leetcode and do side projects is to find a different job. But the way the industry is set up effectively precludes you from doing that, because as you’re aware, you need to have time to do stuff outside of work to get and…
> I’d like to do some projects both because they’re fun and they are also helpful to highlight your skills. Additionally, Leetcode grinding is important in case you need to find a new job. You need to be more clear about your intentions. Are you looking to find a new job soon?