Best Coding Competitions for Beginners in Competitive Coding

Coding competitions can be a great way to learn and improve your coding skills in a fun and competitive environment. As a coding beginner, participating in contests like those on CodeChef will help you get some practical experience and gradually build your skills. Let’s explore some essential aspects and resources to help you start your competitive coding journey.

Choosing the Right Contests

For beginners, it's best to start with short and long contests on CodeChef. As you start, you'll find that you belong to Division 3. Over time, as you improve, you might move up to higher divisions. The contests are a great way to practice and learn new techniques while competing with other coders.

Essential Topics to Master

While the specific topics may vary depending on the problem, there are several areas you should focus on to build a strong foundation in competitive coding:

Arrays and Strings: These are fundamental data structures that form the basis of many coding problems. Standard Template Library (STL) Basic Functions: Knowing how to use STL functions such as vectors, lists, and maps is crucial for efficient coding. While you can always search for functions during contests, memorizing the most commonly used ones will save you time. Basic Algorithms and Functions: Familiarize yourself with basic algorithms and functions that form the building blocks of competitive coding.

Remember, you can always Google any STL library functions during the contest, but knowing the most frequently used functions by heart will help you perform better.

Get Started with Online Resources

There are many resources available online to help you get started with competitive coding. Here are a few recommendations:

Visit CodeChef for Ongoing and Upcoming Contests: CodeChef not only provides a platform to participate in contests but also offers a variety of practice problems and tips. You can find detailed information about upcoming and ongoing contests on their website. Explore CP Algorithms: CP Algorithms offers a comprehensive guide to competitive programming, covering a wide range of topics from basic to advanced levels. Unacademy and CodeChef CP videos: These video tutorials provide a step-by-step guide to learning competitive programming from scratch. They cover a wide range of topics and are suitable for beginners. YouTube Channels like Rachit Jain: Many creators on YouTube, like Rachit Jain, provide valuable insights and tutorials on competitive coding. These channels are a great resource for learning new techniques and problem-solving strategies. HackerEarth: HackerEarth is also a great platform to find concise lists of topics and practice questions. They offer a structured approach to learning and improving your competitive coding skills. GitHub Repositories and CF-Blogs: Explore GitHub for repositories that provide practice problems and solutions. Check out CF-Blogs for in-depth analyses of competitive coding problems and strategies.

Remember, the key to success in competitive coding is persistence and practice. By leveraging these resources, you can develop the skills and confidence needed to excel in coding competitions.

Stay Updated and Connect

If you have any more questions about competitive coding or need further assistance, feel free to @">drop a message. I hope this guide helps you get started on your competitive coding journey!