What's the best way to choose a coding challenge solution?

1 Understand the problem

Before you start coding, make sure you understand the problem and its requirements. Ask clarifying questions, restate the problem in your own words, and identify the input and output formats. You may also want to sketch some examples or test cases to visualize the problem and its edge cases. Understanding the problem will help you avoid unnecessary mistakes and confusion.

4 Code and test

After you have written pseudocode, you can translate it into code using your preferred programming language and syntax. You should follow the coding standards and best practices for your language, such as using meaningful names, comments, indentation, and formatting. You should also test your code using different input and output scenarios, including the ones provided by the challenge and your own examples. You should check if your code produces the expected results, handles errors gracefully, and performs well.

5 Refine and optimize

Once you have a working solution, you can refine and optimize it to improve its quality and performance. You can look for ways to simplify your code, eliminate redundancies, enhance readability, and reduce complexity. You can also use tools or techniques to measure and improve your code's efficiency, such as using a debugger, profiler, or benchmark. You should also review your code and make sure it follows the coding standards and best practices for your language.

6 Explain your solution

Finally, you should be able to explain your solution and justify your choices. You should be able to describe your approach, algorithm, data structures, and complexity analysis in a clear and concise way. You should also be able to discuss the trade-offs, limitations, and alternatives of your solution. Explaining your solution will demonstrate your understanding of the problem and your coding skills, as well as your communication and presentation skills.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?