Why Competitive Programming ?

What is Competitive Coding ?

• It is basically a mind Sport where you
are given some problem and you are
required to give an optimized solution
under various constraints by using your
programming skills.

• This sport basically tests your Logical
thinking, Analytical Thinking, Pattern
Recognition, Pressure Handling, and most
importantly your knowledge of Data
Structures and Algorithms.

Why Competitive Coding ?

• You can structure your deliberate practice
routine around it
• It will prepare you well for technical interviews
• You'll get used to working on challenging problems
• It's a way to publicly demonstrate your skills
• It's guaranteed brain exercise
• It's a way to focus on the fundamentals
• It's fun
• It's a way to practice fast coding
• You'll really learn your chosen language
• Competitive programming has an active
community
• Bite-sized programs are convenient to work on
Reading (code) is educational.

How to get started ?

• Determination / Dedication.
• Choosing your language. Which: The language
should be preferably C++ or Java, the last
preference should be Python.
• Learn the Language
• Understand the Concept of Time and Space
Complexity.
• Learn the Fundamentals of Data Structures and
Algorithms
• Choose a platform to practice (SPOJ, Codechef,
Codeforces, Topcoder, Project Euler.etc)
• Advanced Data Structures and Algorithms
• Practice and do it Regularly

What you should not do ?

• Don't get Demotivated.
• Not Implementing yourself.
• Do not look into the solution without giving your
best.
• Try to re-solve the problem which you were
unable to solve in the competetion.
• Only look at solutions after contest ends.
• Talk to people how they are approaching the
problem and learn from them.
• Don't stick to easy problems.

Important Topics :

• Basic Combinatorial and Number theory
• Sort and Search algorithms
• Hashing
• Number Theory
• Greedy Technique
• Graph Theory
• Disjoint Set Union (Union-find)
• Minimum Spanning Tree
• Segment Tree
• Dynamic programming
• String Algorithms
• Tries, Suffix Tree, Suffix Array.
• Bit-Manipulation - Properties of and, or ,XOR ,
not gates.
• Geometrical and Network Flow Algorithms

Top Competitions :

• The ACM International Collegiate Programming
Contest (ICPC)
• TopCoder
• Google Code Jam
• The International Conference on Functional
Programming
• Microsoft Imagine Cup
• Hewlett Packard (HP) Codewars
• Facebook Hacker Cup
• CodeChef
• Google Summer of Code
• The International Obfuscated C Code Contest
• International Problem Solving Contest
• Google Hash Code
• Google Kick Start