I Tried to Escape LeetCode for 2 Years (But Here We Are)

Seriously, LeetCode in 2026? Everyone is saying HackerRank just killed LeetCode, and yet here I am, still trying to debug my way through LeetCode problems.

Well, I always wanted to smash LeetCode like a absolute pro, but I thought I just didn’t have that "push" in me. But after reading

I tried a few questions, solved them, and wanted to keep up a streak. But I couldn’t sometimes due to time constraints, other times because the logic just wouldn’t come. Now, looking for new jobs, I knew I wanted to solve LeetCode problems, but I carried this deep fear inside me. I waited for a spark.

Then I recently came across

There were many problems where I over-engineered the answers showing off my knowledge of complex data structures when the solution could have simply been solved using a basic array. Other times, I produced under-engineered answers, where I didn’t think about the results and just coded blindly.

But with each LeetCode problem I tackle, I am keeping myself open-minded. I am learning from my mistakes so I can code better on the next question.

Real Talk: My Playbook for Surviving LeetCode

1. Don’t start coding right away. Take your time to think through the solution and time complexities. Think in terms of brute force, better, and optimal solutions first.


2. Read your code before submitting. Check for basic mistakes, like a missing semicolon or silly syntax errors.


3. Think about the edge cases. Sometimes LeetCode examples don’t provide the edge cases, and you will hit a wall during submission if you don't think of them early.


4. Use pen and paper first. Understand the problem on paper, solve it there, and verify your logic before you type a single line.


5. Think in terms of time complexity. Understand the comparisons and know exactly when and why your code should be O(n) versus O(log n).


6. Document your journey. You won’t recall what solution you wrote 2 months ago. If you document it, you can easily recall and revise it later.

To be completely honest, I am still figuring it out day by day, but shifting from mindless grinding to actually understanding the patterns has changed everything for me. It’s a process, and I’m finally okay with making mistakes as long as I’m moving forward.

If you are currently on your own LeetCode journey, or if you have some solid tips that helped you crack the DSA code, I would love to learn from you in the comments! What is that one favorite question the one that made you genuinely happy after you finally saw that green "Accepted" screen?

Let's share our learnings and get better together. Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn to discuss more about LeetCode!