In the world of programming, there’s a common misconception that success comes from solving as many problems as possible in the shortest amount of time. Many aspiring programmers fall into this trap, believing that quantity trumps quality when it comes to learning. However, as one young programmer’s journey to the National Olympiad in Informatics shows, this approach can lead to disappointing results and wasted potential. In this blog post, we’ll explore the right way to learn programming, drawing valuable lessons from a personal story of struggle, realization, and ultimate success.

The Misguided Approach: Quantity Over Quality

Our story begins with a 15-year-old aspiring programmer who set his sights on earning a medal at the National Olympiad in Informatics. Recognizing that he was starting later than many of his peers, who had begun their journey at 10 or 11 years old, he was determined to catch up quickly.

Armed with access to a website containing thousands of programming problems, he dove in headfirst. His dedication was admirable:

On the surface, this approach seemed foolproof. Surely, outworking everyone else would lead to success, right? Unfortunately, the results told a different story.

The Painful Reality Check

When the Olympiad finally arrived, our young programmer’s confidence was shattered. Instead of placing in the top five as he had hoped, he found himself ranked 80th out of 150 participants. The disappointment was crushing, but the real wake-up call came during conversations with other contestants after the event.

To his shock, many of his peers found the Olympiad problems easy and familiar. They pointed out similarities to problems on the practice website – problems he had solved himself. Yet, during the competition, he couldn’t recall the solutions or make the necessary connections to solve the challenges at hand.

This moment of realization was pivotal. Hundreds of hours of practice, countless problems solved, and yet he had little to show for it when it mattered most. Clearly, something was fundamentally wrong with his approach to learning.

Identifying the Flaws in the Learning Process

To understand where things went wrong, let’s break down the flawed problem-solving process our young programmer was following:

  1. Open a problem and read the statement
  2. Think about it for about five minutes
  3. Give up quickly if a solution doesn’t present itself
  4. Search for the solution online
  5. Watch explanation videos and read source code
  6. Copy and paste the found solution
  7. Submit for acceptance and move on to the next problem

This method, while allowing for a high volume of “solved” problems, failed to build genuine understanding or problem-solving skills. Instead, it created an illusion of progress while leaving critical gaps in knowledge and application.

The Hidden Dangers of the “Quick Solution” Approach

The consequences of this flawed learning method extend far beyond a poor performance in a single competition:

  1. Lost Time and Opportunities: The hours spent on this ineffective approach could have been invested in building real skills and understanding.
  2. False Confidence: Solving many problems through copying solutions can create a false sense of mastery, leading to shock and disappointment when faced with real challenges.
  3. Missed Learning Moments: By skipping the struggle of problem-solving, valuable learning opportunities are lost. It’s often in the process of grappling with a problem that true understanding is gained.
  4. Underdeveloped Problem-Solving Skills: Relying on others’ solutions doesn’t exercise or develop one’s own problem-solving abilities, which are crucial for success in programming.
  5. Inability to Apply Knowledge: Without deep understanding, it becomes difficult to apply learned concepts to new, unfamiliar problems – a key skill in both competitive programming and real-world software development.

The Right Way to Learn: Quality Over Quantity

After recognizing the flaws in his approach, our young programmer had an epiphany about the true nature of learning algorithms and data structures. He realized that it’s similar to mastering a complex physical skill, like shooting three-pointers in basketball.

The Basketball Analogy

Imagine learning to shoot three-pointers in basketball:

  1. Observing the Pro (10% Theory): You watch a professional player demonstrate the technique, explaining their form, grip, and shooting motion.
  2. Practice and Feedback (90% Execution): You step onto the court and take hundreds of shots yourself, making mistakes and receiving feedback from the pro watching you.

The key insight here is that merely watching the pro (or in programming terms, reading solutions) is not enough. The real learning happens when you attempt the skill yourself, make mistakes, and learn from those errors.

Applying the Right Learning Approach to Programming

With this new understanding, our programmer completely transformed his learning process. Here’s how you can apply these lessons to your own programming journey:

1. Focus on Understanding, Not Volume

Instead of aiming to solve a set number of problems each day, focus on deeply understanding each problem you encounter. It’s better to solve one problem thoroughly than to skim through ten without genuine comprehension.

2. Embrace the Struggle

When you encounter a new problem, resist the urge to immediately look up the solution. Give yourself time to wrestle with the problem, even if it means spending an hour or more on a single challenge. This struggle is where real learning occurs.

3. Break Down the Problem

Before diving into coding, take time to break the problem down into smaller, manageable parts. This process helps you understand the problem’s structure and often leads to insights about potential solutions.

4. Implement Your Own Solutions

Even if your initial attempts are inefficient or incomplete, try to implement your own solutions. This practice helps you develop problem-solving skills and a deeper understanding of algorithms and data structures.

5. Analyze and Optimize

After implementing a working solution, take time to analyze its efficiency and consider ways to optimize it. This step is crucial for developing the analytical skills needed for more advanced problems.

6. Learn from Mistakes

When your solution doesn’t work or is inefficient, don’t just move on. Analyze what went wrong and why. These moments of failure are often the most valuable learning opportunities.

7. Study Solutions as a Last Resort

If you’ve genuinely struggled with a problem and can’t solve it, then look at solutions. But don’t just copy them – strive to understand every line of code and the reasoning behind the approach.

8. Revisit Problems

Return to problems you’ve solved after some time has passed. Try to solve them again from scratch. This practice reinforces your learning and helps you internalize problem-solving patterns.

9. Explain Concepts to Others

Teaching or explaining a concept to someone else is an excellent way to solidify your own understanding. Consider starting a study group or writing blog posts about what you’ve learned.

10. Apply Concepts to Real-World Scenarios

Don’t limit yourself to algorithmic puzzles. Try to apply the concepts you’re learning to real-world programming projects. This practice helps bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application.

The Results of the Right Approach

By adopting this more thoughtful, deliberate approach to learning, our young programmer saw dramatic improvements in his skills and competition results. More importantly, he developed a deeper understanding of algorithms and data structures that would serve him well beyond competitive programming.

This method of learning isn’t just about winning competitions – it’s about building a solid foundation for a successful career in software development. The skills developed through this approach – problem-solving, analytical thinking, and the ability to tackle complex challenges – are invaluable in real-world programming scenarios.

Conclusion: The Path to True Mastery

The journey of our young programmer teaches us a valuable lesson: true mastery in programming doesn’t come from rushing through problems or memorizing solutions. It comes from dedicated practice, embracing challenges, and learning from each experience.

Remember, the goal isn’t just to solve problems – it’s to understand them deeply and develop the skills to approach new, unfamiliar challenges with confidence. By focusing on quality over quantity and embracing the learning process, you’ll not only become a better competitive programmer but also a more skilled and versatile software developer.

As you continue your programming journey, keep these lessons in mind. Embrace the struggle, focus on understanding, and remember that each problem you face is an opportunity to grow. With patience, persistence, and the right approach, you’ll be well on your way to achieving your programming goals and unlocking your full potential as a developer.

Happy coding, and may your learning journey be as rewarding as it is challenging!