ok

"Don't quit. Your programming skills are not the problem, it's the way you approach the problem." :)

Good luck in life!

Time spent trying to learn something is not time wasted :)

When the going gets tough, you have to get tougher. I completely failed today's contest (Round #355), and for a small while, I felt like leaving Codeforces in shame, but I ended up writing a blog post to reflect on what I had learned and how I can do better next time.

Consider carefully whether or not to leave programming. If it is truly destroying your life in many aspects, try taking a break or try something new! If it is just because you are discouraged and cannot solve tougher problems, you should definitely keep trying.

Best of luck!

"When you don't like programming try something else, life is not that small" :)

Your improvement Graph is much better than mine. I cannot understand data structures properly, and i haven't solved a single div2c ques fully by myself, leave alone d and above also i am very weak at algorithms and everything but for past 2-3 weeks, i m working my ass off for understanding everything and people like you discourage me. I m thinking if such a high rated coder has given up then why am i even trying..... will i reach your level, i don't know but one thing is certain, i won't stop learning cause learning's fun..and if u r not interesred in learning anymore then you should definitely give up.

Dude, just remember that exist people like me, gray and green, and u understand that u is not bad programmer. But nevermind, do what u want to do. Anyway, good luck.

(Sorry for my poor English)

When you level up that you enjoy your trying.

trying just for level up won't level up you :D .

I thought I'm the only one making such public announcements. Here's the deal — Errichto is right. Sometimes, we just have to accept the fact that there isn't much incentive in doing what you're doing now, and move on. This is the base of the concept of "opportunity cost" . Btw, are you moving away from programming, or just competitive programming?

Don't want to sound harsh, but you've been on Codeforces for 3 years yet you only participated in 23 contests. I'm not saying that is the only reason but it definitely correlates with the fact that you are making a very slight progress.

A man, having a blue belt, says "I don't know nothing." Who would believe you?
And you participate in programming contests to achieve what? What is really bothering you?

As for me, it makes me a better coder because almost every contest I learn something new, polish my skills, encounter interesting problems that raise beyond my current job level. Also, when I look at the code of the world best programmers, I see that still there so are many things I have to put to my pocket.

Basically, Programming consists of Algorithms, Technologies, Software Engineering. Maybe, you should take a break, write your own piece of software.
Good luck!

To become something, to become great, to be awesome, it is never an easy way. It is not just Coding, everything you do in life is like that.

Quitting is ok, if you have another thing in mind, if you have something else to do that attracts more, if it is your destiny etc. But if you are quitting just because you are scared, it is plainly wrong, as a man, we are died trying!

And if you want to think more positive, create another post, asking for advice, we will give you plenty of solutions. Stop complaining, find a solution!

Dude, You are blue! and you have had a very great graph! I have been in grey in as many contests as my own age! And am still waiting to give more because its really fun. I look to people in this community to take inspiration from whenever I feel too bad about my contests. So I try harder every time! Maybe you need some rest. Take a break and chill out. Till then I will atleast try to make it to cyan :P

I don't know if the message in this photo is evil or good. But i think that you are not in a war to give up. this is just a game, Play it when you have some free time. Good luck dude.

At the least you are blue man If someone should be quiting it's me :)

Take a break see how things will work out return to coding after a while if you feel like coding then do it otherwise leave it be you will know what's best for you.

Once in an interview Petr Mitrichev said:

"Do not spend all your time on training or studying — this way you will probably become very exhausted and unwilling to compete more. Whatever you do — have fun. Once you find programming is no fun anymore — drop it. Play soccer, find a girlfriend, study something not related to programming, just live a life — programming challenges are only programming challenges, and nothing more. Don't let them become your life — for your life is much more interesting and colorful."

Full article : Link

So keep solving problems as long as you are having fun. Remember you did not waste your time. Your time was well spent and you learnt something new.

It seems that my story is similar to you : (

I was coding hard for 3 years. My rate is not bad (?) and I have more that 1200 problem solved. But it seems that I have to give up.

I always felt that I'm not improving and wasting time, and I used to get really frustrated of that, but when I looked at my codes from 1 year ago I really felt the raise in my level. I'm improving slowly, but I am improving. Maybe it's the same case with you. Try looking at what you were years ago, you'll feel that you are doing progress and ditching competitive programming is not worth it.

Try to simply leave it for some time. Maybe then, you'll find out what's driven you so far, and, maybe, it's strong enough to drive you further. Either way is nice. Good luck dude.

A lot of these replies are along the lines of "you should try harder / think of alternatives, and then you'll become more successful". Which is true. But let's see what a specialist in success has to say... For me the relevant authority is the author of The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. Well, in a book he wrote a few years after The Seven Habits (I forget the title), he says that many people wrote to him saying they've achieved remarkable success, but not happiness.

So my response is different: if you're doing competitive programming in order to achieve greatness (fly in airplanes, meet Tourist, hold a big cheque, get on page 5 of a newspaper with half the factual details wrong), then you should quit as soon as possible — because when you get there, none of this will make you happy. But I probably won't quit that easily, because for me every nontrivial problem eventually feels like a gift (if it's not too hard, which, in contests you can observe from the scoreboard): either I solve it and I'm happy for a whole day, or I try everything I can think of and still can't solve it, and this is even better, because when it clicks, you experience real beauty. Also, you learn a new vision, and evolve, which has a small practical worth. Don't you like it when two things you know well unexpectedly click and make a third thing you know very well? I know that many people don't get anything out of that, and dislike confusion or exploring unusual places in general. Even if you're not one of them, there are other problems with this: (1) this is a solitary, selfish activity; you can't share this beauty, you can only spoil it for someone (2) there are better ways to use your time for sure, more aligned with your arch-goals; not many, but there certainly are; I'm sure that many people who retired have discovered something more worthwhile; the best is the enemy of the good, (3) girls won't be impressed even if you manage to become the champion of the world.

When i think about something like that i look at netman's rating graph ;) he is my inspiration :D .

giving up!!! you mean you dont have any MOTIVATION, oh, how awful. you must find your goals in your growth. normally, when your goal is a point and you say if I cant reach it i will die(?) or you say something like that you will give up if you cant :D but when you make your goal all of your trying while you are hardworker, you RECEIPT your goal and you are alive :D

What you want to do, Is not really a bad thing.
Just don't call it giving up. This name makes you feel bad to do it.
If you have tried for 5 years and now you don't see any future in continuing it, The best thing to do is (Let's call it:) Changing the way and making better decisions.
Although, I recommend you seeing ruban's profile as a hero of not giving up :D

Same here buddy :v I used to have the same feeling as you.

I sacrificed everything: time with my family, time to play with my dogs, time with friends, time to sleep, time to play the piano and violin, etc. I thought I could change my life with a National prize. And guess what I get? Nothing! I participate in the National Olympics and get no prize. "Everything I put in and now I have nothing, I am nothing", that was what I thought.

You know how much I want to give up? And now I still on Codeforces, solving the problems :v What I want to tell you is you are doing it the wrong way.

Coding is not so important that you have to lose anything. You are forcing yourself to do it. If you still feeling that you are sacrifice anything for it, you will never be successful. You cannot learn the thing that you do not like.

So first, ask yourself if you like coding.

If not, then find the thing you want to do best.

If you do, then get out of that depressed feeling! Make coding as a hobby of yours. Code when you want and rest when you are tired. You don't have to do much, just spend 4 or 5 hours a day, but you have to solve the problems right and fast. Keep the balance, don't force yourself. Remember, you are human, not a machine. And again, this is no job of a genius. The problems cannot be born daily, but you can solve many daily. Solve the problems, understand them so that you can do them again. There is no shame if you forget something. Try it again. And when the time comes, you will become the new tourist :))

Learn other things as you have planned !! Best of luck to you in your future endeavors !!

Find your reason of participating other than ratings also, it could be very personal or anything, it could be stupid in others eyes or so, doesn't matter.

Personally, I participate in the contest to get the competition factor inside me, so even if I fail in getting good ratings (which I usually do), I feel good that at least I spent 2 hours in some sort of competition. It just makes me feel good.

tourist was blue before he got red

looking at your past blogs I seriously think you should quit competitive programming as you do not like it and have no purpose.

http://codeforces.me/blog/entry/14017 http://codeforces.me/blog/entry/43800

Guys what I've noticed that programming is being compared to competitive programming.... please don't bring Codeforces rating in here. kursatbakis0 is talking just about programming and not specifically competitive programming.... Sorry brother, no suggestions for you though... just do what your heart tells you!

how is life now? better?

Winners never quit and quitters never win, remember that

Problem is the "Vision". If it's not clear then life is like hell and if it's clear then life is like a haven. It's easy to say the last decision is your's but how do I find the solution if I don't know where do I go or which is a right or wrong direction. These are a very bullshit list of problems but they rising in life, trust me, life will become very scary and tough for a living. Yes, most of the friends here suggest when a mind is totally confuged, it's best to leave the problem and enjoy your life with friends and family. Plan trip & tour. It's the best way to kill 2 problems. 1. Find the cure for your problem. 2. Kill the problem.

This is what I apply when stuck with my problems. Hope it's helpful for you.

If you give up, you lose yours 5 years!

Just find something else to do. There is more out there than just programming.

hohohaha

Here's a quote from the book Subtle Art of Not Giving a F**k

It's (Life or problems or CP for that matter) a never-ending upward spiral. And if you think at any point you’re allowed to stop climbing, I’m afraid you’re missing the point. Because the joy is in the climb itself.

P.S : It's a quote and I am not judging you or anything. At the end it's your choice whatever you do(make sure you don't regret whatever you choose)

great decision

you got blue and give up?