# Basic beginner friendly Resources for Competitive Programming Beginners↵
↵
## Introduction↵
For competitive programming, **C++ is still the most effective language**.↵
That is why almost all beginners start with C++.↵
↵
HoweverMany beginners follow full C++ courses that are not designed for competitive programming .And, many beginners follow **full C++ courses meant for app or software development**, not for competitive programming.↵
While those courses are not useless, they contain many topics that are **rarely needed in CP**, especially at the beginning.↵
↵
This blog lists **what to focus on and what to avoid** when learning C++ for competitive programming.↵
↵
---↵
↵
## Topics That Are Rarely Useful at the Beginning↵
↵
### Full Object-Oriented Programming↵
Learning complete OOP (classes, inheritance, polymorphism, design patterns) at the start is unnecessary for CP.↵
Most Codeforces problems do not require OOP-heavy designs.↵
↵
You can learn basic `struct` later, but full OOP can wait.↵
↵
### Memorizing All Functions and References↵
Trying to memorize all STL functions or C++ references is a bad idea.↵
You will naturally remember them by solving problems.↵
↵
Practice > memorization.↵
↵
↵
↵
## Recommended Resources for Beginners↵
↵
### USACO Guide↵
**https://usaco.guide/**↵
↵
- One of the best structured CP resources↵
- Supports multiple languages including C++↵
- Very beginner-friendly↵
↵
↵
↵
### Bucky’s C++ Programming (YouTube)↵
Good for learning **basic C++ syntax**:↵
- Variables↵
- Loops↵
- Functions↵
- Arrays and strings↵
↵
Watch only the basics. No need to finish everything.↵
↵
↵
↵
### C++ STL (Most Important)↵
STL is essential for competitive programming.↵
↵
Focus on:↵
- `vector`↵
- `pair`↵
- `struct`↵
- `set`↵
- `map`↵
- `sort`↵
↵
Without STL, CP becomes unnecessarily hard.↵
↵
↵
↵
### Practice Problems↵
After learning basics and STL:↵
- Solve **800–1200 rated Codeforces problems**↵
- Aim for **at least 100 problems**↵
↵
This matters more than watching tutorials.↵
↵
↵
↵
## What to Learn After Basics↵
Once you are comfortable with C++ and STL, start learning:↵
- GCD↵
- Prefix sums↵
- Greedy ideas↵
- Lexicographically smallest/largest logic↵
- Shortest path basics↵
↵
Use:↵
**https://cp-algorithms.com/**↵
↵
Also recommended:↵
- Errichto’s algorithm videos↵
- LGM and GM's contest streams (for thinking process)↵
↵
↵
↵
## Some Practical Tips↵
- Use Google, Wikipedia, and GeeksforGeeks to learn new concepts with exmaple↵
- If stuck, read the editorial **after ~1 hour**↵
- Avoidusrelying AI tools inon AI solutions at the beginning —; it hurts logicalcan weaken independent thinking.↵
↵
↵
↵
↵
C++ is just a language but the most larger part is the thinking process, optimal code.↵
Problem-solving skill matters more than syntax.↵
↵
↵
↵
Thanks for reading.If this helps even one beginner avoid common mistakes, the blog served its purpose↵
↵
Wish you high rated.↵
↵
## Introduction↵
For competitive programming, **C++ is still the most effective language**.↵
That is why almost all beginners start with C++.↵
However
While those courses are not useless, they contain many topics that are **rarely needed in CP**, especially at the beginning.↵
↵
This blog lists **what to focus on and what to avoid** when learning C++ for competitive programming.↵
↵
---↵
↵
## Topics That Are Rarely Useful at the Beginning↵
↵
### Full Object-Oriented Programming↵
Learning complete OOP (classes, inheritance, polymorphism, design patterns) at the start is unnecessary for CP.↵
Most Codeforces problems do not require OOP-heavy designs.↵
↵
You can learn basic `struct` later, but full OOP can wait.↵
↵
### Memorizing All Functions and References↵
Trying to memorize all STL functions or C++ references is a bad idea.↵
You will naturally remember them by solving problems.↵
↵
Practice > memorization.↵
↵
↵
↵
## Recommended Resources for Beginners↵
↵
### USACO Guide↵
**https://usaco.guide/**↵
↵
- One of the best structured CP resources↵
- Supports multiple languages including C++↵
- Very beginner-friendly↵
↵
↵
↵
### Bucky’s C++ Programming (YouTube)↵
Good for learning **basic C++ syntax**:↵
- Variables↵
- Loops↵
- Functions↵
- Arrays and strings↵
↵
Watch only the basics. No need to finish everything.↵
↵
↵
↵
### C++ STL (Most Important)↵
STL is essential for competitive programming.↵
↵
Focus on:↵
- `vector`↵
- `pair`↵
- `struct`↵
- `set`↵
- `map`↵
- `sort`↵
↵
Without STL, CP becomes unnecessarily hard.↵
↵
↵
↵
### Practice Problems↵
After learning basics and STL:↵
- Solve **800–1200 rated Codeforces problems**↵
- Aim for **at least 100 problems**↵
↵
This matters more than watching tutorials.↵
↵
↵
↵
## What to Learn After Basics↵
Once you are comfortable with C++ and STL, start learning:↵
- GCD↵
- Prefix sums↵
- Greedy ideas↵
- Lexicographically smallest/largest logic↵
- Shortest path basics↵
↵
Use:↵
**https://cp-algorithms.com/**↵
↵
Also recommended:↵
- Errichto’s algorithm videos↵
- LGM and GM's contest streams (for thinking process)↵
↵
↵
↵
## Some Practical Tips↵
- Use Google, Wikipedia, and GeeksforGeeks to learn new concepts with exmaple↵
- If stuck, read the editorial **after ~1 hour**↵
- Avoid
↵
↵
↵
Problem-solving skill matters more than syntax.↵
↵
↵
Thanks for reading.
↵
Wish you high rated.↵
