Hello Codeforces!↵
-----------------↵
↵
If you are completely new to Competitive Programming, starting can feel confusing.↵
↵
You see thousands of problems, unfamiliar algorithms, and people solving problems much faster than you. Sometimes even an easy problem can feel impossible.↵
↵
So, where should you start?↵
↵
_“Hereis a simple roadmap that I think can help beginners.are a few things I wish I knew when I started.”_↵
↵
**1. Learn One Programming Language**↵
-------------------------------------↵
↵
First, choose one programming language and become comfortable with it.↵
↵
If you're starting with **C++**, learn the basics first: _loops, functions, arrays, strings, vectors, and basic STL_. Then start solving problems. You don't need to master the entire language before touching Codeforces.↵
↵
For Competitive Programming, **C++** is a popular choice because of its _speed_ and _**STL.**_↵
↵
You don't need to learn everything about **C++** at first.↵
↵
**Focus on:**↵
-------------↵
↵
- Variables and data types↵
- Input / Output↵
- Conditions↵
- Loops↵
- Functions↵
- Arrays↵
- Strings↵
- vector↵
- set↵
- map↵
- Basic STL↵
↵
Don't spend months learning the language before solving problems. Once you know the basics, start practicing.↵
↵
**2. Understand Time Complexity**↵
---------------------------------↵
↵
Before learning advanced algorithms, learn how to estimate the complexity of your solution.↵
↵
At least understand:↵
↵
↵
**O(1)**↵
↵
**O(log n)**↵
↵
**O(n)**↵
↵
**O(n log n)**↵
↵
**O(n²)**↵
↵
↵
Always look at the constraints before deciding your approach.↵
↵
For example, an **O(n²)** solution may work for small **n**, but can be too slow when **n** becomes large.↵
↵
This habit will become extremely important as you improve.↵
↵
**3. Start With Easy Problems**↵
-------------------------------↵
↵
Don't start with difficult problems just because you want to improve quickly.↵
↵
Start with simple implementation and beginner-rated problems.↵
↵
Your goal in the beginning should not be:↵
↵
_"How quickly can I increase my rating?"_↵
↵
Instead:↵
↵
_"Can I understand the problem and solve it by myself?"_↵
↵
Try to build the habit:↵
↵
_Read → Think → Code → Submit → Debug → Learn_↵
↵
**4. Learn Topics Step by Step**↵
--------------------------------↵
↵
You don't need to learn every DSA topic at onceDon't try to learn every DSA topic at once.↵
↵
Start with basic problem solving and gradually learn new techniques as you encounter problems that require them.↵
↵
A simple progression could be:↵
↵
_Basic Programming_ → _Implementation_ → _Sorting + Basic Math_ → _Prefix Sum_ → _Two Pointers_ → _Binary Search_ → _Greedy_ → _Basic Data Structures_ → _Graphs_ → _Dynamic Programming_↵
↵
↵
There are many possible roadmaps, so don't treat this order as a strict rule. The important thing is to build your skills gradually.↵
↵
**5. Participate in Contests**↵
------------------------------↵
↵
Don't wait until you become "good enough" to participate in contests.↵
↵
Join contests while you're learning.↵
↵
At first, you might solve only one or two problems. That's completely fine.↵
↵
Contests teach you things that normal practice doesn't:↵
↵
- Time management↵
- Reading problems quickly↵
- Choosing which problem to attempt↵
- Debugging under pressure↵
- Handling wrong submissions↵
↵
Your rating may go down sometimes.↵
↵
That's normal.↵
↵
Rating is feedback, not your identity as a programmer.↵
↵
When I first started looking at Codeforces, rating felt like the main goal. But rating can be a terrible way to measure your progress as a beginner.↵
↵
Instead, ask yourself:↵
↵
Did I solve something I couldn't solve last week?↵
Did I understand why my solution got WA?↵
Did I learn a new technique?↵
Did I upsolve a problem after a contest?↵
↵
If the answer is yes, you're improving.↵
↵
↵
**6. Upsolve Your Unsolved Problems**↵
-------------------------------------↵
↵
This is probably one of the most important habits.↵
↵
Suppose you couldn't solve Problem C during a contest.↵
↵
Don't just move on.↵
↵
**After the contest:**↵
↵
1. Try the problem again.↵
1. Think about it without the contest pressure.↵
1. If you're still stuck, read the editorial.↵
1. Understand the main idea.↵
1. Close the editorial.↵
1. Implement the solution yourself.↵
↵
This turns a failed contest problem into a learning opportunity. Upsolving is also a recurring recommendation in Codeforces roadmaps and beginner discussions.↵
↵
Don't count a problem as _“learned”_ just because you understood the editorial. Try implementing it again without looking.↵
↵
↵
**7. Learn From Your Mistakes**↵
-------------------------------↵
↵
WA, TLE and RE are part of Competitive Programming.↵
↵
Instead of feeling bad about them, ask:↵
↵
_Why did my solution fail?_↵
↵
Maybe you:↵
↵
- Missed an edge case↵
- Used the wrong data type↵
- Had an inefficient algorithm↵
- Misunderstood the statement↵
- Made an implementation mistake↵
↵
If you understand the reason, the mistake becomes useful.↵
↵
**Final Advice**↵
----------------↵
↵
Don't try to learn everything at once.↵
↵
Start small.↵
↵
Solve problems regularly. Participate in contests. Upsolve your mistakes. Learn new techniques one at a time.↵
↵
Most importantly, don't compare your progress with other people.↵
↵
Everyone has a different starting point.↵
↵
Your goal should simply be to become a little better than you were yesterday.↵
↵
_Learn → Practice → Contest → Fail → Upsolve → Improve_↵
↵
That's the journey.↵
↵
#### **Good luck, and happy coding!**↵
-----------------↵
↵
If you are completely new to Competitive Programming, starting can feel confusing.↵
↵
You see thousands of problems, unfamiliar algorithms, and people solving problems much faster than you. Sometimes even an easy problem can feel impossible.↵
↵
So, where should you start?↵
↵
_“Here
↵
**1. Learn One Programming Language**↵
-------------------------------------↵
↵
First, choose one programming language and become comfortable with it.↵
↵
If you're starting with **C++**, learn the basics first: _loops, functions, arrays, strings, vectors, and basic STL_. Then start solving problems. You don't need to master the entire language before touching Codeforces.↵
↵
For Competitive Programming, **C++** is a popular choice because of its _speed_ and _**STL.**_↵
↵
You don't need to learn everything about **C++** at first.↵
↵
**Focus on:**↵
-------------↵
↵
- Variables and data types↵
- Input / Output↵
- Conditions↵
- Loops↵
- Functions↵
- Arrays↵
- Strings↵
- vector↵
- set↵
- map↵
- Basic STL↵
↵
Don't spend months learning the language before solving problems. Once you know the basics, start practicing.↵
↵
**2. Understand Time Complexity**↵
---------------------------------↵
↵
Before learning advanced algorithms, learn how to estimate the complexity of your solution.↵
↵
At least understand:↵
↵
↵
**O(1)**↵
↵
**O(log n)**↵
↵
**O(n)**↵
↵
**O(n log n)**↵
↵
**O(n²)**↵
↵
↵
Always look at the constraints before deciding your approach.↵
↵
For example, an **O(n²)** solution may work for small **n**, but can be too slow when **n** becomes large.↵
↵
This habit will become extremely important as you improve.↵
↵
**3. Start With Easy Problems**↵
-------------------------------↵
↵
Don't start with difficult problems just because you want to improve quickly.↵
↵
Start with simple implementation and beginner-rated problems.↵
↵
Your goal in the beginning should not be:↵
↵
_"How quickly can I increase my rating?"_↵
↵
Instead:↵
↵
_"Can I understand the problem and solve it by myself?"_↵
↵
Try to build the habit:↵
↵
_Read → Think → Code → Submit → Debug → Learn_↵
↵
**4. Learn Topics Step by Step**↵
--------------------------------↵
↵
↵
Start with basic problem solving and gradually learn new techniques as you encounter problems that require them.↵
↵
A simple progression could be:↵
↵
_Basic Programming_ → _Implementation_ → _Sorting + Basic Math_ → _Prefix Sum_ → _Two Pointers_ → _Binary Search_ → _Greedy_ → _Basic Data Structures_ → _Graphs_ → _Dynamic Programming_↵
↵
↵
There are many possible roadmaps, so don't treat this order as a strict rule. The important thing is to build your skills gradually.↵
↵
**5. Participate in Contests**↵
------------------------------↵
↵
Don't wait until you become "good enough" to participate in contests.↵
↵
Join contests while you're learning.↵
↵
At first, you might solve only one or two problems. That's completely fine.↵
↵
Contests teach you things that normal practice doesn't:↵
↵
- Time management↵
- Reading problems quickly↵
- Choosing which problem to attempt↵
- Debugging under pressure↵
- Handling wrong submissions↵
↵
Your rating may go down sometimes.↵
↵
That's normal.↵
↵
Rating is feedback, not your identity as a programmer.↵
↵
When I first started looking at Codeforces, rating felt like the main goal. But rating can be a terrible way to measure your progress as a beginner.↵
↵
Instead, ask yourself:↵
↵
Did I solve something I couldn't solve last week?↵
Did I understand why my solution got WA?↵
Did I learn a new technique?↵
Did I upsolve a problem after a contest?↵
↵
If the answer is yes, you're improving.↵
↵
↵
**6. Upsolve Your Unsolved Problems**↵
-------------------------------------↵
↵
This is probably one of the most important habits.↵
↵
Suppose you couldn't solve Problem C during a contest.↵
↵
Don't just move on.↵
↵
**After the contest:**↵
↵
1. Try the problem again.↵
1. Think about it without the contest pressure.↵
1. If you're still stuck, read the editorial.↵
1. Understand the main idea.↵
1. Close the editorial.↵
1. Implement the solution yourself.↵
↵
This turns a failed contest problem into a learning opportunity. Upsolving is also a recurring recommendation in Codeforces roadmaps and beginner discussions.↵
↵
Don't count a problem as _“learned”_ just because you understood the editorial. Try implementing it again without looking.↵
↵
↵
**7. Learn From Your Mistakes**↵
-------------------------------↵
↵
WA, TLE and RE are part of Competitive Programming.↵
↵
Instead of feeling bad about them, ask:↵
↵
_Why did my solution fail?_↵
↵
Maybe you:↵
↵
- Missed an edge case↵
- Used the wrong data type↵
- Had an inefficient algorithm↵
- Misunderstood the statement↵
- Made an implementation mistake↵
↵
If you understand the reason, the mistake becomes useful.↵
↵
**Final Advice**↵
----------------↵
↵
Don't try to learn everything at once.↵
↵
Start small.↵
↵
Solve problems regularly. Participate in contests. Upsolve your mistakes. Learn new techniques one at a time.↵
↵
Most importantly, don't compare your progress with other people.↵
↵
Everyone has a different starting point.↵
↵
Your goal should simply be to become a little better than you were yesterday.↵
↵
_Learn → Practice → Contest → Fail → Upsolve → Improve_↵
↵
That's the journey.↵
↵
#### **Good luck, and happy coding!**↵
