What are the most important things to do during a coding challenge?

"Understanding the problem is half the solution". Don't skip directly to the keyboard; instead, spend some time on paper to understand the problem. There have been instances where I started a solution immediately, only to realize the last part of the question 15 minutes later, forcing me to completely change my approach. Even if time is limited, using pen and paper to understand the problem is a great approach; it provides a crystal-clear image of the problem.

Focus on understanding the problem statements thoroughly, manage your time effectively, start with the simpler problems, and don't hesitate to switch to another problem if you're stuck. Regularly test your code with sample inputs and optimize for efficiency. Lastly, stay calm and maintain a positive mindset throughout the contest.

Understanding the requirements thoroughly is indeed crucial during a coding challenge. Additionally, focus on breaking down the problem into smaller parts, writing clean and efficient code, testing your solutions rigorously, and managing your time effectively are also vital aspects to consider. Remember to communicate your thought process if allowed, and don't hesitate to ask clarifying questions if needed.

Use below to understand requirements. 1. Thorough Understanding: Before coding, meticulously read and analyze challenge instructions, seeking clarifications if needed. Understand the problem, input/output specifications, and potential edge cases. 2. Effective Time Management: Develop a time management plan for timed challenges, breaking down tasks and sticking to your schedule. Prioritize tasks, considering the evaluation criteria, and allocate time accordingly. 3. Clear Communication and Documentation:Clearly define the scope for open-ended challenges, communicate your approach to evaluators, and document your thought process with comments. Reflect on your code before submission, ensuring alignment with requirements.

Firstly I analyze where to put what as a syntax (which data type container is required and then think about the algorithm) for some minutes. Then for example; if there are multiple elements required to be checked that can be taken into a list or there is a key and value part that can be taken into a map structure. For the most of the time these two steps work nice. First analyze how you can "codemize" (this word is made up by me :) them and then how you can create the algorithm for it...

Craft code that not only functions but is also readable and understandable. Adhere to language and framework coding standards, employ meaningful names for variables and functions, incorporate comments and documentation as needed, and format your code properly. Leverage a code editor or IDE with syntax highlighting, auto-completion, and linting features to facilitate cleaner code composition. Prioritize clarity and adherence to conventions, as code readability is essential for collaboration and maintenance.

Writing clean code is essential for maintainability and collaboration in software web development. Here are key practices and principles: - Meaningful Naming - Keep Functions Short - Expose and Consume Data Selectively - Follow Naming Conventions - Keep the code Simple - Code Readability Is Key By following these practices, developers can create maintainable and efficient software in web development.

In web development coding challenges, prioritize clean, readable code. Use descriptive names, consistent formatting, and modularization. Include comments for clarity, but aim for self-explanatory code. Follow the DRY principle to avoid redundancy. Replace magic numbers with named constants. Maintain consistent indentation and provide meaningful documentation. Structure conditionals for readability and implement robust error handling. Strive for simplicity and readability to enhance collaboration and maintainability.

One key lesson I've learned is the importance of writing clean and readable code. During a challenge, it's tempting to focus solely on finding a solution. However, how you code is as important as the solution itself. Use descriptive variable names, adhere to coding standards, and keep your code organized. This practice not only makes your code more understandable to others (and to yourself when you revisit it) but also demonstrates good coding habits.

Clean and readable code is very important in maintaining a software. Write code that's easy to understand: use clear names, add helpful comments, keep things organized, avoid repeating yourself, and test your code. Regularly review and improve your code for better software.

When testing your solution, make sure to check extreme cases, use typical scenarios, and test with invalid inputs. Also assess performance, integrate with other parts if needed, and consider how users might interact with the code. It's like checking if the code can handle all sorts of situations and still work well.

Rigorous testing and debugging are essential. Don't just assume your solution works; test it under different scenarios to ensure its correctness and efficiency. Debugging is an integral part of coding challenges, and the ability to quickly identify and fix errors is a valuable skill. During my coding challenges, I've often found that the time spent carefully testing and debugging can be the difference between a good and an exceptional solution.

Avoid assuming your code is flawless; instead, conduct thorough testing with diverse inputs and edge cases. Employ debugging tools or print statements to identify and rectify errors or bugs. If the challenge includes test cases or a testing environment, utilize them to validate your code. In cases without provided tests, create your own or leverage a testing framework to automate the testing process. Rigorous testing ensures the reliability and functionality of your code.

Choose the priority, whether it is performance or user accessibility. Then, explain why and how it is reflected in your code. You can demonstrate user accessibility by explaining the choice of contrasting colors, element hierarchy, good naming of buttons and links, and how users are informed about errors. If you chose a performance, you can demonstrate your code structure and how fast it performs, what optimization algorithms you decided on, and why. Feel free to suggest adding more features to the code if they want to add other priorities.

Consider the challenge as a canvas to express your unique coding style. If appropriate, incorporate design patterns, optimize algorithms, or explore innovative solutions that go beyond the basic requirements. Demonstrating a willingness to go the extra mile and showcase your passion for coding can leave a lasting impression. Balance creativity with practicality, ensuring that your enhancements contribute positively to the overall quality and usability of your solution.

Effective communication of your thought process is crucial. Provide insights into why you chose a particular approach, discuss alternative solutions you considered, and elaborate on any design decisions. Address challenges you encountered and how you overcame them. Being transparent about assumptions or limitations shows a thoughtful consideration of the problem. This not only helps the evaluator understand your approach but also highlights your ability to articulate complex concepts—a valuable skill in collaborative coding environments.

Explaining your solution not only reveals your thought process but also allows the evaluator to appreciate your unique perspective. Clearly explain your logic to showcase your reasoning skills and ensure the evaluator fully understands your solution.

No one knows what you're thinking. You need to communicate. Everyone can do it, but it does take some practice. I highly suggest finding a few people to do serious mock interviews with. Another great option is to practice pair programming where one person does the thinking, and the other focuses on implementation and code syntax.

Explaining your code and thought process is a pivotal aspect of a coding challenge. It demonstrates not just your technical skills but also your problem-solving approach and communication abilities. Articulating the logic behind your solution showcases your understanding of the problem, the choices made, and the challenges faced. This transparency allows the evaluator to gauge your problem-solving strategy and how well you comprehend the task. Describing trade-offs exhibits your ability to make informed decisions. Additionally, mentioning assumptions, limitations, or potential improvements displays awareness and foresight. Developers are problem solvers who communicate with their teams — this is really what evaluators look for.

Remember, growth is proportional to feedback. The more feedback you get the more you grow. Don't just seek feedback, act on it. Growth happens in the gap between knowing and doing. Every rejection is a path to success. Turn rejections into roadmaps. Analyze why it happened and improve on it.

It is important to consider whether the source code which has been developed has added proper : - Error and exception handling - Comments to help explain to the reviewer - camel case variable name - No dead code - Free up resources after completing of code execution (if applicable)