Some of the terms in this question need definitions:

Can constant training train any brain? If you are an average programmer but try to practice competitive programming, can you clear FAANG interviews? (answer)

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Although solving practice problems is the most direct way to get better at competitive programming, learning discrete math provides a foundation for understanding algorithm topics:

What math courses should I self-study to do very well in programming competitions like HashCode, Codeforces, and TopCoder? (answer)

I’m doing most of my writing on Quora this year. For more information, see A Project for 2020.

Since everyone hates algorithmic coding interviews, there are always ideas about alternative formats. What about giving candidates a take-home project?

Are take-home projects where software engineers are asked to solve a real world problem he/she is likely to encounter at work, a better way to judge their skills instead of asking hard data structures and algorithm questions in an onsite interview? (answer)

I’m doing most of my writing on Quora this year. For more information, see A Project for 2020.

You can find this type of question all over the place on Quora, but it can still be interesting to apply some numbers to it:

Can I beat Gennady Korotkevich by practicing every day for 5 hours and performing better than him in a competition? (answer)

I’m doing most of my writing on Quora this year. For more information, see A Project for 2020.

Competitive programming sites and interview preparation sites have a lot in common, but they aren’t interchangeable:

Is TopCoder the best place to practice coding interview questions? (answer)

I’m doing most of my writing on Quora this year. For more information, see A Project for 2020.

Sometimes the barrier to coding interview success is math rather than algorithms and data structures, or programming fluency:

I can’t solve some of math fundamental problems in HackerRank. What should I do? (answer)

I’m doing most of my writing on Quora this year. For more information, see A Project for 2020.

Practice is important, but not all practice is equally useful:

What is a better method to learn LeetCode than just practicing it? (answer)

I’m doing most of my writing on Quora this year. For more information, see A Project for 2020.

CodeChef is running a series of learning-oriented contests that may be useful for people working on algorithm fundamentals:

What basic data structures and algorithms knowledge do I need to be able to solve easy problems on CodeChef? The transition from “beginner” to “easy” category felt overwhelming. (answer)

I’m doing most of my writing on Quora this year. For more information, see A Project for 2020.

Writing proofs is slow. Solving programming contest problems is supposed to be fast. Is there any relationship between the two?

Are top competitive programmers good at writing proofs? (answer)

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A benefit of LeetCode’s current popularity is the wide range of solutions in the discussion board for each problem. What’s the best way to use these?

What do you see as the main benefit of stopping to look at the Discuss board when trying to solve LeetCode problems? (answer)

I’m doing most of my writing on Quora this year. For more information, see A Project for 2020.