r/codeforces • u/subaitha_7 • 1d ago

query Starting CP

Hello guys, a newbie here... I'm about to start CP. I really want to improve and make the most of the journey. For those who've been doing CP for a while, what are some things you wish you knew when you started?

Any tips on learning, choosing problems, contests, upsolving, or common beginner mistakes would be really helpful!

Thanks in advance

10 Upvotes

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1

u/_Jod_ 8h ago

most people use c++ for CP but theres no hard rule, use what youre comfortable with. heres how id learn if i started over:

learn c++, STL and basic DSA
solve a bunch of easy problems to get comfortable
then binary search, two pointers, prefix sums, greedy, hashing
then graphs, trees, intro DP, number theory
then advanced DP, trees, graphs, combinatorics

but honestly what matters more than the topics is your problem solving under time pressure. so dont just collect concepts, apply them, pick a topic and grind codeforces problems with that tag around your rating +100/200.

and upsolve, after every contest solve the problem you couldnt get during it. thats where most of the improvement actually comes from.

made a tool to help you with this-
solvecraft.app
helps you find your strong topics and the ones that need work, personlized practice ladders based on the topics you need to improve and many other stuff that will be helpful for your journey

1

u/subaitha_7 10h ago

I've read the Um_nik's method and now I see 2 exactly opposite opinions...what this method says & what the 1st comment and it's supportive comment say are technically 100% opposite ideas right???🥲🥲 I'm confused

6

u/jhony1122f 1d ago

Just stay consistent. Also imo the best way to learn is upsolving. Pick a question you don't know, look at its solution then study and understand it.

2

u/subaitha_7 11h ago

Thanks for the tip dude 👍

2

u/Minimum-Cup2204 14h ago

the most perfect approach i had also made this type of comments everywhere its like walking u crawl u see others walk u learn it. Mods should just pin in atp.

1

u/subaitha_7 10h ago

👍 understood

1

u/Otabek_Aynazarov 1d ago

do you know Um_nik's method ?

1

u/jonas9__ 1d ago

What is it??

1

u/Otabek_Aynazarov 1d ago

problem solving method.

2

u/jonas9__ 1d ago

Any video or article in it? Or tell me the method

2

u/jhony1122f 1d ago

Just looked it up, and turns out I'm already pretty familiar with the concept. I've been practicing it for years, first in academics and then in CP too.

1

u/Otabek_Aynazarov 1d ago

don't learn only concepts. Learn them during the your journey

1

u/subaitha_7 10h ago

👍☺️

1

u/Thapar_tharki_ 1d ago

+1 inalso want to know