Is leet code Premium worth it? (2024)

In the realm of programming, progressing from grasping the fundamentals to mastering the skills necessary for tangible project creation presents numerous hurdles, particularly when confronting coding interview challenges. As someone with a non-mathematical background, delving into coding was both surprising and enlightening, revealing the distinct disparities between practical coding and the algorithmic puzzles frequently encountered in interviews. Recognizing this, I turned to LeetCode Premium in hopes of expediting my learning journey, spurred by a friend's recommendation who recently secured a position at a major tech firm.

LeetCode Premium offers an array of features tailored for interview preparation, but my focus honed in on the core essentials that directly impact learning. While the platform offers useful tools like a debugger and comprehensive solutions, I believe the crux of interview preparation lies in the ability to independently solve problems, debug, and refine code without assistance. Despite this belief, I experimented with the LeetCode debugger and found it to be functional, albeit with limitations in terms of interface design.

My primary interest lay in the solutions provided by the LeetCode team. The platform's commitment to offering multiple problem-solving approaches was enticing. However, I hit a stumbling block when I realized that a considerable portion of the questions lacked official solutions, forcing users to rely on community-contributed answers. While some of these user-contributed solutions were insightful, others lacked the thorough explanations I had hoped for.

One area ripe for enhancement is the availability of Python solutions for every problem. LeetCode predominantly favors Java, which can pose an added challenge for those less familiar with the language. As a proponent of Python's simplicity and readability, I found this to be a notable drawback.

The platform's extensive library of over 1,000 array-related questions can be overwhelming. A more structured approach, emphasizing essential problem-solving patterns and strategies, would prove invaluable. While LeetCode attempts to organize content by company and general question types, the sheer volume of material can make the preparation process feel daunting.

Based on these experiences, I've begun exploring alternative resources such as AlgoMonster and the "Grokking the Coding Interview" course on Educative.io, which appear to offer the structured learning path I seek. Although I dabbled with AlgoExpert previously, the lengthy video explanations didn't align well with my learning style, particularly given my limited study time.

In summary, while LeetCode Premium can be a potent tool for individuals with ample time to delve into its array of coding problems, those like myself juggling tight schedules may benefit more from a platform providing a structured and focused learning experience. LeetCode's free version remains valuable for practicing specific question types when needed. As the journey toward becoming a software developer progresses, finding the right preparation tool becomes a crucial step toward interview readiness.