DSA Resources

One of the biggest mistakes beginners make is jumping straight into random LeetCode problems.

After following advice from FAANG engineers, top mentors, and experienced developers, one thing is common:

Learn the patterns first, then solve problems.

Before solving LeetCode questions, make sure you understand:

• Common DSA patterns (Sliding Window, Two Pointers, Binary Search, BFS/DFS, Dynamic Programming, etc.)
• Different data structures and when to use them
• Time & Space Complexity (Big O)
• How to read problem constraints
• How to identify the right algorithm or data structure for a problem

Once you’re comfortable with these fundamentals, start solving curated problem sheets.

Which DSA Sheet Should You Follow?

You don’t need to complete every sheet. Pick one and finish it before moving to another.

Sheet	Best For
Blind 75	The classic interview list covering the most important coding interview problems. A great starting point.
NeetCode 75	Similar to Blind 75 but organized by patterns with excellent explanations. Highly recommended for beginners.
NeetCode 150	An expanded roadmap covering almost every important interview topic. Excellent for product-based company preparation.
Striver’s SDE Sheet	One of the most popular DSA sheets in India. Covers beginner to advanced topics and is widely used for placements.
Rising Brain DSA Sheet	A structured roadmap with carefully selected problems for placement preparation.
LeetCode Top Interview 150	Curated by LeetCode using frequently asked interview questions. Best after completing your first DSA sheet.

LeetCode Tips

• Practice consistently instead of solving many questions in one day.
• Participate in at least 5 LeetCode contests.
• Earn badges and improve your contest rating.
• Build a strong LeetCode profile—many recruiters check it.
• Focus on understanding solutions rather than memorizing them.
• Revisit problems you couldn’t solve and understand the underlying pattern.

Useful LeetCode Resources

• LeetCode Badges Guide: https://leetcode.com/discuss/post/3208230/how-to-earn-badges-by-akashjana18-ne0g/
• Useful LeetCode Resources Collection: https://leetcode.com/discuss/post/665604/important-and-useful-links-from-all-over-ocy8/

Do You Need Competitive Programming?

If your goal is campus placements or product-based companies, DSA interview preparation is usually enough.

Competitive Programming is a great skill to have, but it isn’t mandatory for most placement interviews. Focus on interview-oriented DSA first, then explore CP if you’re interested.

Helpful Resources

• DSA Pattern Guide: https://rayyancodingschool.shadilrayyan2.workers.dev/dsa
• LeetCode Company-wise Interview Questions: https://github.com/snehasishroy/leetcode-companywise-interview-questions
• The Algorithms: https://the-algorithms.com/