A simple path to get good at Algorithms in 2025

I practised Data Structures and Algorithms from scratch, like I were back in my university.

I touched DSA again after 2 years working as a software engineer — I had forgotten everything!

I spent January and February of this year (2025) doing just one thing every day — chugging leetcode questions.

I was doing this because I needed a break from the mundane, slow and stable life of software engineering and bring some spice back in life.

Though I continued doing it for only 2 months, after which I found zero value in doing it more, here is my overall progress.

Now, if you are reading this, there can be many reasons why you want to master leetcode or algorithms, but the most obvious is: Preparing for your next coding interview.

So in this piece, I am talking about how I improved myself doing leetcode in 60 days, and you can mimic it as well if you find value in it.

Where was I before January?

I hate doing leetcode! 😣

I love the use of algorithms to optimize my production code and to understand the magic behind the fast software magic, but I hate using them to solve mathematical problems on a white text field.

📈 When I began leetcode in January:

• I had forgotten the implementation of even basic sorting algorithms.
• I was not able to solve even repeated medium-level questions.

📉 When I stopped leetcoding in March:

• I could approach Medium to Hard level leetcode problems.
• Easily dissect the problems and crack patterns from an interview point of view.
• I had solved more than 150 problems. 😎

So what strategy did I use to master algorithms and reclaim my old glory days?

Consider breaking your leetcoding journey into two parts:

1️⃣ Learning all Data Structures and Algorithms.

2️⃣ Building Intuition/Abstract Thinking.

👉 Let’s get old school.

In school, we are first taught the alphabet, then sentences, then paragraphs and finally were are asked to write a 1000-word essay.

When mastering leetcode we have to follow the same pattern.

➡️ First, a programming language, then common data structures, then algorithms, and finally bringing them all together to do leetcode.

Part 1: Data Structures and Algorithms

No matter what, learn all DSAs out there — do rote memorisation of algorithms if you have to.

Make notes, record videos, or store them in your Notion.

Part 2: Intuition Building

Intuition cannot be built by memorisation.

We can use our memory as a storehouse of raw materials (DSA) that we possess, but memorising solutions does not work.

Follow step by step:

1. Start with easy problems — bet you can solve them without much effort.
2. Move gradually to medium. It’s tough. But by the time you are solving your 10th problem, mediums are also getting easy.
3. Start putting the timer while you are solving: 10 mins for Easy, 20 mins for Medium, 30 to 45 mins for Hard.
4. Think, break and then implement. Do not start typing. Do not start writing. First, ask — does it make sense? Yes? — Cool, implement it. No? — Think more.
5. Do not spend more than 2 hours on any problem, no matter how huge your ego is.
6. Break and Crack. Almost every problem will have these two aspects. First, break it into parts, then identify the pattern(algorithm) that applies to it — that’s also the secret sauce behind being good at competitive programming.

😌 Leetcodes are literally effin’ puzzles!

If you keep doing this every day for 2 months, you can also have the same progress or even better than mine.

⚠️ A few pitfalls you should avoid:

1. Do not memorise the solution to any problem, except if the solution is a well-known algorithm.
2. Do not solve Easy problems too much — these are just a waste of time.
3. Try not to solve topic-wise problems. I found that if I pick a mix of related topics, for example, Binary Trees, Graph, Disjoint-Set and solved them combined built more intuition.

It’s no secret that those who practice DSA every day have to go through the mundane of staring at the white text box and long question statements to master it.

But one thing I can assure you is that you don’t need a roadmap or a paid course to master it.

It’s plain and simple — the old school way is the best way of getting better at it.

👉 Next time, if leetcode haunts you, remind yourself that you are an engineer — this should be easy.