LeetCode For A Year?
I've reached a point where I'm comfortable with syntax and building applications, but when I see a blank LeetCode screen, I often freeze. I have solved only 11 problems so far. I realize now that there is a massive difference between writing code and solving problems.
Starting today, December 30, 2025, I am committing to a full year of LeetCode. My goal is to get better at problem-solving, maintain a perfect 365-day streak, and collect all 12 monthly badges.
My Strategy: The "Ghost Solve" Protocol
To stay consistent without falling into "Tutorial Hell," I am adopting the Ghost Solve Protocol.
The Philosophy: If I am stuck for more than 20 minutes, I am allowed to study a solution. However, the problem is not "solved" until I delete that code and rewrite it from a blank screen using my own variable names and logic flow. This ensures I'm building muscle memory, not just a high "Solved" count.
Why Python & C++?
- Python: To quickly prototype the logic and master the high-level "interview-style" approach.
- C++: To understand underlying efficiency. C++ forces me to be intentional about data types, memory, and
pass-by-reference.
The 2026 Roadmap
Phase 1: The Foundation (Jan – Mar)
Focus: Mastering Big O and Linear Patterns.
- Daily Challenge: Complete every daily problem to earn the Jan, Feb, and March badges.
- Complexity Mastery: Calculate Time and Space complexity () for every solution.
- The "Easy" Grind: Focus on Arrays, Hashing, and Two Pointers.
- Target: 100+ "Easy" problems.
Phase 2: Identifying the Pattern (Apr – Jun)
Focus: Moving beyond brute force.
- Badge Quest: Maintain the streak for the Q2 badges.
- Sliding Window & Binary Search: Learn how to optimize nested loops into linear or logarithmic time.
- Stack/Queue Logic: Solve problems related to Undo/Redo operations and nested structures.
- C++ Focus: Master the STL (Vectors, Maps, Sets) to write cleaner, faster code.
- Target: 100+ "Medium" problems.
Phase 3: The Non-Linear Shift (Jul – Sep)
Focus: Recursion and Trees.
- Badge Quest: Complete the summer streak for July, August, and September badges.
- Thinking Recursively: Solve 30+ recursion-based problems. This is the hardest hurdle; I will not move on until it clicks.
- Trees & Graphs: Master BFS (Breadth-First Search) and DFS (Depth-First Search).
- Target: 100+ Medium/Hard problems.
Phase 4: Optimization & Polish (Oct – Dec)
Focus: Efficiency and Interviews.
- The Grand Slam: Collect the final 3 badges to complete the 12-month set.
- Dynamic Programming (DP): Tackle the "taboo" of algorithms. Start with basic memoization.
- Heap/Priority Queue: Learn how to handle "Top K" style problems efficiently.
- Target: 365-day streak and 300+ unique problems solved (600+ total solutions).
My Daily Workflow
To ensure I get my badges while still learning systematically, I will follow this 4-step daily routine:
- The Anchor (Morning): Solve the LeetCode Daily Challenge in Python. If it's a topic I haven't learned yet, I use the Ghost Solve Protocol to understand the pattern.
- The Skill (Afternoon): Work on a problem from my current Roadmap Phase (e.g., Two Pointers) in C++.
- The Audit (Evening): Sync the day’s solutions to my GitHub "competitive-programming/leetcode" repo.
- The Sunday Review: Re-solve the week's hardest Daily Challenge from a blank screen with zero hints.
Success Metrics
- The Trophy Case: 12 Monthly Badges earned.
- The Streak: A 365-day "Active" status on the LeetCode profile.
- Dual-Repo: A GitHub repo containing 365 folders, each with a
solution.pyand asolution.cpp. - Mental Shift: Being able to read a problem and identify the required pattern within 5 minutes.
Conclusion
Being an intermediate programmer is a great start, but true engineering excellence requires deep problem-solving skills. By anchoring my learning to the Daily Challenges and using the Ghost Solve method, I am ensuring that my "clout" is backed by real competence.
The clock starts now.