📚 Main Topics

1. Introduction to the Six Steps

   • Overview of a strategy to excel in coding interviews.

2. Step 1: Repeat the Question

   • Restate the problem in your own words to ensure understanding.
   • Benefits include buying time to think, clarifying misunderstandings, and aiding auditory learners.

3. Step 2: Ask Clarifying Questions

   • Check assumptions and ask relevant questions to identify useful tools.
   • Practice asking good questions to enhance problem-solving.

4. Step 3: Work Through Examples

   • Use example inputs and outputs to understand the problem better.
   • Helps in identifying test cases and clarifying assumptions.

5. Step 4: Brainstorm Solutions

   • Think of multiple approaches rather than jumping to the first solution.
   • Discuss optimality in terms of time and space complexity.

6. Step 5: Implement Your Solution

   • Write clean, syntactically correct code based on your understanding.
   • Avoid pseudocode; practice coding in the actual language.

7. Step 6: Test Your Code

   • Review your code for errors and ensure it works with various inputs.
   • Use examples from earlier steps to debug and validate your solution.

✨ Key Takeaways

• Practice Makes PerfectRegularly practice these steps to become proficient.
• Communication is KeyEngaging with the interviewer through questions and clarifications can lead to better outcomes.
• Understanding the ProblemTaking time to fully grasp the problem before coding is crucial.
• Optimal SolutionsAlways consider multiple solutions and discuss their efficiencies.

🧠 Lessons

• Iterative LearningThe more you practice these steps, the more natural they will become.
• Engagement with InterviewersUse the interview as a collaborative process rather than a one-sided evaluation.
• Debugging MindsetApproach coding with a mindset of testing and validating your logic throughout the process.