What You'll Learn
- The Fast Track approach
- Part 1: muscle memory for basics
- Part 2: algorithm templates as tools
- How to think about data structures (storage vs operations)
1. Fast Track
If your goal is to pass traditional coding interview in the shortest time as possible. This Big Tech software engineers and students loved Fast Track is your choice.
2. The Secret of Making Interview Questions Easy
Part 1: Build Muscle Memory
The first part doesn't have many complex questions. It's for you to build the very basic foundations and get comfortable. If you already know this material, a quick skim is enough. Follow Part 1 to practice. It's like your Mandarin: now you don't have to think about grammar when you talk. That's because you've already built muscle memory. Similar to solving questions: after Part 1, you won't need to think about 'oh, where do I start the loop?' or 'what's the syntax of...?' You'll just focus on solving the problems.
Part 2: Use Templates Like Tools
No need to grind hundreds or even thousands of questions, or dive into company specific problem lists directly. The core algorithm templates are almost the same across all companies. Once you master the templates, you can finish a company's list in just a day. You will be able to solve the questions by yourself, not depending on luck to get an exact question that you just practiced, or by rote memorization and question drilling tactics.
It's just like using different tools to do different things. After you learn those templates, solving reasonable interview questions is like just picking a tool to do a job. For example, to cut something, we need scissors. To nail something, we pick a hammer. That's the same thing for solving algorithm questions and problems.
3. First Principles for Data Structures and Algorithms
Many people need a lot of LeetCode questions because they are not learning from the essence and then applying it to the questions. They do a lot of questions and slowly build the essence and intuition. But in this Fast Track, you learn the essence first, then you can apply the essence to all the questions. You could use much less time and effort to achieve the same or even better results than people who just grind hundreds or thousands of LeetCode. Let's have a little taste of essence first:
The Essence of Data Structures
There are only two ways to store data: Arrays (continuous block) and Linked Lists (scattered with pointers). Every advanced structure (Trees, Heaps, Graphs) is just a variation of these two.
So when you're stuck on a question with no clue, ask first: how is the data stored? Then run through the data structures you've learned and pick one that fits. Simple example: a phone book → use a hash map. You can go through structures one by one in your mind to choose the right one. You'll never be left with no clue again.
The Essence of Algorithms
Almost every algorithm problem is fundamentally about brute force: exploring all possibilities to find the optimal one. Recursion? It's just brute-force search on tree structures. Advanced algorithms (Binary Search, Two Pointers, DP) are just optimized brute force that removes redundancy.
That's it. Two storage methods. One core idea (brute force). Everything else is just variations and optimizations. After you finish the Fast Track, you can easily pick the right tool for the right questions.
This is the most general pattern. This same idea applies throughout the rest of the tutorial. All questions are based on large or small essential patterns, and they can be solved easily once you learn the patterns and templates.