If you can't solve them after half year of training then you probably aren't in >99% in raw intelligence but that's still fine. Myself I think people might have

If you can't solve them after half year of training then you probably aren't in >99% in raw intelligence but that's still fine. Myself I think people might have most problems with dynamic programming as this type of optimization solutions aren't popular in normal programming. Also geometry or number theory puzzles can also be weird. Also tons of these problems are underspecified or just plain wrong, which made me sad sometimes. Algo solving comes down to knowing certain tricks or math properties. On competitive level it seems to be all about memorising solution classes and fitting problem to pattern, which I found boring. I have 15 years of programming and I was better at algos as a kid as it was kinda fun to solve these back then. There's not much fun anymore, so I don't do it but programming I still enjoy somewhat but more inspired by RL/NLP progress but DeepMind won't hire me :/ > ETL with Spark Lol, you do ETL with Spark and talk about creativity in the same sentence. How about designing new platform, startup, game, NLP/vision application, solver, trading bot, search engine, programming language, operating system etc? > This is also what Software Engineering has become: you memorize, regurgitate and participate in agile the masquerade. Creativity is shunned. Tried architectures/patterns are what is expected. I mean that's kinda true in BigCo and many people are fine with that. They want low buss factor and good profit margin and not programming stars. The bright side is you work 9-5 for good salary. Just need correct attitude (I am so inclined to quote hustlers here ;). Express your creativity by paiting, dancing or writing poem and you will be better off and happier.