Comment by sparkilyshpark
18 hours ago
it is mostly just a math/logic contest, with the benefit that you can get the result on the fly, and maybe cheese some problems without rigourous proof
or you can look at other form of competitive programming, like heuristic contest, that would teach you how to use baseline, run tests, adapt strategies based on given data
no one consider a time limited contest (hours to maybe days) same as engineering job, they do this for the fun of it
Unfortunately you are wrong and this is what led to leetcode style interviews where times puzzles are the gate keeping factor. It has literally ruined the industry.
Leetcode was designed to collectively implement bias towards young talented people whose only obsession at that point of time is their work. So no kids, family, free time, and no financial freedom (mortgages, loans). Once you build such culture, it starts to grow and gatekeep by itself from within.
AI is the only thing that has ruined the industry