The latest articles on DEV Community by Snehal Thombare (@loading08). https://dev.to/loading08 https://media2.dev.to/dynamic/image/width=90,height=90,fit=cover,gravity=auto,format=auto/https:%2F%2Fdev-to-uploads.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Fuser%2Fprofile_image%2F4155198%2F7c5b1450-aad8-4e3a-b8c9-3e26451f5ac4.jpg https://dev.to/loading08 en Snehal Thombare Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:33:39 +0000 https://dev.to/loading08/how-im-learning-c-and-dsa-as-a-cse-student-4dnh https://dev.to/loading08/how-im-learning-c-and-dsa-as-a-cse-student-4dnh <h1> How I’m Learning C++ and DSA as a CSE Student 🚀 </h1> <p>As a Computer Science student, one of the areas I’ve been focusing on is problem solving through <strong>C++ and Data Structures &amp; Algorithms (DSA)</strong>.</p> <p>When I started competitive programming, I realized that learning a programming language is only the beginning. The real challenge is learning how to think about a problem, find an efficient approach, and implement it correctly.</p> <h2> Why I Chose C++ </h2> <p>I decided to focus on C++ because it gives me a strong foundation for problem solving and competitive programming.</p> <p>Some of the things I’m currently working with are:</p> <ul> <li>C++ fundamentals</li> <li>STL</li> <li>Arrays and Strings</li> <li>Linked Lists</li> <li>Stacks and Queues</li> <li>Sorting and Searching</li> <li>Recursion</li> <li>Greedy algorithms</li> <li>Basic problem-solving patterns</li> </ul> <p>The STL has been especially useful because containers such as <code>vector</code>, <code>set</code>, <code>map</code>, and <code>unordered_map</code> make it easier to focus on the actual problem rather than implementing everything from scratch.</p> <h2> My Approach to DSA </h2> <p>Instead of only watching tutorials, I’m trying to learn DSA by actually solving problems.</p> <p>My current process is:</p> <ol> <li>Understand the problem carefully.</li> <li>Think about a simple approach.</li> <li>Check its time and space complexity.</li> <li>Look for a more efficient solution.</li> <li>Implement it in C++.</li> <li>Test it with different cases.</li> <li>Review the solution and understand what I could improve.</li> </ol> <p>This process has helped me understand that DSA is not about memorizing solutions. It is about recognizing patterns and developing a systematic way of thinking.</p> <h2> Competitive Programming </h2> <p>I’m also exploring competitive programming through platforms such as <strong>LeetCode and Codeforces</strong>.</p> <p>Competitive programming has taught me some important lessons:</p> <ul> <li>Read the constraints before solving.</li> <li>Think about complexity before coding.</li> <li>Test edge cases.</li> <li>Don't give up when the first approach fails.</li> <li>Learn from wrong submissions.</li> <li>Practice consistently.</li> </ul> <p>Some problems that look simple at first can require a completely different approach once the constraints become large.</p> <h2> What I’m Building Alongside DSA </h2> <p>I don’t want my learning to be limited to solving problems.</p> <p>Alongside DSA, I’m also exploring:</p> <ul> <li>Backend development</li> <li>AI/ML</li> <li>Full-stack development</li> <li>Open source</li> <li>AI-powered applications</li> </ul> <p>Building projects helps me connect programming concepts with real-world applications.</p> <p>For me, the combination of <strong>DSA + development + projects</strong> is helping me understand both problem solving and software development.</p> <h2> What I’m Learning From This Journey </h2> <p>The biggest lesson so far is that consistency matters more than trying to learn everything at once.</p> <p>There are days when a problem takes only a few minutes, and there are days when I spend much longer trying to understand a solution.</p> <p>Both are part of the learning process.</p> <p>I’m still learning, experimenting, and improving one problem at a time.</p> <h2> What's Next? </h2> <p>My next goals are to:</p> <ul> <li>Improve my DSA skills</li> <li>Solve more medium-level problems</li> <li>Participate in more competitive programming contests</li> <li>Build stronger backend and AI projects</li> <li>Contribute to open source</li> <li>Document what I learn along the way</li> </ul> <p>I’m excited to continue this journey and share more of my learning here on DEV.</p> <p>If you're also learning C++, DSA, competitive programming, AI, or software development, feel free to connect and share what you're working on! 👋</p> <p><strong>One problem. One project. One lesson at a time. 🚀</strong></p> algorithms computerscience cpp learning