Warm-Up¶
This isn't a pattern — it's a handshake. If you haven't solved a problem on a coding judge in a while (or ever), start here. No new concepts, no techniques to learn. Just prove to yourself that the machinery works: you can read a problem, write code, and hit Submit.
Before you start¶
- Comfortable writing a basic loop and using common built-in functions in your language — beyond that, nothing.
What 'solved properly' looks like
Target: None. Getting a green 'Accepted' is the only benchmark here.. If your solution is slower than that, you've found a solution but not this pattern — the judge says "Accepted" either way, so treat this as your real benchmark.
The idea¶
There is no concept to learn. This stage exists so your first interaction with the site is a win — a solved problem, a green checkmark, proof that you can do this. Each problem here is deliberately straightforward: a single loop, a simple condition, or a built-in you already know.
Why it matters: Confidence is the hidden prerequisite for every pattern in this roadmap. If you arrive at Stage 1 already doubting whether you can solve anything on your own, every new pattern will feel like another thing you can't do. A few easy wins change that equation — and the rusty-senior audience can skip straight past this page and lose nothing.
When to reach for it¶
Start here if you haven't solved a problem on a coding judge in a while, or ever. If you can solve Richest Customer Wealth and the other problems here within their time boxes, skip to Stage 1 — the warm-up exists for people who need a first green checkmark, not for someone who can already earn one.
When not to use it
Don't linger. This stage is a handshake, not a curriculum. Two or three of these and move on to Stage 1. The temptation is to keep doing easy problems because they feel good, but the real growth starts when a problem doesn't yield immediately — and that's what the next stages are for.
Practice set¶
Work these top to bottom. The time-box is a cue to pause and re-read the triggers above if you're still stuck when it passes — not a deadline to race. Getting unstuck by stepping back is the skill being trained.
| # | Problem | Where | Difficulty | Time-box | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fizz Buzz | LeetCode | Easy | 10 mins | teaching |
| 2 | Reverse String | LeetCode | Easy | 10 mins | teaching |
| 3 | Palindrome Number | LeetCode | Easy | 15 mins | consolidation |
| 4 | Running Sum of 1d Array | LeetCode | Easy | 15 mins | consolidation |
| 5 | Richest Customer Wealth | LeetCode | Easy | 20 mins | challenge |
Already know this? Test out.
If you can solve Richest Customer Wealth and the other problems here within their time boxes, skip this stage. The problems are all straightforward Easy problems — they exist to get a first green checkmark on the board, nothing more. Skip to Stage 1 and earn that checkmark on a real pattern instead.