LeetCode Vs HackerRank
Motivation
As a new member to the data science community, I am always on the lookout for new ways to keep my technical knowledge sharpened and further improve my coding skills. LeetCode was suggested to me by the staff at Flatiron school. However, I have decided to stick more to HackerRank which is similar to LeetCode, but it is not because one is necessarily better than the other. Let us talk about LeetCode.
LeetCode
If you are not familiar with LeetCode, it is a website that has coding challenges in algorithms, database, shell, concurrency, interview questions from companies such as Google, opportunities to learn about data structure and algorithm design, an active community and online interview space where employers can evaluate your technical skills. In addition, LeetCode has its own console where you can play around with code in various languages without having to install anything on your system. All this content is very good for anyone breaking into the field or a veteran looking to skill up (although, there is a subscription fee if you want total access). My description of LeetCode is not intended to be exhaustive but to just give an overview of its vast capabilities. Even so, I have noticed from recent technical assessments sent to me that many companies are using HackerRank.
HackerRank
As previously mentioned, HackerRank is similar to LeetCode but has some key differences: certifications, career fairs, job listings, and is free for full services. Although it is not obvious why the companies that have contacted me evaluate me through HackerRank over LeetCode, I speculate this is because HackerRank is tailored to recruiting companies and receives more corporate financial sponsorship than LeetCode; this is evident by the distinct sign-in portals for companies and developers and the lack of subscription fee for HackerRank.
Conclusion
Both LeetCode and HackerRank are great resources to practice code; however, if you are short on time and cash and want to showcase your skills where it matters most, I would suggest working more on HackerRank since it appears more companies evaluate technical ability through this platform. What do you think? Have you ran into a different platform that is even better? If so, let me know and let us grow together!
