The tips that I am gonna tell in this will solve a lot of problems for you. Especially with notes in DSA. Now, what the problems are? Basically, the problems are that we read DSA But we study from many different resources. We study an algorithm from one resource but the other algorithm from another resource. Obviously, everyone’s course and method of coding are different. Code on different resources is displayed differently. Although the logic and Algorithm remain the same the style of doing code becomes different. So beginners face a lot of problems here.
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Why do we need Notes?
What happens is let us say we studied prim’s algorithm from somewhere. There is an algorithm called prim’s algorithm. Now we didn’t make any notes of that algorithm after studying it. We just remembered that this is the algorithm. This is how it works. We even found its logic that how this algorithm works. Obviously, we are not using it every day. But when we revised it for the Interview we forgot what is prim’s algorithm. How did it use to work? At that time we need to recall the same thing that we studied earlier.
If you study from different resources, you will most probably get confused. This is the most common problem for a beginner. That is why the progress that you have done and the DSA that you have learned after putting 3-4 months shouldn’t become zero. That’s why you need to make really good notes. And you do not have to make notes that take your complete time. You have to make very small, precise, and easy to revise notes. We will talk about every tip that I used to follow. Also, we will discuss everything in detail.
Six Tips
Now let us move on to note-making. Now if you understand an algorithm, take so many references. Like you ask some of your seniors and your friends about how this line works. In this way, you learn and understand that perfectly. Will it last for more than 2-3 days?
As soon as you go forward you will forget what that algorithm was. Although you will be able to refer to the code you will forget how it used to work? So you have to invest the same time again. That’s why we will make very small notes. There are six very important points. So I am gonna talk about these four points.
1. Make Two Types Of Notes
The first thing you should do is make your notes both in soft and hard versions. In order to make it portable or accessible anywhere at any time, you should make soft copies or soft notes as well. This may take a little time but will save you from a bigger hassle. Also, you will be able to recover it in either case of losing the soft copy or the hard copy.
2. Mention The Code
So the next thing is that you mention the code. Whatever algorithm you learned, whatever data structure you learned, you have to mention its code there. Now it is not like you keep adding the code of every problem there. But the formula that has taught you something new, should be definitely written along with its code there. The first thing is code. I am not saying write the algorithm. Because I personally do not like algorithms that firstly write them in English and then convert them into coding. Along with code, you must write complexities such as Time and space Complexities.
3. Write Comments
Thirdly, you have to write some comments. Now, what are the comments? Comments are those that when you understood this algorithm or question how you understood it? What example did you take? Which reference did you take? You should write these things there.
Sometimes it happens that we look at a code and we do not understand why we did it here? Or why does this guy do it here? So that thing you will probably not understand when you will look after sometimes. That’s why you need to write comments. For what reason have you picked up this data structure or for what reason have you done a particular thing in the code. Comments are very important!
4. Write Examples
Now comes the fourth thing. Don’t forget to write down the example questions. Like instead of writing a general code of multi-source BFS I placed an example of multi-source BFS. If you will get 2-3 more examples here, place them as well.
So after writing the algorithm try to put a good question of that either from Codeforces, Leetcode Codestudio, or from anywhere. It happens many times that we do not want to write algorithms generally. So you can only mention the question. Then try to remember the algorithm with the help of an example question. So writing an example question is definitely a very important thing.
5. Keep Revising
You have made so many notes. So when will they come in use? They will come in use when you will study them. When you will revise from them. So when these notes will be ready you are going to enjoy reading them. Because you have written the code and comments by yourself. Even if you will read them after 5-6 months these things will start coming out of your mind. Then you will have to spend very less time comparatively.
In order to do it more efficiently, I would advise you that at least once a month go through these notes. Like this is the question that I solved using multi-source BFS or this is the question that I solved using segment tree. So In this way, you remembered the segment tree, You remembered what is multi-source BFS. All these tricks, techniques, and the Data structures that you have learned everything will easily come to your mind.
6. Don’t Cram
Now some points for those people who say that we do not have to remember the questions. See it is a simple thing you don’t have to remember questions but the techniques of solving the questions. That’s what problem-solving is. Those people who ask how to develop problem-solving skills so this is the way you guys can develop them.
Remember we do not have to cram it. We do not have to memorize the algorithm. We have to understand the algorithm. If you understand this, then memorizing it will be very easy. Understanding is a solution to cramming. Just understand the logic and then you will be able to code it.
So in this way you can keep your notes in a good way. Whenever there will be an interview, you will take hardly 1-2 days to revise these notes. And you will be really confident before going to the interview. But before that follow all these tips and techniques . Make your notes like never before!
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