Develop Yourself #298 - Data Structures and Algorithms 101 (3 patterns you must know for your next interview)
Jan 12, 2026
A practical guide to three must-know algorithm patterns for interviews. Covers frequency counters for detecting anagrams, sliding windows for efficient subarray work, and binary search intuition for sorted data. Includes tips on how to study patterns rather than memorize solutions and pointers to hands-on practice material.
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DSA Is Just Ingredients And Recipes
- Data structures are simply ways to store and organize data and algorithms are repeatable recipes to work with that data.
- Thinking of them as ingredients and recipes makes DSA less intimidating and more practical.
Don't Prep Like Big Tech Interviews
- Avoid preparing for every interview like it's Google's; most interviews are simpler.
- Study the handful of common algorithms that cover the majority of non-big-tech interviews.
Personal Struggle With DSA Preparation
- Brian admits he avoided DSA for years due to a non-traditional background and it hurt his career.
- He later paid for Interview Kickstart and found it valuable, but says it's overkill for most jobs.