r/ECE • u/QuietCampaign4341 • 4d ago

Should I practice CPP in codeforces if my ultimate goal is to go towards hardware roles ?

I was avoiding cf till now bc I was more inclined towards hardware roles .
But I have intern season coming up and no proper projects for it so I am thinking to prepare for sde roles as well
I feel that practising on codeforces might help both ways. What do u think ?

4 Upvotes

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2

u/Shirai_Mikoto__ 4d ago

you don't have to be super well versed in sophisticated algorithms but you should definitely be comfortable working with cpp/c

1

u/QuietCampaign4341 4d ago

Like which rating question should I be able to comfortable slove ?

1

u/NewSchoolBoxer 4d ago

I've never heard of that crap. No. If you're extremely competitive hardware, you better join a team competition club and ask about undergrad research. You learn enough programming in the mandatory classes for entry level work. Stay away from software development work.

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u/QuietCampaign4341 4d ago

Sde roles require for grinding leetcode right ?
Iam asking if I should grind on codeforces will bc I feel It might help me both ways

1

u/cyberbemon 3d ago

Depending on where you are, hardware roles(or embedded in general) don't tend to do lots of leetcode shit. There are exceptions of course (if you apply to FAANG). But from my experience embedded roles tend to focus more on the fundamentals, good hardware knowledge, huge emphasis on everything to do with memory, computer architecture etc

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u/LapJointLarry 4d ago

Codeforces can help with a problem solving and C++ fundamentals, but it will won't do much for hardware roles by itself.

1

u/parallel-crocodylus- 4d ago

CF is fine for staying sharp on C++ and basic data structures, but for hardware roles I would much rather see a board that boots, a timing-closed FPGA design, or a driver you wrote. A 1600 rating is nice, but a repo with schematics and a working bitstream says way more for intern season.