For years, LeetCode has become synonymous with “getting good at programming.”

And technically, it’s not wrong.

The problem is something else.

Most developers use LeetCode as if it were a course, when in reality it’s just a collection of problems.

And problems without a system don’t create skill.

Where LeetCode works well

LeetCode is excellent at three things:

– Exposing you to classic algorithm patterns – Forcing logical reasoning under constraints – Quickly showing when a solution is wrong

As a problem library, it does its job.

But a library doesn’t create habits. And it certainly doesn’t create consistency.

Where things start to break

The most common pattern looks like this:

– Solving many problems in a single day – Going days or weeks without practicing – Coming back feeling like you “forgot everything” – Increasing difficulty too early – Confusing effort with progress

None of this is about lack of discipline or ability.

It’s the absence of a system.

Practice isn’t solving problems. It’s repetition with feedback.

Solving a single problem brings relief. Repeating with feedback creates learning.

Real practice requires:

– A predictable rhythm – Calibrated difficulty – Immediate feedback – Visible progression

Without these, the brain doesn’t consolidate anything. You just accumulate attempts.

Why most people quit

It’s not because “algorithms are hard.”

It’s because: – Progress isn’t clear – Comparisons are unfair – Effort doesn’t feel rewarded

When there’s no sense of advancement, practice dies.

Every time.

What we learned building code.dev

When designing code.dev, we started from a simple premise:

Practicing programming is a system design problem, not a willpower problem.

That’s why the focus isn’t: – Solving as many problems as possible – Competing on global rankings – Memorizing solutions

The focus is: – Practicing every day – Getting clear feedback – Seeing real progress

Code is just the medium. The system is what sustains the habit.

In summary

LeetCode doesn’t fail. It just wasn’t built to sustain consistent practice.

Without a system, even the best tool becomes frustrating.

Technical skill doesn’t come from bursts of effort. It comes from well-designed practice, repeated over time.

That’s what we’re trying to build.