Solving various problems on websites like HackerRank during the process of learning a programming language helps us gain practical experience and prepares us for potential interview questions.
You can also use ChatGPT to assist you in solving HackerRank problems. In this article, we’ve explained in detail how you can do this and how artificial intelligence can contribute to the learning process of programming languages.
The importance of getting feedback in the learning process
Based on my software experience of over 7 years, I can say this: the best way to learn a subject is by working on it yourself. In other words, trying to solve it independently.
However, solving it on your own isn’t enough. In cases where you find a solution, you must learn whether your answer is correct, receive feedback, and improve yourself in this way.
When you can’t find a solution, you should still work on improving yourself by examining the solution and continually tackling new problems in this way.
I see this as similar to learning a language. When babies start to speak, they make dozens of mistakes but keep trying to communicate. Their family and those around them provide feedback without criticizing these errors, helping them improve. In the end, we learn a new language through this process.
We should apply the same or a similar process when learning new programming languages. Start by putting in effort, attempt to come up with solutions on your own, and when you make mistakes or can’t find a solution, seek feedback to identify shortcomings and correct them.
Getting feedbacks while solving algorithm problems is important
Solving HackerRank problems is a way to improve ourselves in programming languages.
One of the biggest mistakes people make is not receiving feedback or being unable to see their shortcomings when attempting to solve HackerRank problems, or not learning how to make their answers and solutions better.
This is where ChatGPT comes into play. Now, we have free artificial intelligence support available 24/7 in our lives, ready to provide assistance and feedback.
Can ChatGPT solve HackerRank problems?
Yes, ChatGPT can solve HackerRank problems. It also doesn’t limit itself to just one programming language. It can provide you with solutions to the same problem in almost all the languages commonly used today.
Also read: Can ChatGPT solve LeetCode problems?
If you wish, ChatGPT can explain the solution to the problem step by step, much like a teacher. It can review your code, compare it with the optimal answer, and guide you on what you need to do to reach the most accurate solution.
Solving HackerRank problems with ChatGPT
I’ve been using ChatGPT as a support tool while solving HackerRank problems for quite some time now. Below, I’m sharing with you the 5 different stages at which I’ve been receiving assistance from ChatGPT.
Understand the problem better
Understanding problems on HackerRank can indeed be challenging at times.
Even though the problems are explained in detail, individuals may still struggle to grasp the problem and understand exactly what is expected of them in the given task. This situation is especially pronounced for those whose native language is not English.
If you find yourself in a situation where you can’t fully comprehend a HackerRank problem, its constraints, or what is expected of you, you can copy and paste the problem’s description here and ask ChatGPT what is expected of you.
For example, because I couldn’t fully grasp the problem description of the “Array Manipulation” question on HackerRank, I had copied the entire problem description like this and asked ChatGPT to explain to me what is being conveyed here.
Since ChatGPT is a language model, it will quickly understand what needs to be conveyed and explain the problem to you in a way that you can understand.
Get the solution of the problem
ChatGPT can provide you with the answer to a problem on HackerRank.
However, directly looking at the answer may not contribute significantly to your learning process. But after spending a certain amount of time and effort on the problem, if you can’t reach the answer on your own, you can ask ChatGPT to help you by providing the solution.
Certainly, ChatGPT is not your only option here. On the internet, various websites and forums often share answers to these problems.
However, ChatGPT offers some advantages.
- Accessing it is very easy and free. ChatGPT login
- Because you can engage in a dialogue with ChatGPT, you can ask questions and use it much like having a teacher right beside you.
On internet sites and forums, only answers are provided, but with ChatGPT, you can immediately ask why you need certain code blocks in the given answer and what their purpose is.
In short, ChatGPT provides you with an interactive learning opportunity.
Ask how your response can be improved
Indeed, if the answer you came up with on HackerRank fails some test cases, you can convey your answer to ChatGPT.
By letting ChatGPT know that you’re having trouble passing certain test cases and asking how to improve your answer, it can function like an online teacher, pointing out what’s lacking in your code, suggesting ways to make your code more efficient to avoid issues like timeouts, or achieving a lower time complexity solution. You can ask for guidance on how to enhance your code and learn an improved version of it.
Learn the shortcomings in your code
Similarly to the previous point, even if your answer passes all test cases, it may not be the most optimal or accurate one. You can convey your answer to ChatGPT and ask if it can be further improved.
You can inquire about obtaining the most optimal solution with the lowest time complexity. Additionally, you can ask if the same code can be written using shorter syntax expressions. ChatGPT can assist you in refining your code for better performance and readability.
All of these options provide an opportunity for you to enhance your skills in that programming language.
Learn the equivalent of your response in different programming languages
As you may know, on HackerRank, we can prepare answers to questions in multiple programming languages.
ChatGPT can be used to get assistance on how to write the answer in different languages. This can significantly simplify our learning process when transitioning from one language to another.
For example, if you’re learning Javascript but have a strong background in Python, you can prepare the answer to a problem in Python, and then ask ChatGPT to help you convert it to Javascript.
Since ChatGPT is knowledgeable in multiple programming languages, it can easily assist you in converting your answer to different programming languages.
Also read: Creating Flappy Bird Game Using Javascript With ChatGPT
This provides a good opportunity to see the syntax differences in different languages.
Can I use ChatGPT to understand failing test cases?
Yes, you can use ChatGPT to create algorithms that pass test cases successfully. Sometimes, the solutions we provide may pass some test cases while failing in others. Understanding the reasons for these errors can be challenging. However, if you convey the problem, the answer you’ve prepared, and the information that you couldn’t pass some test cases to ChatGPT, it can assist you in this regard. Specifying the inputs for the test cases you couldn’t pass will make it easier for ChatGPT to help you.
Can ChatGPT help pass test cases that experience timeouts?
Sometimes, the solutions we find on HackerRank may not be optimal enough to pass all the test cases and result in a timeout, leading to failure. Timeout issues often arise from our algorithm not having an optimal time complexity.
To understand the reasons behind timeout cases and find solutions, you can use ChatGPT. By providing ChatGPT with the problem description, your proposed solution, and mentioning that you’re experiencing timeouts in some test cases, you can ask ChatGPT for insights on what might be causing this and how to achieve a lower time complexity. ChatGPT will assist you in delivering a response with a lower time complexity.
Yes, you can use ChatGPT to tackle both technical and theoretical software interview questions, including creating algorithms to a given problem.
ChatGPT possesses a broad knowledge base and expertise in various programming languages. However, it’s important to specify if you require solutions in specific programming languages or within certain Time Complexity constraints.
ChatGPT can’t understand problems that you didn’t describe. So providing clear and concise details about the problem is crucial for effective assistance.
Can ChatGPT review my code?
Certainly, ChatGPT can review your code. You can share the code you’ve prepared with ChatGPT and ask it to review it, identify any shortcomings, and find code smells. You can also inquire about what you can do to make the code more optimal and cleaner. Please use the following prompt:
Hello, I'd like you to review my code. Please review the code I've provided, identify any issues or code smells, and suggest ways to make it more optimal and cleaner.Note: Never share code that you want to keep confidential with ChatGPT. Sharing such code can be risky as your conversations may be used as training data.
Learn more: Is it safe to use ChatGPT while coding?
ChatGPT vs Stack Overflow: Which one is better?
With ChatGPT, you can receive immediate responses and ask follow-up questions right away. However, on Stack Overflow, you have to wait for someone to answer your question, and there’s no guarantee of getting a response.
Both ChatGPT and Stack Overflow offer a wide range of knowledge across various topics, which can be incredibly helpful.
It’s worth noting that while both sources provide answers, there’s no absolute proof of correctness for the responses. However, on Stack Overflow, users can upvote answers, so a highly-rated answer is more likely to be correct or helpful.