Blind 75 vs. NeetCode 150 vs. Educative vs. Design Gurus - which is better?

Choosing between Blind 75, NeetCode 150, Educative, and Grokking 75 on DesignGurus.io for coding interview preparation depends on your specific learning preferences, the areas you need to improve, your budget, and the types of companies you are targeting. Each resource has unique strengths and caters to different aspects of interview preparation. Let's break down each option to see which might be the best fit for you:

Blind 75

Pros:

• Community Driven: Curated list based on frequent interview questions reported by users on the Blind community, which is very active and provides real-time feedback and trends in tech interviews.
• Focus on Essentials: The list focuses on essential problems that have a high recurrence rate in interviews at top tech companies.
• Free: Accessible on platforms like LeetCode where you can solve these problems at no cost.

Cons:

• No Structured Curriculum: It's simply a list of problems without in-depth explanations or a learning path.
• Limited Scope: Only covers coding problems, so you won't get guidance on system design or behavioral interviews.

NeetCode 150

Pros:

• Comprehensive: A broader list compared to Blind 75, offering a more extensive range of problems.
• Video Solutions: Available on YouTube, providing visual and detailed explanations for each problem.
• Organized by Concept: Problems are categorized by type, which can be extremely helpful for targeted learning.

Cons:

• Mainly Video-Based: If you prefer learning by reading rather than videos, this might not be ideal.
• Still Coding-Focused: Like Blind 75, it lacks coverage in areas outside of coding, such as system design or behavioral interviews.

Educative

Pros:

• Interactive Learning Platform: Courses are interactive, which can enhance learning efficiency. The platform offers a range of courses on coding interviews, system design, and even languages and frameworks.
• Comprehensive Coverage: Offers in-depth courses on system design, front-end interviews, and more.
• No Setup Required: Code directly in the browser without any environment setup.

Cons:

• Subscription Cost: Unlike free resources, Educative requires a subscription to access most of its content.
• Variability in Course Quality: As with many platforms, course quality can vary depending on the instructor.

Grokking 75 on DesignGurus.io

Pros:

• Curated Content: Grokking 75 focuses on the most essential problems designed to cover key concepts and techniques needed to ace coding interviews.
• System Design Strength: DesignGurus.io is well-known for its system design content, making it a good choice if you also need help with that.
• Structured Learning: Provides a more guided learning experience compared to just a list of problems.

Cons:

• Cost: Access requires purchasing the course, which might be a barrier compared to free resources.
• Limited to Selected Problems: Although the problems are carefully selected, the number is limited compared to broader lists like Grokking the Coding Interview 220 problems.

Conclusion

• For a focused and free resource: Blind 75 is excellent if you want a no-frills, community-driven list of high-frequency problems.
• For visual learners who want detailed explanations: NeetCode 150 is fantastic, especially with its free video solutions.
• For those seeking a comprehensive, interactive learning platform that covers more than coding: Educative shines here.
• For a structured approach to mastering key problems and system design: Grokking 75 on DesignGurus.io is a great investment.

Ultimately, the best choice depends on where you are in your preparation, your learning style, and what gaps you need to fill. Many successful candidates blend resources to get the best of multiple platforms. Consider starting with free resources to assess your strengths and weaknesses, then potentially invest in a paid course for targeted learning as your interview approaches.