LeetCode Made Coding Fun Again

As AI-powered development becomes the industry standard, many developers report a decline in the joy of manual coding. The author notes that while AI tools significantly increase productivity by automating routine tasks, they also remove the puzzle-solving satisfaction that originally drew many to programming. Comparing the use of AI to using cheat codes in video games, the author argues that the process of writing code is often more rewarding than the final output. To reclaim this sense of challenge, the author has turned to platforms like LeetCode, Codeforces, and Advent of Code. These platforms provide an environment where algorithmic thinking and manual problem-solving are the primary focus, free from the influence of AI assistance. By treating coding as a hobby rather than just a work requirement, the author suggests that developers can rediscover the intellectual stimulation and creative satisfaction that defined their early interest in software development.