> LeetCode is short-term planning: bread for today hunger for tomorrow
Considering it helps you getting into some of the highest paying companies in software engineering, I don't agree with that part. From what I understand getting into FAANG is harder than staying in them, in which case it makes sense to grind leetcode, and once you're in focus on classic books about algorithms and data structures.
If you're fresh out of school, sure, all you have is rote memorization and you're competing as such.
If you're an engineer with years of experience, just go and apply.
FAANGs aren't impossible to get into
And to be honest, they're not the highest paying or best jobs either.
I know smaller companies that pay more, give more, have more free time and you're closer to product/service/customer and more engaged - some even pay you to take vacation and reward you for things you do outside of work.
Considering it helps you getting into some of the highest paying companies in software engineering, I don't agree with that part. From what I understand getting into FAANG is harder than staying in them, in which case it makes sense to grind leetcode, and once you're in focus on classic books about algorithms and data structures.