Using GitHub to Showcase Coding Challenges and Solutions

In the world of tech, showcasing your skills is crucial. This guide will walk you through using GitHub to present coding challenges and solutions effectively, helping you build a strong portfolio that stands out to employers.
By Jamie

Introduction to GitHub for Coding Challenges

GitHub is not just a platform for version control; it’s a powerful tool for showcasing your coding skills. By leveraging GitHub, you can create a portfolio that highlights your coding challenges and solutions, demonstrating your problem-solving abilities and technical expertise. In this guide, we’ll explore how to effectively utilize GitHub for this purpose with practical examples.

Why Use GitHub?

  • Visibility: GitHub is widely recognized in the tech community, making your portfolio more accessible to potential employers.
  • Version Control: It allows you to track changes, making it easy to show your coding evolution.
  • Collaboration: You can invite others to collaborate on projects, showcasing your teamwork skills.

Steps to Showcase Coding Challenges

  1. Create a Repository: Start by creating a new repository for your coding challenges.

    • Example: github.com/yourusername/coding-challenges

  2. Structure Your Repository: Organize your repository with clear folders for different challenges. For instance:

    ├── README.md
├── challenge-1/
│   ├── problem-description.md
│   ├── solution.js
│   └── test-cases.js
├── challenge-2/
│   ├── problem-description.md
│   ├── solution.py
│   └── test-cases.py
└── challenge-3/
    ├── problem-description.md
    ├── solution.java
    └── test-cases.java

  3. Document Each Challenge: For each challenge, create a problem-description.md file that outlines the problem statement, your thought process, and any constraints.

    • Example of problem-description.md:
#      # Challenge 1: FizzBuzz
      ## Problem Statement
      Write a program that prints the numbers from 1 to 100. For multiples of three, print “Fizz” instead of the number, and for the multiples of five, print “Buzz”. For numbers which are multiples of both three and five, print “FizzBuzz”.
      ## Constraints

      - You must use a loop.
      - Do not use any built-in functions for this challenge.

  1. Share Your Solution: Include your solution in a separate file (solution.js, solution.py, etc.) and ensure it is well-commented to explain your logic.

    • Example of solution.js:

      for (let i = 1; i <= 100; i++) {
    if (i % 3 === 0 && i % 5 === 0) {
        console.log('FizzBuzz');
    } else if (i % 3 === 0) {
        console.log('Fizz');
    } else if (i % 5 === 0) {
        console.log('Buzz');
    } else {
        console.log(i);
    }
}

  2. Testing Your Solution: Create a set of test cases to validate your solution. Include the test cases in a separate file (test-cases.js, test-cases.py, etc.).

    • Example of test-cases.js:

      function testFizzBuzz() {
    console.log('Testing FizzBuzz...');
    // Add your test cases here
}
testFizzBuzz();

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can create a well-organized GitHub repository that showcases your coding challenges and solutions. This not only demonstrates your technical skills but also your ability to communicate effectively through documentation. Remember, a strong GitHub portfolio can significantly enhance your job prospects in the tech industry!