Hello Codeforces:
Many users on codeforces are uploading screencasts to youtube. During my past years as a participant, I never watched much screencast, and I think the same is true for many of my friends. Screencast just isn't popular or widespread among Chinese OI or ICPC participants.
So, though I found that these are truly valuable videos for improving performance, I still don't fell sure about how I should watch them. How are screencasts supposed to work? Should I watch one from begin to end for 2+ hours? What are the benefits and how can I get the most out of screencasts?
Thanks!
in my experience, after the end of contest. i need to upsolve the problem.Sometimes, i still can't understand the editorial or can't find helpfull comment for solution, so i watch screencast.
You can see my stream in youtube or bilibili. (only speak in Chinese)
I skip the time of reading statements and use picture to explain my method.
I think using this kind of screencast will help people more.
You also can jump to the specific problem according the tag in video description.
bilibili: https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1YK411V75R#reply3752853668
youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/AAdreamoon
P.S. I think you have been experienced on CP so you cannot get any hint from my video :(
Usually you're stuck at only one problem or at max two problems from a contest, rest are either too easy or too hard. Whenever I watch screencasts, I usually watch the part in which that particular problem is solved.
Apart from this, if the screencast is from someone really great like TMW, you can watch the entire thing just to be amazed by his brilliance.
Have you seen ecnerwala's screencasts? I get amazed by his screencasts every time. Do check him out if you haven't yet.
link to his YT
To be honest till now the things I focused most in screencasts is that the uploader used very efficient IDEs and read the problem statement and wrote their code really FAST...
I look for screencasts with commentaries only when I face a problem where editorial makes me think 'OK, cool, but how does one come up with this solution?'.
Are they? It makes sense to watch a particular strong participant solve a few problems. It shows their workflow. But then IMO don't watch more if you're red. You won't learn efficiently this way. Maybe that's not true if you already tried a problem and failed or struggled — then you get a nice interactive editorial with a description of path towards a solution.
There are still advantages though. You will encounter tricks (and thinking process) that are not described in editorials. You might learn how to code better. Hanging out in a stream is a bit similar to group studying, and that helps some people. If you aren't experienced and don't have strong CP-ers in your college, maybe it's actually good to watch streams regularly and belong to the community this way. You can ask a question if something is not clear or you need a name of technique to read on it or find more problems.
I watched some LGM's for maybe 30-60 minutes each. I always tried to solve a problem too, and tried to see if we differ much in approaching the problem. If we don't consider watching ICPC WF with friends, I don't watch any stream for more than 1-2 hours (and usually it's just 10-20 minutes unless it's in background and I do something else). If I was in uni and just started participating in icpc, maybe I would watch 5-hour screencasts by top teams, I'm not sure.
Summary for you (as you're red) — better watch only if/after you try a problem yourself. If a streamer is similar level with you, you can also just think along and try to come up with a solution first. If you aren't red, the advantages become more significant and then watching streams become more useful.
(Lectures are great though, so watch pashka if you're a beginner.)
Thanks!