Why I’m Finally Taking Data Structures and Algorithms Seriously
For a long time, I didn’t think data structures and algorithms (DSA) mattered that much anymore.
After all, I wasn’t building B-trees from scratch at work. I wasn’t juggling heaps, or implementing linked lists daily. I was building real-world applications—mostly with frameworks, APIs, and tools that abstract all of that “academic” stuff away. So I assumed, like many developers, that DSA was mostly interview fluff or college theory with little practical relevance.
But I was wrong. And here’s why I changed my mind.
The Thread That Made Me Think
I came across this Reddit thread that asked a simple question:
“What do data structures and algorithms actually help with?”
The answers were surprisingly thoughtful. People weren’t just saying “they help you pass interviews.” They were explaining how DSA forms the mental toolkit that lets you solve problems more effectively, even if you’re not directly implementing a B-tree.
DSA Is About How You Think, Not What You Code
You don’t need to write a linked list from scratch every day. But when you understand how a linked list works, you do understand how memory is managed, how references affect performance, and when not to use it.
DSA isn’t about memorizing how to write quick_sort() - it’s about learning why quicksort works the way it does, when to
use it over mergesort, and how time and space complexity impact the system you’re building.
It trains you to ask the right questions:
- Can this be done in constant time?
- Am I scanning this list more than I need to?
- Is this O(n^2) operation killing performance?
- Is there a better data model to represent this?
The Takeaway
I used to think DSA was outdated and needed only for interviews and academia. Now I see it as foundational. You won’t always code the structures yourself, but knowing how they work will help you:
- Optimize performance
- Make smarter architectural decisions
- Avoid subtle bugs
- Write clearer, more maintainable code
- Think in abstractions and patterns
In the end, DSA doesn’t just teach you how to code. It teaches you how to think like an engineer.
Book Recommendation
If you want to dive deeper into DSA, I highly recommend “A Common-Sense Guide to Data Structures and Algorithms” by Jay Wengrow which I just finished. It’s a fantastic book that describes DSA concepts in a practical, approachable way.