Introduction to Advent of Code: What It Is and How to Play It

Advent of Code (AoC) is a yearly programming event that releases short puzzles every December. 

Created by Eric Wastl, AoC is a friendly challenge for coders of all levels—use it for interview practice, classroom exercises, or just a daily brain workout. 

This article explains what AoC is, how to participate, practical strategies for solving puzzles, and where to find help. A short conclusion follows each section so you can skim and start coding.

What is Advent of Code?

Advent of Code is an “Advent calendar” of programming puzzles. Each day a new challenge unlocks (since 2025 the event runs through December 12), and each challenge has two parts: solve part one to unlock part two. 

Every participant receives a personalized input so answers differ across users. Problems are language-agnostic—Python, JavaScript, Rust, or even Excel can be used. 

The event is free and designed to be approachable: solutions run on modest hardware within seconds.

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Who Created Advent of Code?

Eric Wastl is the creator and sole maintainer of Advent of Code. He designs the puzzles, builds the site, and curates the experience each year. 

Wastl intentionally keeps the site human-focused: puzzles reward human problem solving rather than automated answers. In 2025 he removed the global leaderboard to keep the event friendly and low-pressure.

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How to Play Advent of Code (Step-by-Step)

1. Sign in via OAuth (GitHub, Google, Reddit, etc.).
2. Open the puzzle each day and read the story and examples carefully.
3. Download your personalized input. Your input differs from everyone else’s.
4. Write code that computes the answer for your input (you only submit the final answer).
5. Submit the answer on the site—if it’s correct you earn a star and unlock part two.
6. Repeat daily. Each day gives up to two stars; collect them for practice or private leaderboards.

Use private leaderboards to race friends—avoid global leaderboard stress. You don’t submit code publicly unless you choose to share it.

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How to Solve Advent of Code: Practical Tips and Strategies

• Start with the examples. If your code fails the example, it’s not ready.
• Break the problem down. Implement and test small helper functions.
• Parse input robustly. Good parsing prevents many bugs.
• Write unit tests for example cases and a few edge cases you invent.
• Optimize only when needed. Make it work first, then make it fast.
• Reuse templates. Have a small starter that reads input and calls part1 and part2.
• Learn common patterns: grid traversal, graph search, simulation, and combinatorics often appear.
• Avoid early AI reliance. AoC is designed for human learning; use hints sparingly and after trying.

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Tools and Language Recommendations

Python is popular for AoC due to concise syntax and batteries-included libraries. Rust and C++ suit performance-heavy tasks. 

Useful tools: pytest for tests, aocd or advent-of-code-data packages for downloading inputs, and small utility libs like parse or numpy for specific problems.

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Conclusion

Advent of Code is a flexible, engaging way to level up your programming and algorithmic thinking. Whether you solve puzzles casually, use them for interview prep, or race friends on a private leaderboard, AoC rewards curiosity and practice. 

Start with the examples, build small tests, and enjoy the daily puzzle rhythm—by the end of the event, you’ll have sharpened skills and a stack of solved problems you can reuse for learning or interviews.

If you’d like, I can generate a starter code template in Python or another language to help you begin.

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FAQ

What is Advent of Code in simple terms?

Advent of Code is an annual series of programming puzzles released daily in December; each day has two parts and everyone gets personalized input.

How do I get started with Advent of Code?

Create an account, read the day’s puzzle, download your input, write a program to compute the answer, and submit the result on the AoC site.

Do I need a CS degree to participate?

No. Basic programming knowledge and problem-solving skills are enough. Puzzles scale in difficulty—early ones are approachable for beginners.

Can I use any programming language?

Yes. AoC accepts answers from any language; choose the one you’re most comfortable with or want to learn.

Are there leaderboards?

Global leaderboards were removed in 2025; private leaderboards remain for friendly competition among peers.