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With all due respect to Steve, under 1 minute isn't that impressive. You can get there just by doing the beginner's method (a handful of different move-sequences) rapidly. The people who really study Rubik's Cube algorithms in depth can do it in a few seconds.
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Hahah what are you doing here???

I had a friend - David - he could do it insanely quick. He's basically who I am thinking of in my post since he was also a genius at guitar, and could play beautifully. And he taught me basic PHP.

We spent a lot of time on your site on random Friday nights (him playing guitar) hahah, good times.

More of a yo-yo guy myself. I could walk the dog, pendulum, what-have-you. Around the world if I'm feeling saucy

Also: Gross, wtf happened to it???? If you can't say publicly, just blink 3 times

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I remember a TV program showing someone breaking the one minute record for the first time. I could already do it at that point, I'm sure many others could as well.
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I'm starting to realize I'm the only one who couldn't.

I think that's why I failed that Leetcode that one time - it was never in the cards

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>How did the kid who could solve the Rubik's Cube in under 1 min not become an algorithm designer - some genius backend dev?

Somebody else figured out the algs. The speedcubers just rote memorize them and then practice becomes mostly about execution. (Oversimplifying a little, but I have gotten sub-60 myself with the Roux method a few years ago)

Interestingly I've never managed to pick up programming but learned the cube pretty well (as an adult), and my programmer friend can't seem to figure out the cube at all even with me giving him extra help on top of linking materials I learned from. I suspect it's a very different skillset and we're both weak in one area.

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Yeah goes to show why Leetcode is such a problem for so many very good developers.

It's a different kind of thinking.

That said, if that "clicked" for you, you may find yourself surprisingly good at backend - algorithmic thinking shines in crypto, search, and LLMs. Get into Python or Node if you haven't for some random idea (ever wanted to make a web contact form or something?) - the LLMs will set you up for success. If you figured out Rubik's Cube, you will 1000% get it because I know you have the patience and learning ability.

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There is one algorithm I saw recently on Youtube, the bro pops one of the little cubes off and "cheats" by turning it around manually.

I consider this to be "freestyling" with the Rubik's Cube. Wtf is that all about?

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