DryRunBuddy: A Zero-Spoiler Socratic DSA Coach Powered by Local AI

Description and use

<p><em>This is a submission for the <a href="https://dev.to/challenges/hacktoberfest-weekend-2026-10-01">Hacktoberfest Weekend Challenge: Build for a Friend</a></em>(</p> <h2> What I Built </h2> <p>Preparing for technical interviews usually involves staring at a LeetCode problem, getting stuck, and asking an AI for a hint. The problem? AI models almost always over-explain and spit out the entire optimal code block, completely robbing the developer of the learning process and the "aha!" moment. I built DryRunBuddy to flip this script.</p> <p>I built this specifically for a close friend who is c

Problem

<p><em>This is a submission for the <a href="https://dev.to/challenges/hacktoberfest-weekend-2026-10-01">Hacktoberfest Weekend Challenge: Build for a Friend</a></em>(</p> <h2> What I Built </h2> <p>Preparing for technical interviews usually involves staring at a LeetCode problem, getting stuck, and asking an AI for a hint. The problem? AI models almost always over-explain and spit out the entire optimal code block, completely robbing the developer of the learning process and the "aha!" moment. I built DryRunBuddy to flip this script.</p> <p>I built this specifically for a close friend who is c

Outcome

<p><em>This is a submission for the <a href="https://dev.to/challenges/hacktoberfest-weekend-2026-10-01">Hacktoberfest Weekend Challenge: Build for a Friend</a></em>(</p> <h2> What I Built </h2> <p>Preparing for technical interviews usually involves staring at a LeetCode problem, getting stuck, and asking an AI for a hint. The problem? AI models almost always over-explain and spit out the entire optimal code block, completely robbing the developer of the learning process and the "aha!" moment. I built DryRunBuddy to flip this script.</p> <p>I built this specifically for a close friend who is c

Evidence

DryRunBuddy: A Zero-Spoiler Socratic DSA Coach Powered by Local AI

Source