Preparing for Meesho’s machine coding round (for the SDE-1 role) requires a blend of strong coding skills, sound object-oriented design principles, and effective time management. This guide will walk you through the key topics to study, common problem types, what to expect in the round, best practices to follow, and resources & tips from real candidates. By the end, you should have a clear roadmap to confidently tackle Meesho’s machine coding challenge.

Understanding the Machine Coding Round at Meesho

Meesho’s machine coding round is essentially a low-level design (LLD) challenge where you build a working mini-application within a tight time frame. Candidates are given a problem statement to implement a “smaller version of the system design of an application”glassdoor.co.in. The focus is on translating requirements into clean, executable code using proper design rather than writing complex algorithms. Key characteristics of this round include:

Duration: Typically 60–90 minutes for coding, sometimes followed by a code walkthrough or discussion. For example, one candidate had 1 hour to code and 30 minutes for discussionlinkedin.com, and another campus interview allotted 60 minutes for the entire machine coding exercisegeeksforgeeks.org. In some cases (especially for experienced roles or take-home tests) it can extend to 2 hoursabhishekdeb48.medium.com.
Format: Often conducted on an online IDE (Meesho has used HackerRank) with a predefined project skeleton. You might be given a class/interface skeleton or function signatures to implementreddit.com. In other cases, during live interviews, the interviewer will describe requirements and expect you to code from scratch in an editor.
Expectations: You are expected to produce executable, well-organized code covering all requirements and edge casesabhishekdeb48.medium.com. The interviewers assess how you design classes, handle data, enforce correct behavior, and follow coding standards. Code readability and modularity are critical – the solution should be easily extensible and logically structuredabhishekdeb48.medium.compravashjha21.medium.com.
Not Focused On: Unlike pure algorithm rounds, you don’t need to overly optimize for time/space complexity in the machine coding roundabhishekdeb48.medium.com. Also, you typically won’t use any external databases or UI frameworks – storing data in memory and using console or simple input/output is sufficientabhishekdeb48.medium.com. The goal is to simulate the system’s functionality, not build a full production app.

In summary, think of this round as building a mini-system with proper code structure. As one engineer put it, it tests your OOAD (Object-Oriented Analysis & Design) skills, code structure, and ability to follow design patternsteamblind.com more than algorithm tricks. Next, let’s look at what specific topics you should master to excel in this round.

Key Topics to Focus On

To prepare effectively, concentrate on the foundational topics and skills that Meesho interviewers look for in an SDE-1’s machine coding solution:

Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) Fundamentals: You should have a solid grasp of classes, objects, inheritance, polymorphism, encapsulation, and abstraction. Understand how to model real-world entities into classes and when to use inheritance or interfaces. The machine coding problems “test OOAD and design patterns”, so strong OOP basics are a mustteamblind.com.
SOLID Principles: Meesho’s LLD interviews heavily emphasize code that is maintainable and extensible. Make sure you understand the SOLID principles (Single responsibility, Open/closed, Liskov substitution, Interface segregation, Dependency inversion) and how to apply them in design. For instance, think about separating different functionalities into different classes or interfaces even if not immediately necessary – interviewers will notice if you naturally apply these principlespravashjha21.medium.compravashjha21.medium.com.
Low-Level Design (LLD) Patterns: Be familiar with common design patterns and when to use them. Important ones include Singleton, Factory, Strategy, Observer, etc. You don’t need to force a pattern into every solution, but if a particular pattern fits the problem, using it appropriately can impress the interviewerpravashjha21.medium.com. For example, a Singleton might be used for a configuration manager, or a Strategy pattern for different sorting strategies in a feed. Knowing these patterns also demonstrates that you can make your code extensible for future requirementspravashjha21.medium.com.
Data Structures for In-Memory Storage: Since persistence is usually in-memory, understand how to use collections like lists, queues, maps, sets, etc., to store and retrieve data efficiently. The interviewer may check if your choice of data structure makes sense (e.g., using a HashMap for quick lookups)pravashjha21.medium.com. You don’t need exotic data structures, just the right use of basic ones aligning with problem needs (for instance, using a queue for scheduling tasks or a list to maintain order of posts).
Coding Standards & Clean Code: Write clean, readable code. Use meaningful class and method names (no one-letter variables for important concepts!). Follow a consistent style and organize your code into logical sections. Indentation, spacing, and avoiding overly long functions or methods all contribute to readability. Remember that part of the round often involves a code walkthrough, so your goal is to make the code self-explanatoryabhishekdeb48.medium.com. Comments are generally welcome if something isn’t obvious, but well-chosen names and clear logic often speak for themselves.
Error Handling and Edge Cases: Show that you anticipate and handle edge cases gracefully. For example, if designing a booking system, consider what happens when a user tries to book an unavailable slot – your code should handle such scenarios without crashing. Exception handling (try-catch or equivalent) for invalid inputs or system errors is a bonus. In fact, robust exception handling is marked as “Very Important” in machine coding expectationsabhishekdeb48.medium.com.
Basic Testing Skills: While you won’t be writing extensive unit tests in the interview, you should be comfortable manually testing your code with sample inputs. Many interviewers expect you to demonstrate the working of each function or the overall system with a few test cases you devise. Sometimes, writing a simple main method that calls your functions to show correct behavior is recommendedpravashjha21.medium.com. This not only proves your code works for the normal case but also helps catch any edge case you might have missed before declaring you’re done.

By focusing on the above topics, you’ll build a strong foundation. In essence, practice designing classes and interactions for various scenarios – the more you exercise these muscles, the more naturally it will come during the interview. Next, let’s explore what kinds of problems Meesho tends to ask in this round.

Common Types of Machine Coding Problems at Meesho

Meesho’s machine coding questions are typically drawn from real-world scenarios or well-known design problems. They usually involve implementing a scaled-down version of a system with multiple operations. Here are some common themes and examples (gleaned from recent candidate experiences and reports):

Cab Booking System: Designing a mini Uber/Ola-like system is a classic. In one on-campus round, Meesho asked candidates to implement a cab booking system with around 10 basic functions (like registering cabs, booking a ride, ending a ride, etc.) using OOP conceptsgeeksforgeeks.org. This involves managing drivers, riders, cab availability, and bookings, all in memory.
Car Pooling System: A variant of cab booking is a car-pooling or ride-sharing system. In a 2025 open campus interview, the machine coding task was to build a Car Pooling system in 60 minutesgeeksforgeeks.org. This likely included managing ride requests, matching riders to car owners, and scheduling rides. The focus was on how the candidate structured classes (Car, Ride, User, etc.) and ensured the code was clean and executablegeeksforgeeks.org.
Social Media Feed (Mini-Facebook/Twitter): Meesho has asked candidates to design a simplified social network. One SDE-1 interview in 2024 involved implementing a mini version of Facebook with features like user follow/unfollow, creating/deleting posts, and fetching a news feed of top N postslinkedin.com. The candidate had to code these features in an hour and then explain the design and efficiency of operations like fetching postslinkedin.com. This type of problem tests use of design patterns (e.g., maybe a strategy for feed sorting) and how you handle relationships between users and posts.
Appointment Booking System: Another real-world scenario is scheduling. A candidate reported an LLD question for a doctor’s appointment booking system with time slotsreddit.com. This entails designing slots, allowing patients to book or cancel, perhaps checking for conflicts – essentially a calendar booking problem. It checks how you model time slots and ensure no double-booking.
E-commerce Order Management: Designing a mini e-commerce component is possible. In a senior SDE interview, Meesho used an inventory/order management service as the machine coding taskglassdoor.com. For SDE-1, they might simplify this to, say, a shopping cart system or a basic order placement system where you manage products, inventory, and orders.
Vending Machine/Coffee Machine: While not confirmed in Meesho’s interviews, these are “standard machine coding questions” across many companies and have even been hinted by engineers regarding Meeshoteamblind.com. The task could be to implement a coffee vending machine allowing selection of drinks, dispensing, and refilling ingredients. This checks your ability to use design patterns (e.g., Factory for beverage creation) and handle inventory in memory.
Parking Lot System: Another commonly practiced design problem (and mentioned in context of Meesho by some) is a parking lot management systemteamblind.com. Here you would design classes for ParkingLot, ParkingSpot, Vehicle, etc., and implement functions to park and unpark vehicles, track available spots, etc. It tests use of inheritance (car, bike as subclasses of Vehicle), and handling of constraints (e.g., different vehicle sizes).
Others: Practically, any scenario that requires managing state and performing operations could appear. Candidates and interview guides have also mentioned problems like “Logger Service”, “Splitwise (expense sharing)”, “Chess or Tic-Tac-Toe”, “ATM machine”, etc., as popular LLD practice questionspravashjha21.medium.com. While there’s no guarantee Meesho will use those, being aware of how to approach a variety of systems can only help.

How to use this knowledge: As you prepare, practice a few of the above problem types. When doing so, always start by listing out the requirements (e.g., “In a cab booking system, I need to register cabs, book a ride, end a ride, etc.”). Identify the main entities (classes) and how they interact. By simulating these common scenarios, you’ll be well-equipped to handle whatever variant Meesho throws at you.

Time Limits and Code Quality Expectations

Time management and code quality are two axes on which your performance will be measured. Here’s what to expect regarding the pace of coding and the expected quality of your submission:

Strict Time Constraints: Meesho’s machine coding round is time-bound, typically around 90 minutes or less. Many candidates report a 1.5-hour slotlinkedin.com, and some campus processes even give just 60 minutesgeeksforgeeks.org. This means you must quickly understand the problem, plan your approach, and start coding in a timely manner. It’s wise to spend the first 5-10 minutes planning your design (classes and methods) and then allocate the remaining time to coding and testing. Keep an eye on the clock; if one part of your implementation is taking too long, it might be better to simplify or move to another part and come back if time permits.
Working Code by the End: You are expected to finish with a working, executable code that meets the core requirements. In fact, the code is often run against some test cases (either by the interviewer or by the hackerrank platform) to verify functionalityreddit.com. Partial solutions may not pass – you generally need to cover all the required features (“clear pass” on all requirements)abhishekdeb48.medium.com. That said, if time is nearly up, it’s better to have a partially working code that’s well-written than a half-baked design with no execution. Prioritize at least the main flows to show end-to-end working.
Code Walkthrough and Review: After coding, typically there’s a review discussion where you explain your code. Interviewers will go through your classes and functions, ask why you designed it that way, probe how you’d extend or modify it for new requirements, and might point out any coding issues. Be prepared to justify your choices (why you used a list vs a map, why you chose to create a certain class, etc.)linkedin.compravashjha21.medium.com. They may also ask about the complexity of certain operations in your code (for instance, “What is the time complexity of fetching the top N posts in your design?” as was asked in the social media feed problemlinkedin.com). So, while algorithmic optimization is not the main focus, you should still be aware of the performance characteristics of your approach.
Code Quality Standards: Meesho expects production-quality coding practices in this round. This means:
- Modularity: Your code should be divided into logical units (classes, methods). Avoid writing one giant function to do everything. One interview experience noted that judgment was based on the “strength of practical experience” reflected in code structurelinkedin.com – in other words, they check if your code looks like something an experienced engineer would write. Use multiple classes and files (the HackerRank setup does allow multiple files or at least multiple classes in one file) – it’s expected that you follow a modular approach rather than stuffing everything in mainreddit.com.
- Readability: Use clear naming and follow conventions (e.g., classes starting with uppercase, use camelCase for variables/methods, etc.). A clean and consistent coding style makes a big difference during the reviewabhishekdeb48.medium.com. If the problem domain has certain terms (like “Booking”, “Slot”, “User”), use those in your class/method names to convey intent.
- Completeness: Ensure you implement all the functions asked in the prompt. Machine coding questions often list specific functionalities to be builtgeeksforgeeks.org. Skipping any is dangerous. Also, handle edge cases (e.g., no available cabs, booking beyond slot capacity, etc.) so that your code doesn’t break on those.
- Error Handling: As mentioned, robust handling of invalid scenarios is part of quality. This could be returning an error message or code when an operation fails (for example, if a user tries to book a slot that’s already taken, maybe return a "BookingFailed" status). Showing that you’ve considered these cases indicates a thorough solution.
What You Don’t Need to Do: You aren’t expected to incorporate things like database connectivity, external APIs, or graphical UIs in your solutionabhishekdeb48.medium.com. The evaluation is language-agnostic logic and design, so a command-line demonstration is perfectly fine. Also, you typically don’t need to write formal unit tests – a few sample runs in the main method are enough to prove your code workspravashjha21.medium.com. Focus on core functionality first; extra bells and whistles won’t give additional credit unless the basics are solid.
Language Choice: Use a language you are most comfortable with for OOP. Java and C++ are common choices for these rounds. Python is usually allowed (the Reddit discussion confirms HackerRank supports Python for Meesho’s round) and is fine if you write clean OOP code in itreddit.com. Just be sure that whichever language you choose, you know how to organize code into classes and understand the syntax well so you don’t waste time on language specifics during the interview.

Remember: The machine coding round is as much about how you code as what you code. Writing clean, well-structured code within the time limit is the ultimate goal. In the next section, we’ll go over best practices that top performers follow to meet these expectations.

Best Practices to Succeed in the Machine Coding Round

Succeeding in Meesho’s machine coding round requires both a strategic approach and adherence to good coding principles. Here are some best practices and tips to help you excel:

Understand and Clarify Requirements First: Don’t jump straight into coding. Spend a few minutes to discuss or jot down the requirements and scope of the problem. If any part of the prompt is ambiguous, ask clarifying questions (e.g., “Should I consider concurrent users?” or “Do we need to handle user authentication?”). In many LLD interviews, the problem statement might not specify every detail, and interviewers expect a dialog to flesh out the requirementspravashjha21.medium.com. Listing the requirements in bullet form can also help you identify the key entities needed in your designpravashjha21.medium.com.
Plan the OOP Design Upfront: Before writing code, outline the main classes and their relationships. For example, if it’s a cab booking system, you might decide on classes like Cab, Rider, Trip, CabManager (service class), etc., and the methods each should have. Communicate this plan to the interviewer – it shows structured thinking. A seasoned interviewer noted that they start by writing out class names as potential models, which helps ensure you’re following single-responsibility and other SOLID principles from the get-gopravashjha21.medium.com. Having a quick class diagram in your mind (or on paper, if allowed) serves as a blueprint while coding.
Follow a Layered Architecture: A good approach is to separate your code into layers or components, even within a short program:
- Models/Entities: These are simple classes representing core objects (e.g., User, Post, Cab, Booking, Slot). They mainly hold data with maybe basic getters/setters.
- Service/Manager Classes: These contain the business logic and operations (e.g., BookingService to handle booking a cab or AppointmentManager to schedule a slot). They use the models and coordinate between them.
- Data Access or Storage Layer: In a simple machine coding context, this could be as basic as classes or methods that interface with in-memory data structures. If the problem is complex enough, you might create a separate in-memory repository or DAO class (Data Access Object) to store and retrieve objects (though for SDE-1, storing directly in service or using collections in service is usually fine, as long as it’s organized)pravashjha21.medium.com.
- Main or Controller: Finally, have a clear entry point (like a main method or a simple driver function) that ties everything together – creating objects and invoking service methods in a logical sequence to simulate the required operationspravashjha21.medium.com. This is what you’ll use to demonstrate that your code works.

This separation is suggested by experts to make your code modular and easy to extendpravashjha21.medium.com. Even if you write everything in one file on HackerRank, conceptually separate sections for each component.

Keep It Simple and Scalable: Aim for the simplest design that fulfills all requirements, but also one that can accommodate future changes easily. For example, if you’re coding a feed fetch function for a social network, code it in a way that if tomorrow we want to filter the feed or change the sorting, it wouldn’t require a total rewrite (maybe by isolating the sorting logic, or by using strategy pattern for feed ranking). Interviewers love seeing code that is easy to modify for new requirementspravashjha21.medium.compravashjha21.medium.com. A good mental check is to ask, “If I had to add one more feature here, how many places in my code would I need to touch?” – if the answer is “many,” you might need a cleaner separation of concerns.
Apply SOLID and Design Patterns Appropriately: As you implement, consciously apply best practices:
- Ensure each class has a single clear purpose (e.g., don’t put booking logic inside the Cab class – use a separate BookingService).
- Use interfaces or abstract classes if it makes sense for the abstraction (for example, an interface PaymentStrategy if you anticipate multiple payment methods in an e-commerce system). Even if you have only one implementation now, designing with interfaces shows foresightpravashjha21.medium.com.
- Leverage design patterns when a scenario fits. If designing a vending machine, using a Factory pattern for dispensing different products can be elegant. If designing a logging system, the Observer pattern might be suitable. But do not force a pattern where a simple solution suffices – clarity is key. Remember, not all LLD problems require an obvious design pattern, and that’s okaypravashjha21.medium.com.
Write Incrementally and Test Often: Don’t try to write the entire code in one go. Implement one functionality at a time and test it. For instance, code the addUser() and followUser() functions for a social network, then quickly simulate a couple of users following each other to see if your data structures update correctly. Early testing helps catch issues when they’re easier to fix. Use simple print statements or a basic main sequence to test as you go. This way, even if you run low on time, at least the functions you completed are likely correct.
Use Sample Inputs/Outputs to Validate: After implementing the required functions, demonstrate the end-to-end flow. For example, if it’s a cab system: create a few cab objects, a few rider requests, simulate bookings, and print the status to show it works. The interviewer will expect to see the code in action either via unit tests or your own test casesgeeksforgeeks.org. As an experienced interviewee advises, writing sample tests in the main method to demo your code is highly recommendedpravashjha21.medium.com. It proves your code isn’t just theoretically correct but actually runs as expected.
Handle Edge Cases & Error Conditions: As you test, think of edge cases:
- What if an operation is invoked at an invalid time (e.g., cancel a booking that doesn’t exist)?
- What if data is missing (e.g., fetching posts when no posts exist)?
- Boundary conditions (first or last slot of the day in an appointment system, or maximum capacity reached in a parking lot).

If possible, implement graceful handling (maybe return a message, or simply ensure the code doesn’t throw an unhandled exception). Covering edge cases can be the difference between a good solution and a great solution. It shows thoroughness and is something interviewers explicitly look forabhishekdeb48.medium.com.

Communicate During the Coding: If this is a live interview (not just a take-home on HackerRank), talk through your thought process as you code. Explain what you’re writing and why. This keeps the interviewer engaged and allows them to guide you if you’re off-track. Meesho interviewers have been noted to be friendly and sometimes even give hints or debug with yougeeksforgeeks.orglinkedin.com. Taking them along on your journey can only help. For instance, you might say, “Now I’ll create a BookRide method in the service which will allocate the nearest available cab – I’ll probably need a way to track cab locations, but since that’s not explicitly required, I’ll assume any free cab can serve the request for simplicity.” This shows you’re considering extensions (like locations) even if you don’t implement them fully due to scope.
Don’t Panic, Stay Structured: The time pressure can be intense, but try to stay calm and methodical. If you find yourself stuck on a bug, take a short step back rather than thrashing. It might help to temporarily skip a tricky part and implement another function, then return with fresh eyes. Because you planned the design well, each piece is somewhat independent – leverage that. Remember that partial credit is rare; you generally need all features working, so allocate time wisely to get through all of them at least in basic form.
Use the Right Tooling: If you’re coding on an online platform, become familiar with its interface beforehand. Simple things like how to run code, where the output appears, and how to create additional classes or files (if needed) should be second nature so you don’t waste time figuring out the environment. Since HackerRank has been used for Meesho’s machine roundreddit.com, practicing on HackerRank or a similar online IDE with a timer can be good preparation. If the round is offline or you’re allowed an IDE, choose one you’re comfortable with and have it well set up (with linting, etc., which can catch basic mistakes).
Language-Specific Best Practices: Ensure you know the nuances of the language you’re using. For instance, in Java, be comfortable with collections and know that you might need to make classes public if they’re in separate files on some platforms. In Python, be mindful of using classes and not just writing script-style code. Avoid using any fancy library that wasn’t mentioned – stick to core language features and data structures unless the problem domain explicitly might need something (e.g., datetime library for scheduling tasks by date, if allowed).
Ask for Feedback at the End: If time permits and you’ve run through your solution, you can briefly mention potential improvements or ask if the interviewer would have expected a different approach in any part. This shows humility and willingness to learn. For example, “I chose this design for simplicity, but in a real system I might add a database layer here. Given the time, I kept it in memory. Let me know if you want me to discuss how I’d extend this.” This isn’t always necessary, but if you had to leave something out due to time, mention that you’re aware of it and would handle it with more time.

By following these practices, you’ll demonstrate not just your coding ability but also the mindset of a thoughtful software engineer. Clean, well-structured, and working code – alongside clear communication – is the recipe for success. Now, let’s gather some recommended resources to help you prepare and then look at real candidates’ experiences for additional insights.

Recommended Preparation Resources

To build the skills and confidence for the machine coding round, leverage the following resources (courses, repositories, and websites) that are highly regarded by successful candidates and the developer community:

Structured LLD Courses & Playlists:
- GFG Low-Level Design Tutorial: GeeksforGeeks has an “LLD Preparation” seriesgeeksforgeeks.org which provides strategies for system design at the low level. It covers how to approach designing systems and might include sample problems and solutions.
- Code with Aryan’s LLD Series: A candidate specifically credited this series for their preparationmedium.com. It covers basics to advanced LLD concepts and problems, with tips from real interview experiences. Topics likely include step-by-step guides to designing popular problems.
- Educative Grokking the Object-Oriented Design Interview: This is a popular paid resource that covers many OOD interview questions (parking lot, coffee machine, etc.) in a structured way. It’s not Meesho-specific but very relevant to the kind of questions asked.
- Scaler/InterviewBit LLD Module: Scaler Academy (InterviewBit) offers lessons on OOP design and has a set of machine coding problems for practice, which several candidates have found useful for similar rounds.
YouTube Channels:
- Ramit Kundu: He has a YouTube channel and LinkedIn posts that dissect machine coding problems. In fact, he shared a detailed PDF for a Meesho machine coding question (via LinkedIn) and promised a full video explanationlinkedin.com. His channel might have explanations for problems like cab booking or others which can give a good sense of how to approach systematically.
- Workat.Tech YouTube Tutorials: WorkatTech (a platform for interview prep) has free YouTube videos on solving machine coding questions (e.g., Snake and Ladder, Splitwise, etc.). These walk through design and coding which can be great practice. For instance, the GitHub repo by lavakumarThatisetti references Workat.Tech problem statements and YouTube walkthroughs for classic problems like Snake & Ladder, Parking Lot, etc.github.comgithub.com.
- SDE Skills (or other channels): Look for playlists on “Machine Coding Round” or “LLD interview”. Some channels compile top problems (often titled “LLD interview questions”) which overlap with what Meesho asks. Ensure the content is recent (last couple of years) as approaches evolve.
GitHub Repositories:
- LavakumarThatisetti/Machine-Coding-Round: This repository contains code for many LLD questions (Snake and Ladder, Splitwise, Parking Lot, Tic-Tac-Toe, etc.) along with problem statementsgithub.comgithub.com. Reviewing these solutions can give insight into coding style and class design. However, use them to learn patterns, not to memorize – each problem can be tweaked in an interview.
- iqblmoh/machineCoding: A repo created to help people with machine coding interviews, potentially containing guides and solved examplesgithub.com.
- Machine Coding Round Interview Questions with Solutions: There’s a repo (referenced via a short URL on GitHub) that consolidates problem statements and solutions for various companies’ machine coding roundsgithub.com. If Meesho-specific questions are included, those are gold. Even if not, solving those problems will build your skills.
- WorkAtTech’s machinecoding repository: WorkatTech also hosts a repository or site with common machine coding exercises and solutionsworkattech.github.io. They outline expected functions and classes, which mirrors the real interview scenario.
Practice Platforms:
- HackerRank/LeetCode Playground: Since Meesho uses HackerRank for the machine coding round, use HackerRank’s interface to practice writing a full program. You can find challenges under “Project” type or simply take a blank IDE and try to code one of the known problems within 90 minutes. LeetCode doesn’t have direct LLD problems, but you can use their playground or any online IDE for timed practice.
- Mock Interviews: Consider doing a mock machine coding interview with a friend or using platforms like Pramp or interviewing.io. Make sure the mock involves designing and coding a full problem in one go. This will help with the pressure aspect.
- GeeksforGeeks & Interview Experiences: Read through GFG interview experiences (like the ones cited here) and LeetCode Discuss posts for Meesho SDE-1. They sometimes include the problem statement they were asked (e.g., “design social media network system”leetcode.com or “cab booking system”glassdoor.com). Try implementing those on your own. Also, GFG has a list of “Popular LLD questions” which overlaps with what you should practice.
Books (for deeper understanding):
- “Head First Object-Oriented Analysis and Design” – great for OOP design thinking.
- “Design Patterns: Elements of Reusable Object-Oriented Software” (Gang of Four) – reference for classic patterns (you don’t need to read cover-to-cover for interviews, but knowing the patterns helps).
- “Clean Code” by Robert C. Martin – to instill coding best practices. It’s not interview-specific but will improve your coding style, which is crucial in a machine coding round.
Online Communities & Blogs:
- Reddit (r/leetcode, r/cscareerquestionsIndia): There are threads (one of which we’ve cited) where people discuss Meesho’s machine coding round, share resources, and sometimes even their experience with the question askedreddit.comreddit.com. Searching those subreddits for “Meesho machine coding” could yield additional tips and possibly even the exact questions others got (like the Doctor appointment system mentioned).
- Medium Articles: Blogs like the one by Pravash Jhapravashjha21.medium.compravashjha21.medium.com or Abhishek Debabhishekdeb48.medium.comabhishekdeb48.medium.com are treasure troves of guidance for machine coding rounds (Flipkart and others, which are similar in style to Meesho’s). They cover what companies expect and pitfalls to avoid. Read those to internalize dos and don’ts.
- AmbitionBox/Glassdoor: Check AmbitionBox for Meesho interview questions where candidates sometimes list the machine coding question or topicsambitionbox.com. Glassdoor reviews similarly might describe the process (e.g., mention that it’s a system design implementation and possibly hint at the problem domain).

Using a combination of these resources will give you both theoretical knowledge and practical experience. It’s important to actually write code for several problems end-to-end – reading solutions isn’t enough. The practice will help you write correct code under time pressure. Next, let’s hear from some real candidates who’ve been through Meesho’s process to glean final tips.

Insights from Real Candidate Experiences

Learning from those who have already gone through the Meesho SDE-1 machine coding round can be incredibly valuable. Here are some curated insights and tips shared by successful (and some unsuccessful but insightful) candidates:

Focus on Fundamentals: Multiple candidates emphasized the importance of strong basics. One candidate’s key takeaway after the interview was “Master the basics – solidify DSA and CS fundamentals; they are the backbone of every tech interview.”medium.com. While the machine round isn’t DSA-heavy, understanding data structures and having clean fundamentals in coding will reflect in your implementation. Similarly, knowing your core CS concepts means you can discuss optimizations or scalability confidently if asked.
Practice Executable Projects: Simply reading about OOP or design isn’t enough. A rejected candidate who went through the process reflected that you should “work on executable LLD projects – reading concepts isn’t enough. Build real systems, write clean code…”medium.com. This reiterates the need to actually code out several design problems as practice. It builds muscle memory for coding under constraints and ensures you don’t freeze when faced with a blank screen in the interview.
Simulate the Interview Environment: Another candidate mentioned that the round was on HackerRank with a provided skeleton, and they had to implement functionality from scratchreddit.comreddit.com. They noted that understanding how to structure multiple classes in that environment was important. Tip: Try a few problems in HackerRank’s environment or any plain editor without auto-complete fancy features – it’s closer to the real scenario. Also, if you’re used to an IDE, practice without running the code every minute to mimic an interview where you might run only after a significant part is done.
Time Management in the Round: From Aman's experience (who got the offer), he had a strict split: 60 minutes coding, 30 minutes discussionlinkedin.com. He managed to implement all features in the hour, which is no small feat. His advice implicitly is to use the time well and possibly that having a design blueprint allowed him to code faster with fewer wrong turns. Also, note how the discussion itself was extensive – covering design decisions, test cases, improvements, complexity, etc.linkedin.com. This means during preparation, practice explaining your code and thinking about how you’d improve it if you had more time.
Clean Code Pays Off: Aman mentioned that his machine coding round was his strongest, and he received extremely positive feedback on itlinkedin.com. He attributed part of that to using proper design patterns and clean design in his solution. The result was he even skipped the usual DSA round and went straight to the final round, which shows how a stellar performance here can boost your chanceslinkedin.com. The lesson: investing time to write clean, well-structured code (instead of just barely finishing a messy solution) can set you apart.
Interviewer Interaction: In some interview formats, the interviewer actively engages with you. A GFG account of a Meesho interview noted “the interviewer was friendly and was debugging code along with me”geeksforgeeks.org. Don’t be startled if the interviewer points out a bug and asks you to fix it or asks you to run through a test case where your code fails – they might be gauging how you handle it. Take it as collaboration rather than confrontation. Show that you can think on your feet and fix issues quickly. It’s perfectly fine to take hints; it’s better to get to a working solution with a nudge than to stubbornly stick and not finish.
Ask Questions and Be Engaged: A successful hire advice was: “don’t be afraid to ask questions during the process”linkedin.com. If something is unclear in the prompt, or if you’re unsure how detailed a particular feature should be, ask. For instance, “Do I need to consider multithreading in this design?” or “Should the feed be sorted by time or any ranking?” The interviewer might clarify or say “it’s up to you” – either way, you’ve shown you think about such factors.
Experience-Based Tailoring: One Meesho engineer (Mohit Gupta) shared that they adjust expectations based on experience levellinkedin.com. As a fresher or entry-level SDE-1, you’re not expected to have a flawless architectural vision, but you are expected to show good coding habits and an eagerness to learn. If you have any past internship or project experience where you implemented something similar, don’t hesitate to mention, “I built something related in a project, and I’m using a similar approach here.” It shows practical experience.
Stay Calm if Things Go Wrong: Not everyone clears the round, and that’s okay. The open campus candidate who was rejected at the end still emphasized how valuable the journey wasgeeksforgeeks.org. If for some reason you struggle in the machine coding round, learn from it – identify if it was a lack of practice, or nerves, or a gap in knowledge, and work on that. Many people attempt such interviews multiple times and improve. The general sentiment from those who failed once is that it significantly helped them do better in future interviews.
General Tips Summary from Candidates:
- Consistency: Prepare regularly; you can’t master LLD in a day. Small practice problems daily or weekly go a long waygeeksforgeeks.org.
- Resource Utilization: Use curated sheets (like GFG SDE sheets for DSA, which indirectly help logic building) and targeted LLD resourcesgeeksforgeeks.orggeeksforgeeks.org.
- Don’t Neglect CS Basics: HR/tech rounds after machine coding often ask CS fundamentals (OS, DBMS, CN)medium.com. While separate from machine coding, a well-rounded preparation ensures you clear all rounds. Balancing LLD prep with some system design and CS theory prep (as Meesho does have an additional design/HR round) is wise.
- Confidence: Go in with a positive mindset. You’ve practiced, you’ve seen similar problems – convince yourself you can do it. Confidence reflects in how you code and explain. One candidate noted he ended feeling positive after each round even if unsure, which helps maintain momentummedium.com.

Finally, remember that cracking the machine coding round is a combination of right preparation and on-the-spot performance. The experiences of others show that if you’ve done your homework on OOP design and practiced enough problems, you can absolutely ace this round. As one person encouraged, “stay consistent, focus on learning”, and you’ll be well-equipped for successlinkedin.com.

Good luck with your preparation for Meesho’s machine coding round. With structured practice and the tips in this guide, you’ll be ready to design and code a clean, robust solution when it counts. Now go build some mini-systems for practice – you’ve got this!

Sources:

Meesho SDE-1 interview experiencesgeeksforgeeks.orggeeksforgeeks.orglinkedin.com
Expert advice on machine coding roundsabhishekdeb48.medium.compravashjha21.medium.compravashjha21.medium.com
Candidate tips and reflectionsmedium.comlinkedin.comgeeksforgeeks.org
Online community discussions on Meesho machine codingreddit.comteamblind.com

Preparing for Meesho’s SDE-1 Machine Coding Round: A Comprehensive Guide