Re:Data structures and algorithms I actually used while work...
by craftinator on Wednesday July 15, 2020 @09:54AM
(#23845246)
Acceptable answer: it depends on what I'm sorting. Is it a primitive like char strings, numbers, or a more complex data type? Could it have null values and type mismatches, am I using a strongly typed language? Does it need to be cleaned first?
I think the ability to come up with relevant and important questions to ask about the task given is more crucial than whether they can solve it. You can look up answers to questions from hundreds of good sources, but you need to be able to generate the right questions that need to be answered first.
Re:Data structures and algorithms I actually used while work...
by maaaaattttt on Wednesday July 15, 2020 @10:05AM
(#23845375)
> you need to be able to generate the right questions
Completely agree with this statement.
I would add that having the proper vocabulary is an important part of generating the right questions.
When was the last time you wrote a sorting algorithm?
Acceptable answers:
- You mean sorting a list? - In school - Why would I write a sorting algorithm? - Never - (Glazing eyes and other body language that indicates frustration)
Red Flags:
- Anything that indicates they think writing a sorting algorithm is a perfectly logical thing to do during the course of software development.
(Note: The problem is sorting may seem like a well-understood problem, but it’s actually not. Only a person who studied the algorithms in school as an assignment would feel comfortable with that code.)