Bug squash: An underrated interview question

Post by pastage » Wed, Aug 21, 2024, 6:03 AM UTC

gecko6 wrote: post #108

I have an interview question: step 1: the candidate is shown the specification for a method and the results of running the test suite on an obfuscated version of the method. All tests pass. The test suite is minimal, and test coverage is abysmal. step 2: the candidate is asked to come up with more test cases, based on the specification. The code is run against the updated test suite - most new tests will fail because…

Post by marginalia_nu » Wed, Aug 21, 2024, 6:18 AM UTC

bawolff wrote: post #82

__float wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> - Didn't set you up with a way to reliably run/test the code, nor a step-through-debugger which, jeez is it 1980? Like setting up a repo in a language you aren't familiar with (say getting your py-env exactly right) can take a whole hour if it's not your main language. How frequently do people interview in a language other than their "main" one(s)? > - Didn't have standardized questions, which is hugely problematic…

> How frequently do people interview in a language other than their "main" one(s)? I would say most of the time. However i still think debugging is a core skill you should be able to demonstrate in languages that aren't your main one.

        List l = new ArrayList();
        l.add(1);
        l.add(2);
        l.add(3);
        l.remove(1); // invokes List.remove(int)
        System.out.println(l); // [1, 3]

        Collection l = new ArrayList();
        l.add(1);
        l.add(2);
        l.add(3);
        l.remove(1);  // autoboxes 1 and invokes Collection.remove(Object)
        System.out.println(l); // [2, 3]

Post by saghm » Wed, Aug 21, 2024, 6:28 AM UTC

yonrg wrote: post #109

b20000 wrote: post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

for me cracking the coding interview is stressful i prefer the bug squash question. i have 20 years of experience. i will probably do well. a fresh grad might fail. do i care? no. leetcode has benefited fresh grads and is being used to discriminate against those with anxiety and other disorders and those who are older. i think it is refreshing to try a different interview method, one that benefits those with experien…

What is wrong with capitals?

Post by phito » Wed, Aug 21, 2024, 6:37 AM UTC

ebcode wrote: post #120

yonrg wrote: post #109

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What is wrong with capitals?

not wrong per se, but they take longer to type than lowercase

Post by randomgiy3142 » Wed, Aug 21, 2024, 6:51 AM UTC

b20000 wrote: post #119

strken wrote: post #118

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A) I, and a lot of other people, do give a shit whether experienced candidates pass leetcode, and try not to give leetcode interviews unless forced to by HR fiat B) As an industry and as a society, it's not a good thing to refuse to hire new grads, since that leads to the kind of labour shortages we see in e.g. medicine and pulls up one of the best ladders for wealth mobility. Tech therefore needs some kind of funnel…

it’s not a good thing to refuse to hire older people and most older people do not pass leetcode without significant grinding