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It is a basic question about one very narrow skill set that is relevant for some, but not all, programming jobs. It is trivial only for people who had to slog

It is a basic question about one very narrow skill set that is relevant for some, but not all, programming jobs. It is trivial only for people who had to slog through only-sort-of-relevant CS degrees, who may or may not be the most productive programmers. I could just as easily say "we should be asking every programmer to handle a six-box grid layout" on a white board. It is just as trivial, it is relevant to the same percentage of programmers, but if that were the intro criteria I would probably have a problem hiring people to do the algorithms work.

stcredzero 10y ago
It is a basic question about one very narrow skill set that is relevant for some, but not all, programming jobs. I could just as easily say "we should be asking every programmer to handle a six-box grid layout" on a white board. It's a skill set that's relevant to almost all of programming jobs. Quick: give me an example of how time/space complexity can be relevant to layout manager code. (Can't do it? Dunning-Kruger just reared its ugly head again.) You don't necessarily need to write your own layout manager. But to properly shop for one for some demanding use cases, you may well benefit from just cocktail-party level first principles knowledge, so you can pick the right library. Or, do you just have faith that Apple or [Big Company] knows what it's doing, and assume that everything can handle everything you throw at it. That works over 90% of the time. It's the exceptional case where you need the 1st principles, and such cases usually come with outsized penalties if you don't know.
- jdlshore 10y ago
  > Can't do it? Dunning-Kruger just reared its ugly head again. @stcredzero, I've seen your name pop up time and again on this thread. I don't think you realize how rude you're being. You clearly think that Data Structures 101 is important knowledge, to the point of saying that most software project failures are caused by lack of that knowledge. Others in this thread take a more moderate position. Can you accept that this is a difference of opinion, not a sign of incompetence, and stop being so rude about it?
  - stcredzero 10y ago
    I don't think you realize how rude you're being. I am being what I need to be. I find it remarkable that some people are receiving this information and prioritizing protecting their ego, rather than investigating what motivates such sentiments. Perhaps that difference should be exploited in interviews? You clearly think that Data Structures 101 is important knowledge, to the point of saying that most software project failures are caused by lack of that knowledge. Others in this thread take a more moderate position. Let me clarify: I think that Data Structures 101 is important knowledge, to the point of saying that a significant number of software project failures are caused by lack of that knowledge. Others in this thread take a more moderate position. They either don't have the knowledge and don't appreciate what they don't know. Classic Dunning-Kruger. Or, they have the knowledge but haven't been in the right kind of projects where someone not knowing really bit them hard. ("It never happened to me, so it must not be that big a deal.") Find me someone who has the knowledge and who has been "bit hard." You can find them in these threads. Read what they say carefully. It's much more than a matter of opinionated debate.

stcredzero 10y ago

It is a basic question about one very narrow skill set that is relevant for some, but not all, programming jobs. I could just as easily say "we should be asking every programmer to handle a six-box grid layout" on a white board. It's a skill set that's relevant to almost all of programming jobs. Quick: give me an example of how time/space complexity can be relevant to layout manager code. (Can't do it? Dunning-Kruger just reared its ugly head again.) You don't necessarily need to write your own layout manager. But to properly shop for one for some demanding use cases, you may well benefit from just cocktail-party level first principles knowledge, so you can pick the right library. Or, do you just have faith that Apple or [Big Company] knows what it's doing, and assume that everything can handle everything you throw at it. That works over 90% of the time. It's the exceptional case where you need the 1st principles, and such cases usually come with outsized penalties if you don't know.

jdlshore 10y ago
> Can't do it? Dunning-Kruger just reared its ugly head again. @stcredzero, I've seen your name pop up time and again on this thread. I don't think you realize how rude you're being. You clearly think that Data Structures 101 is important knowledge, to the point of saying that most software project failures are caused by lack of that knowledge. Others in this thread take a more moderate position. Can you accept that this is a difference of opinion, not a sign of incompetence, and stop being so rude about it?
- stcredzero 10y ago
  I don't think you realize how rude you're being. I am being what I need to be. I find it remarkable that some people are receiving this information and prioritizing protecting their ego, rather than investigating what motivates such sentiments. Perhaps that difference should be exploited in interviews? You clearly think that Data Structures 101 is important knowledge, to the point of saying that most software project failures are caused by lack of that knowledge. Others in this thread take a more moderate position. Let me clarify: I think that Data Structures 101 is important knowledge, to the point of saying that a significant number of software project failures are caused by lack of that knowledge. Others in this thread take a more moderate position. They either don't have the knowledge and don't appreciate what they don't know. Classic Dunning-Kruger. Or, they have the knowledge but haven't been in the right kind of projects where someone not knowing really bit them hard. ("It never happened to me, so it must not be that big a deal.") Find me someone who has the knowledge and who has been "bit hard." You can find them in these threads. Read what they say carefully. It's much more than a matter of opinionated debate.