5 ms·
I think that's a side-effect of degrees that focus only on coding or applied math, whereas before the computing industry was as developed as it is now and there
by TallGuyShort 9y ago
I think that's a side-effect of degrees that focus only on coding or applied math, whereas before the computing industry was as developed as it is now and there was less specialization within it, a CS degree would have covered the basic data structures and algorithms that were common knowledge then and still had plenty of time to cover systems things. My degree wasn't in CS - it included basically a CS minor, but it also focused on network protocols and hardware architectures that most CS students had never heard of. So when I was interviewing for jobs around graduation and was asked to explain everything that happens after someone types "google.com" in their browser, I could explain all the network protocols in detail right down to how binary was encoded into specific 5V fluctations on certain lines, DNS resolution, routing algorithms, the server's filesystem, etc. But when I was doing a coding problem and they asked me what the invariant was in my loop, I had to ask what an invariant was. And yet I had been coding full time for 4 years by that point and never needed to know that term. I knew stuff CS majors didn't, and they knew stuff I didn't. It was different specialities, each of which really filled 4 years of heavy, heavy semesters.
- NTDF9 9y agoReminds me of a recent interview where they asked me, "How does the client to a server?" I replied "over the socket" To which they replied, "Using REST over HTTP" ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
- __blockcipher__ 9y agoI would have murdered them on the spot for that response
- aurelianito 9y agoProbably both are correct. But which one is more useful in this context?
- __blockcipher__ 9y agoThe interviewer or whoever should provide the context. Otherwise it’s a pointless question. The issue is when they don’t provide context and expect you to list off some random framework or something.
- esmi 9y agoOr they expect you to ask for context.
- aje403 9y agoWhy is a pothole round? Nope - sorry, looks like you're not a mythical unicorn!
- thaumasiotes 9y agoThe famous question is "why are manhole covers round?" Manholes being artificial, this leaves some room for speculation about why the shape was chosen. "Why is a pothole round?" is a more objective question.
- mrexroad 9y agoSorry, confused here on why the pothole variant is more objective? If anything, the manhole cover one seems pretty clear cut?
- thaumasiotes 9y agoPotholes are naturally occurring. For any particular pothole, there is a reason it took whatever shape it did. The only real constraint operating on manholes is that they fit the opening. Unless you can produce a design document specifying the requirements for the manhole you're looking at, there isn't really a "why".
- aje403 9y agoPlease clear out your desk. Security will escort you out.
- baq 9y ago'African out European' next time, it is.
- TallGuyShort 9y agoI don't understand this - could you enlighten me?
- chiph 9y ago"African or European" - refers to Monty Python's classic film Holy Grail https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFQgwwXOfR4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFQgwwXOfR4 note: Watch the witch scene later in the film - there's a coconut and swallow at the start of it.