4 ms·

It only shows this interviewer doesn't really know much about programmers' daily job and has never been programming themselves. Also this: "It’s funny how many

It only shows this interviewer doesn't really know much about programmers' daily job and has never been programming themselves. Also this: "It’s funny how many people can’t edit text on any machine but their own." - I bought a notebook without properly checking the keyboard and even now after 3 years it still bugs me everytime I type. Nobody can understand how these things can really limit focus. If I got a different computer with different keyboard, different operating system, different text editor (not even an IDE) and was asked to write a program, my focus would be totally ruined, compared to my actual daily work.

mooreds 7y ago
I once interviewed in a code base I didn't know, using a language I didn't know (kotlin, so close to a language I do know, Java), in an editor I didn't know. I didn't get the job, but I don't believe it was because of my performance on the coding portion of the application (based on inference). But that was an error on my part. They offered to let me code a different problem on my own machine and I didn't take advantage, having a bit of overconfidence in my ability to pick up things quickly. But I prefer to let applicants pick whatever language (within limits) and editor/ide they want for our current hiring process. It's much more about how they solve a problem and navigate their tools (because that's an indicator too) than how they can use my stack.
- trickstra 7y ago
  Exactly! How is it relevant to the job if the applicant is able to adapt to a new editor and new keyboard quickly? Even with a new computer, they will set it up once and then never do it again. Let the programmer chose whatever language, whatever carefully crafted settings in IDE that make them comfortable, to solve the problem effectively, because that's what matters. Problem solving is influenced heavily by these seemingly irrelevant details. It's like inspiration, you need a clear mind for that.
scarface74 7y ago
I’m glad one of my interviewers didn’t feel that way. I was about to start a pair programming session and they had an ergonomic split keyboard for me to use. I just asked for a regular keyboard, I purposefully didn’t explain why just to see what they would say. They had no problem finding me one. After they gave me the keyboard, I told them that I can only type with one hand for physical reasons.

mooreds 7y ago

I once interviewed in a code base I didn't know, using a language I didn't know (kotlin, so close to a language I do know, Java), in an editor I didn't know. I didn't get the job, but I don't believe it was because of my performance on the coding portion of the application (based on inference). But that was an error on my part. They offered to let me code a different problem on my own machine and I didn't take advantage, having a bit of overconfidence in my ability to pick up things quickly. But I prefer to let applicants pick whatever language (within limits) and editor/ide they want for our current hiring process. It's much more about how they solve a problem and navigate their tools (because that's an indicator too) than how they can use my stack.

trickstra 7y ago
Exactly! How is it relevant to the job if the applicant is able to adapt to a new editor and new keyboard quickly? Even with a new computer, they will set it up once and then never do it again. Let the programmer chose whatever language, whatever carefully crafted settings in IDE that make them comfortable, to solve the problem effectively, because that's what matters. Problem solving is influenced heavily by these seemingly irrelevant details. It's like inspiration, you need a clear mind for that.

scarface74 7y ago

I’m glad one of my interviewers didn’t feel that way. I was about to start a pair programming session and they had an ergonomic split keyboard for me to use. I just asked for a regular keyboard, I purposefully didn’t explain why just to see what they would say. They had no problem finding me one. After they gave me the keyboard, I told them that I can only type with one hand for physical reasons.