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Not sure why you think a candidate who uses R is inferior to one who uses Python? Also, a really good candidate should use the right tool for the job, so if yo
by blackbear_ 6y ago
Not sure why you think a candidate who uses R is inferior to one who uses Python?
Also, a really good candidate should use the right tool for the job, so if you expect them to use Unix sort you should somehow imply a situation where that is the best approach.
- dgellow 6y agoI would also add: if it’s a one time thing, I would just do it in visual studio code or any other editor that doesn’t die on a 1GB file. And I have 12+ years experience with bash and unix tools, so it’s not about a lack of knowledge or experience. There isn’t anything magical regarding “sort” versus another tool, if there isn’t a need for automation they are equivalent.
- deleted 6y ago[deleted]
- whym 6y ago> if you expect them to use Unix sort you should somehow imply a situation where that is the best approach. I think the implied question is whether the interviewee is aware of the fact that trying to load a 1 GB text file could use up too much RAM space of the system. Unix sort is arguably the most memory efficient among the 4 choices there. It depends on the amount of available resources (which was not specified), and some companies might be willing to casually let people use 100 GB machines, though.
- blackbear_ 6y agoThat is a fair point. A good script would be to move towards this scenario of more data than RAM and see what the candidate comes up with.