3 ms·
For folks who are operating at this layer of bounds and overflows and such, are you relying entirely on a mental visualization of the data structures when reaso
by fareesh 5y ago
For folks who are operating at this layer of bounds and overflows and such, are you relying entirely on a mental visualization of the data structures when reasoning about them? Or does this kind of exercise require some sketching etc? I find it to be quite challenging to explore these topics without having to draw on paper, so I was curious as to whether this is something that you eventually graduate from, or whether sketching things out remains a large part of the process.
Are there some tools that help this kind of thought process? Or do you have to use drawing primitives - rectangles, etc to do it?
- isatty 5y agoThere's absolutely nothing wrong with drawing it out on paper - why give yourself a hard time by trying to do without? I occasionally write it out even if its dead simple if else logic but nested.
- airstrike 5y agoI actually appreciate seeing someone draw something complex out on paper because it shows they care enough to make sure they get it right.
- EvanAnderson 5y agoThe old Microsoft "Behind the Code" video series always asked their guests (Microsoft employees who distinguished themselves with technical accomplishments in their careers) to draw and explain their favorite data structure. I loved that bit of the shows. (If you haven't seen them I would highly recommend them.)
- fouc 5y agoNice, seems like they can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/user/MicrosoftResearch/search?query=behind%20the%20code https://www.youtube.com/user/MicrosoftResearch/search?query=...
- bitexploder 5y agoI often have loaded memory in a hex editor with most of the data types within marked off so you can visually see the separate elements. Like, if you knowingness four bytes are a an integer they get colored one way, etc. I am much of a drawer or white boarder.