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I'd wager companies hire based on leetcode because it's efficient from an administerial perspective. It can be easily automated and helps weed out a greater num

I'd wager companies hire based on leetcode because it's efficient from an administerial perspective. It can be easily automated and helps weed out a greater number of poor candidates than good ones. It's easier for an interviewer to pull out a set of pre-written questions than look through a github repo and ask pointed questions. Too much of what we do, from education (standardized tests) to banning of users in places like YouTube, is centered on efficiency or administration. Aim for the center of the bell curve, ignore the collateral damage and reach those target metrics, as the mantra goes. It'll get much worse before it gets better, if it ever does.

urthor 5y ago
That's a rather negative view, considering that much of software by and large is about replicating paper based processes with far less human effort involved. It's fair to describe software engineers as a profession of the professionally lazy. "This takes too long to do, therefore I code." I think it's better to reinterpret the problem based on what Leetcode does well, and try to invent something that does it better. The old world of make some giant Github project a company might appreciate, or might ignore entirely, holds little attraction to me at this point.
colinmhayes 5y ago
Companies use Leetcode because it tests for the 2 things that are required to become a successful developer, above average critical thinking skills and willingness to spend hundreds of hours improving. Companies figure if you have those two things they can make you into a decent developer, figuring out if someone is already a good developer is much harder.
- another_story 5y ago
  Or does it test for someone who in the hope of passing these tests will spend hundreds of hours dedicated to pointless exercises that produce no real value? If by harder, you mean sitting down and having a real conversation, then yes, I suppose it's harder. Edit: Value is a poor word here, now that I think about it. Let's say mostly pointless activities that generally don't apply to work they'll be doing with that skill. It's like playing baseball to practice for tennis.
  - colinmhayes 5y ago
    Well the idea is if they're willing to waste all that time trying to get the job they'll spend even more time working and improving.
    - another_story 5y ago
      I suppose that makes sense, but it leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

urthor 5y ago

That's a rather negative view, considering that much of software by and large is about replicating paper based processes with far less human effort involved. It's fair to describe software engineers as a profession of the professionally lazy. "This takes too long to do, therefore I code." I think it's better to reinterpret the problem based on what Leetcode does well, and try to invent something that does it better. The old world of make some giant Github project a company might appreciate, or might ignore entirely, holds little attraction to me at this point.

colinmhayes 5y ago

Companies use Leetcode because it tests for the 2 things that are required to become a successful developer, above average critical thinking skills and willingness to spend hundreds of hours improving. Companies figure if you have those two things they can make you into a decent developer, figuring out if someone is already a good developer is much harder.

another_story 5y ago
Or does it test for someone who in the hope of passing these tests will spend hundreds of hours dedicated to pointless exercises that produce no real value? If by harder, you mean sitting down and having a real conversation, then yes, I suppose it's harder. Edit: Value is a poor word here, now that I think about it. Let's say mostly pointless activities that generally don't apply to work they'll be doing with that skill. It's like playing baseball to practice for tennis.
- colinmhayes 5y ago
  Well the idea is if they're willing to waste all that time trying to get the job they'll spend even more time working and improving.
  - another_story 5y ago
    I suppose that makes sense, but it leaves a bad taste in my mouth.