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Providing you're testing the actual skills that you want, this works well. But if you're throwing out maths puzzles when you actually want people to write Java
by AndrewDucker 15y ago
Providing you're testing the actual skills that you want, this works well.
But if you're throwing out maths puzzles when you actually want people to write Java business logic then I can see you ending up with the wrong people.
- yummyfajitas 15y agoThe math puzzle we used required only prime numbers and modular arithmetic. Any competent programmer could wikipedia it and solve in 20-30 minutes (and many did).
- Jach 15y agoIt seems like this criticism should apply to FizzBuzz too, and that's why I'm inclined to dismiss it. (Specifically: how often does a Java business logic programmer invoke the modulus operator?) But I think I would agree with a more general point of avoiding difficult Project Euler style problems in favor of simpler ones that nevertheless need a written program to solve (or hardcore paper and pencil math skills).
- DanBC 15y agoFizzBuzz isn't about creating a correct compilable piece of software in a particular language. FizzBuzz is useful for finding the people who cannot even begin the problem; the people who couldn't craft even a vague approach in pseudocode. Some people can't sketch out a few loops and modulus tests. You know that the person who isn't sure of the precise syntax of a modulus operator can pick it up. You also know that the person who is baffled by FizzBuzz probably will need too much hand-holding.