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If you put an O(N^2) algorithm in production, you'll kill whatever relies on it. If that's our funnel, we're out of business. If its our DB, it'll go on fire. N
by pbiggar 14y ago
If you put an O(N^2) algorithm in production, you'll kill whatever relies on it. If that's our funnel, we're out of business. If its our DB, it'll go on fire. Not being able to reason about complexity is a no-hire for me.
- boyter 14y agoThat's only for cases of N over some value. An O(N^2) algorithm over a list of 10 is not going to break anything. I didn't mention not being able to reason out the complexity, only saying its O(N^2) off the top of your head when presented with some method.
- rhizome 14y agoShouldn't it be OK to have a knowledge of programming that doesn't derive from the theoretical canon? You can learn programming concepts in the context of "not killing the whatever-is-relying-on-it." To be sure, not being able to reason outside of the canon is a long-standing occupational hazard and trait of the humanities, so there could be something a little more pathological in perpetuating these interviewing techniques.