These are actually some of the same questions I use when interviewing JavaScript programmers. Particularly the call/apply question, I got a bit of flack on HN a

These are actually some of the same questions I use when interviewing JavaScript programmers. Particularly the call/apply question, I got a bit of flack on HN about that one but I explained it the same way as the author...if they know it, it doesn't tell you much, but if they don't know it, it tells you a lot. I compared it to knowing how to use the parking brake on a car...knowing how to use it tells you nothing, but if someone says they've never had to use it in 10 years of driving, and they don't know what the purpose is, that tells you quite a bit. One person made the point that he avoids apply because of IE6 compatibility. While I disagreed that IE6 should be a consideration for any modern programmer, that would be acceptable to know what apply is and how it is used, but to avoid it in practice, but to not even know what it is would be a red flag for me.