[BoysenberryPi]

>boasting a big resume but unable to tell a mutex from a semaphore

Is it bad that I have no idea what either of those are?

[dmlittle]

I'd say it depends what you're focusing on. If you're doing anything that is multi-threading, then yes. Otherwise, it's just not something you'd use but probably interesting to know ;)

[brockwhittaker]

No. The example is entirely arbitrary. A web JavaScript developer probably doesn't need to ever know the difference between those two...

[endisukaj]

A programmer must have heard of them and know at least some superficial difference. A cardiologist probably knows the different parts of a kidney and how they work.

[flukus]

Only if you claim to be experienced in building distributed, multi threaded systems.