[vvanders]

Agreed, a good interview question is also a springboard to a discussion of engineering practices related to the problem.

[LoSboccacc]

The only work environment viable engineering answer is to get a library to solve whatever the problem at hand.

At best a top candidate should be able to turn a whitepaper into working code. Knowing trivia rarely translate in solid, productive teams.

Very, very few companies are pushing the what's known barrier.