[sjtindell]

Yeah I don’t intend to put down leetcode or algorithms and data structures that are the foundation of the work we do. I agree there is a difference between the level of programmer who calls sort() and the level of programmer who has to implement sort() for their service. But I’ve found that these tests, although grounded in something useful like you say, have become a sort of easy out for a class of interviewers. You can tell this live - the good kind will accept mistaken syntax as long as your algorithm is right, you try to handle edge cases, etc. and the other kind I call excellent sheep will only accept one particular path because their very mentality is rote and by the book. It’s become its own entire interview metagame because of those people. Rather than for the application or the deeper knowledge it might indicate, this test is given because it’s all the interviewer knows! I like your point about the value of a 1% gain, etc.