[ashr]

It is unfortunate that instead of turning into a discussion about how to excel in an algorithms interview (which is what the original post is about) this thread has wandered into whether it is useful to even learn algorithms.

What a waste!

[mcantor]

Maybe 50% of the replies to my OP involve the importance of algorithmic fluency; the rest of the posts in this sub-thread are all delightful suggestions about which books to read and how to fit algorithms into one's learning habits even if they weren't already there.

And what is wrong with one sub-thread dipping into an utterly related topic? Are you suggesting that no discussion should ever shift from one aspect of a topic to another? Or are you suggesting that every programmer, anywhere, ever, should obviously learn algorithms until they are completely fluent? Both of those are baffling to me, as the former would be a completely unstated expectation in the entirety of internet discussion forums, and the latter is what we are discussing in this sub-thread!

This is one of the most interesting threads I have ever read on Hacker News. It contains a fantastic breadth of perspectives and has remained admirably civil and candid. I've had 2 people e-mail me just based on this thread, and I've purchased two books just based on this thread. I take umbrage that you would call it a waste.