[patrick451]

This seems like an uninteresting test. Nobody (almost) is implementing sorting algorithms in their day job. We use libraries. It's like asking people who claim to not struggle with driving basics to change their spark plugs and saying "aha, I new you were an idiot".

[josephg]

It seems pretty indicative to me. Bubble sort is a simple idea that I understand conceptually but haven’t written the code for yet. That summarises most of my job. And yet, 30 years in, I still make stupid mistakes all the time.

I think the difference between professional engineers and person writing the blog isn’t necessarily skill. I think it’s how we react when we make mistakes. Maybe the real test of a programmer is watching how calmly they can write their buggy bubble sort, then test it and fix the bugs. Bugs happen. How we roll with the punches is what makes some people great.

[jdefr89]

Yes but it is basic in the sense that it’s one of the first couple algorithms/data structs mostly everyone has been exposed to. Many knowing what they are and the general principle of how and why they work. That is exactly my point though.. Like what do we consider “basic” exactly? That line becomes blurry in any complex field…

[patrick451]

If you don't use something, you forget it. Nobody is writing these algorithms in their job. If you did, it will get flagged in code review, the same way rolling your own crypto does. Which is why I think it's unreasonable to expect people to remember how to implement them off the top of their head.