[ale] [SEMI-OT] Skills for programmers/engineers?

[Rev. Johnny Healey]

I wouldn't say that I compute big O for every function that I write, but
when I do need something that has to be low latency or working on a large
dataset, then it does become practical to start thinking about what data
structures will grant optimal performance and/or memory scalability. It's
also very useful to understand this terminology for discussing scalability
with coworkers. Telling someone that "the code now runs 10 times faster" is
not nearly as informative as saying "It was running in n squared time but
is now n log n".

I've found this particularly useful when trying to figure out why certain
non-trivial SQL joins behave poorly. Often huge gains can be achieved
without resorting to hackish things like indexing everything or
denormalization.

-Johnny


On Mon, Jan 27, 2014 at 12:33 PM, James Sumners <james.sumners at gmail.com>wrote:

> Are you hiring programmers or computer scientists? Last time I used
> Big-O notation was around 1999 when took two introduction to computer
> science courses (the only such courses I have ever taken). In my
> day-to-day work, I use it not at all.
>
> On Mon, Jan 27, 2014 at 12:16 PM, Rev. Johnny Healey <rev.null at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> > When I have done interviews in the past, I usually would expect the
> > candidate to be able to implement a short algorithm (in their language of
> > choice or pseudocode) and express the runtime in Big-O notation.
> >
> > -Johnny
> >
> >
> > On Mon, Jan 27, 2014 at 9:03 AM, leam hall <leamhall at gmail.com> wrote:
> >>
> >> A question has been popping up in a few places and your thoughts would
> >> be welcome.
> >>
> >> If someone applies for a programming job in language "X"; what other
> >> measurable skills and resume bullets should they have? For example:
> >>
> >> 1. Code in a public repository in language X
> >> 2. Skill in version control
> >> 3. If X is a web language, then a framework.
> >> 4. If X is an object oriented language, then OOP skills.
> >>
> >> Not being a real programmer I'm trying to build my goal list and path.
> >> Have also seen others who are  needing the same information.
> >>
> >> Thoughts?
> >>
> >> Leam
> >>
> >>
> >> --
> >> Mind on a Mission
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> >
> >
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>
>
>
> --
> James Sumners
> http://james.roomfullofmirrors.com/
>
> "All governments suffer a recurring problem: Power attracts
> pathological personalities. It is not that power corrupts but that it
> is magnetic to the corruptible. Such people have a tendency to become
> drunk on violence, a condition to which they are quickly addicted."
>
> Missionaria Protectiva, Text QIV (decto)
> CH:D 59
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