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coding-interview-university/plan.txt
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##########################################################################################
## How to read this
##########################################################################################
Everything below is an outline, and you should tackle the items in order from top to bottom.
I put an asterisk * at the beginning of a line when I'm done with it. When all sub-items are done,
I put a * at the top level, meaning the entire block is done. Sorry you have to remove all my *
to use this the same way. If you search/replace, there are a couple of places to look out for.
##########################################################################################
## Interview Prep:
##########################################################################################
* - Videos:
* - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWbUtlUhwa8&feature=youtu.be
* - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qc1owf2-220&feature=youtu.be
* - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8npJLXkcmu8
* - Articles:
* - http://www.google.com/about/careers/lifeatgoogle/hiringprocess/
* - http://steve-yegge.blogspot.com/2008/03/get-that-job-at-google.html
- all the things he mentions that you need to know are listed below
* - (very dated) http://dondodge.typepad.com/the_next_big_thing/2010/09/how-to-get-a-job-at-google-interview-questions-hiring-process.html
* - http://sites.google.com/site/steveyegge2/five-essential-phone-screen-questions
Additional (not suggested by Google but I added):
* - https://medium.com/always-be-coding/abc-always-be-coding-d5f8051afce2#.4heg8zvm4
* - https://medium.com/always-be-coding/four-steps-to-google-without-a-degree-8f381aa6bd5e#.asalo1vfx
* - https://medium.com/@dpup/whiteboarding-4df873dbba2e#.hf6jn45g1
* - http://www.kpcb.com/blog/lessons-learned-how-google-thinks-about-hiring-management-and-culture
* - http://www.coderust.com/blog/2014/04/10/effective-whiteboarding-during-programming-interviews/
- Gayle L McDowell - Cracking The Coding Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEJzOhC5ZtQ
- Cracking the Coding Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aClxtDcdpsQ
* - How to Get a Job at the Big 4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJZCUhxNCv8
##########################################################################################
## Knowledge:
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You need to know C, C++, or Java to do the coding part of the interview.
They will sometimes make an exception and let you use Python or some other language, but the language
must be mainstream and allow you write your code low-level enough to solve the problems.
You'll see some C, C++ learning included below.
There are a few books involved, see the bottom
* - how computers process a program:
* - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42KTvGYQYnA
* - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mv2XQgpbTNE
* - Computer Arch Intro:
(first video only - interesting but not required) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLP_X4wyHbY&list=PL5PHm2jkkXmi5CxxI7b3JCL1TWybTDtKq&index=1
* - Parity & Hamming Code:
Parity:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdMcAUlxh1M
Hamming Code:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1A_NcXxdoCc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAMLuxdHH8o
Error Checking:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbH2VxzmoZk
* - C
* - K&R C book (ANSI C)
- C++
* - basics
* - pointers
* - functions
* - references
* - templates
* - compilation
* - scope & linkage
* - namespaces
* - OOP
* - STL
* - functors: http://www.cprogramming.com/tutorial/functors-function-objects-in-c++.html
* - C++ at Google: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOCElcMcFik
* - Google C++ Style Guide: https://google.github.io/styleguide/cppguide.html
- Google uses clang-format (Google setting)
- C++ Core Guidelines: http://isocpp.github.io/CppCoreGuidelines/CppCoreGuidelines
* - Efficiency with Algorithms, Performance with Data Structures: https://youtu.be/fHNmRkzxHWs
- review of C++ concepts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rub-JsjMhWY
* - compilers:
* - https://class.coursera.org/compilers-004/lecture/1
* - https://class.coursera.org/compilers-004/lecture/2
* - C++: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twodd1KFfGk
* - Understanding Compiler Optimization (C++): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnGCDLhaxKU
----------------------------------------------------------------
The Gauntlet:
Each day I take one subject from the list below, watch videos about that subject, and write an implementation in:
C - using structs and functions that take a struct * and something else as args.
C++ - without using built-in types
C++ - using built-in types, like STL's std::list for a linked list
Python - without using built-in types
and write tests to ensure I'm doing it right, keep it simple with just assert() statements
Each subject does not require a whole day to be able to understand it fully.
Why code in all of these?
Practice, practice, practice, until I'm sick of it, and can do it with no problem (some have many edge cases and bookkeeping details to remember)
Work within the raw constraints (allocating/freeing memory without help of garbage collection (except Python))
Make use of built-in types so I have experience using the built-in tools for real-world use (not going to write my own linked list implementation in production)
----------------------------------------------------------------
arrays
No need to spend a whole day on this.
* - Description:
- https://www.coursera.org/learn/data-structures/lecture/OsBSF/arrays
- https://www.coursera.org/learn/data-structures/lecture/EwbnV/dynamic-arrays
- Implement:
- Practice coding using arrays and pointers, and pointer math to jump to an index instead of using indexing.
* - new raw data array with allocated memory (can allocate int array under the hood, just not use its features)
* - size() - number of items
* - capacity() - number of items it can hold
* - is_empty()
- at(index) - returns item at given index
- cannot append or move if full - will not tackle allocating and copying to new memory
- append(item)
- insert(index, item)
- prepend(item) - can use insert above at index 0
- delete(index)
- remove(item)
- find(item)
- Time
- O(1) to add/remove at end (amortized for allocations for more space), index, or update
- O(n) to insert/remove elsewhere
- Space
- contiguous in memory, so proximity helps performance
- space needed = size of object * number of items to store
linked lists
- singly-linked
* - Description: https://www.coursera.org/learn/data-structures/lecture/kHhgK/singly-linked-lists
* - Lynda.com:
- https://www.lynda.com/Developer-Programming-Foundations-tutorials/Introduction-lists/149042/177115-4.html
- https://www.lynda.com/Developer-Programming-Foundations-tutorials/Understanding-basic-list-implementations/149042/177116-4.html
- https://www.lynda.com/Developer-Programming-Foundations-tutorials/Using-singly-doubly-linked-lists/149042/177117-4.html
- https://www.lynda.com/Developer-Programming-Foundations-tutorials/List-support-across-languages/149042/177118-4.html
* - C Code: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QN6FPiD0Gzo
- not the whole video, just portions about Node struct and memory allocation.
* - why you should avoid linked lists:
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQs6IC-vgmo
- implement (with tail pointer), item is the data item in a node:
- push_front
- get_front
- pop_front
- push_back
- get_back
- pop_back
- insert_before(node, item)
- insert_after(node, item)
- size()
- is_empty()
- find(item) - assume each item is unique
- remove(item) - assume each item is unique
- doubly-linked list
- Description: https://www.coursera.org/learn/data-structures/lecture/jpGKD/doubly-linked-lists
- reverse a singly-linked list
stacks
- see: https://class.coursera.org/algs4partI-010/lecture
- https://www.coursera.org/learn/data-structures/lecture/UdKzQ/stacks
queues
- see: https://class.coursera.org/algs4partI-010/lecture
- https://www.coursera.org/learn/data-structures/lecture/EShpq/queues
Vectors
- Vector calculus ?
heaps
- https://www.coursera.org/learn/data-structures/lecture/GRV2q/binary-trees
- min heap
- max heap
Priority Queue
- https://www.coursera.org/learn/data-structures/lecture/2OpTs/introduction
- see: https://class.coursera.org/algs4partI-010/lecture
- https://class.coursera.org/algs4partI-010/lecture/39
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Priority_queue
Disjoint Sets:
- https://www.coursera.org/learn/data-structures/lecture/JssSY/overview
- https://www.coursera.org/learn/data-structures/lecture/Mxu0w/trees
hashtables
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4Kc8xzcA68
- https://class.coursera.org/algs4partI-010/lecture/52
- https://www.coursera.org/learn/data-structures/home/week/3
- see: https://class.coursera.org/algs4partI-010/lecture
- https://www.coursera.org/learn/data-structures-optimizing-performance/lecture/m7UuP/core-hash-tables
- test: implement with only arrays
tries
- https://www.coursera.org/learn/data-structures-optimizing-performance/lecture/08Xyf/core-introduction-to-tries
Circular buffer/FIFO:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circular_buffer
Bit operations
- count on bits
- https://youtu.be/Hzuzo9NJrlc
- max run of off bits
- bit shifting
binary search
Sorting
- no bubble sort - it's terrible
- at least one n*log(n) sorting algorithm, preferably two (say, quicksort and merge sort)
- Which algorithms can be used on lists? Which on arrays? Which on both? Is Quicksort stable?
- algos:
- mergesort
- quicksort
Caches
- LRU cache
Trees
- https://www.coursera.org/learn/data-structures-optimizing-performance/lecture/ovovP/core-trees
- see: https://class.coursera.org/algs4partI-010/lecture
- basic tree construction
- traversal
- manipulation algorithms
- binary search trees BSTs
- https://www.coursera.org/learn/data-structures/lecture/E7cXP/introduction
- applications:
- https://class.coursera.org/algs4partI-010/lecture/57
- n-ary trees
- trie-trees
- at least one type of balanced binary tree (and know how it's implemented):
- red/black tree
- https://class.coursera.org/algs4partI-010/lecture/50
- splay trees
- https://www.coursera.org/learn/data-structures/lecture/O9nZ6/splay-trees
- AVL trees
- https://www.coursera.org/learn/data-structures/lecture/Qq5E0/avl-trees
- https://www.coursera.org/learn/data-structures/lecture/PKEBC/avl-tree-implementation
- https://www.coursera.org/learn/data-structures/lecture/22BgE/split-and-merge
- 2-3 Search Trees
- https://class.coursera.org/algs4partI-010/lecture/49
- B-Trees:
- https://class.coursera.org/algs4partI-010/lecture/51
- BFS (breadth-first search)
- DFS (depth-first search)
- know the difference between
- inorder
- postorder
- preorder
Graphs:
There are three basic ways to represent a graph in memory:
- objects and pointers
- matrix
- adjacency list
- familiarize yourself with each representation and its pros & cons
- BFS and DFS - know their computational complexity, their tradeoffs, and how to implement them in real code
- If you get a chance, try to study up on fancier algorithms:
- Dijkstra
- A*
- when asked a question, look for a graph-based solution first, then move on if none.
Other data structures:
- You should study up on as many other data structures and algorithms as possible
- You should especially know about the most famous classes of NP-complete problems, such as traveling salesman and the knapsack problem, and be able to recognize them when an interviewer asks you them in disguise.
- Know what NP-complete means.
Recursion
- when it is appropriate to use it
Algorithmic complexity
open-ended problems
- manipulate strings
- manipulate patterns
design patterns:
- strategy
- singleton
- adapter
- prototype
- decorator
- visitor
- factory
Combinatorics (n choose k)
Probability
Dynamic Programming
Processes, Threads, Concurrency issues
- difference: https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-difference-between-a-process-and-a-thread
- threads: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5jc9xFGsL8E12so1wlMS0r0hTQoJL74M
- stopped here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_N0B5ua7oN8&list=PL5jc9xFGsL8E12so1wlMS0r0hTQoJL74M&index=4
- locks
- mutexes
- semaphores
- monitors
- how they work
- deadlock
- livelock
Process resource needs
Thread resource needs
Modern concurrency constructs with multicore processors
Context switching
- How context switching is initiated by the operating system and underlying hardware
Scheduling
Weighted random sampling
Implement system routines
Distill large data sets to single values
Transform one data set to another
Handling obscenely large amounts of data
System design:
- features sets
- interfaces
- class hierarchies
- designing a system under certain constraints
- simplicity and robustness
- tradeoffs
Performance analysis and optimization
Familiarize yourself with unix-based souped-up code editor: emacs & vi(m)
vi(m):
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5givLEMcINQ&index=1&list=PL13bz4SHGmRxlZVmWQ9DvXo1fEg4UdGkr
- set of 4:
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SI8TeVMX8pk
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3OO7ZIOaJE
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYEccA_nMaI
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lYD5gwgZIA
emacs:
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbmV1bnQ-i0
- set of 3:
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujODL7MD04Q
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWpsRupJ4II
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paSgzPso-yc
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWD1Fpdd4Pc
Testing
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Extras that can't hurt:
Information theory:
- Markov processes:
- https://www.coursera.org/learn/data-structures-optimizing-performance/lecture/waxgx/core-markov-text-generation
- https://www.coursera.org/learn/data-structures-optimizing-performance/lecture/gZhiC/core-implementing-markov-text-generation
- https://www.khanacademy.org/computing/computer-science/informationtheory/moderninfotheory/v/symbol-rate-information-theory
- includes Markov chain
Bloom Filter
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SuTGoFYjZs
- http://blog.michaelschmatz.com/2016/04/11/how-to-write-a-bloom-filter-cpp/
Fast Fourier Transform
- http://jakevdp.github.io/blog/2013/08/28/understanding-the-fft/
C (for basis of C)
C++ (for interview answers)
Machine Learning:
- http://www.analyticsvidhya.com/blog/2016/04/neural-networks-python-theano/
- review videos
- intro in Goodreader on iPad
- http://www.dataschool.io/
---
Be thinking of for when the interview comes:
Think of about 20 interview questions you'll get, along the lines of the items below:
have 2-3 answers for each
Have a story, not just data, about something you accomplished
Why do you want this job?
What's a tough problem you've solved?
Biggest challenges faced
Best/worst designs seen
Ideas for improving an existing Google product
How do you work best, as an individual and as part of a team?
Which of your skills or experiences would be assets in the role and why?
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## Videos:
##########################################################################################
6.042: Math for CS (25 videos):
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3LMbpZIKhQ&list=PLB7540DEDD482705B
6.006: Intro to Algorithms (47 videos):
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtSuA80QTyo&list=PLUl4u3cNGP61Oq3tWYp6V_F-5jb5L2iHb&nohtml5=False
6.033: Computer System Engineering (22 videos):
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zm2VP0kHl1M&list=PL6535748F59DCA484
6.046: Design and Analysis of Algorithms (34 videos):
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2P-yW7LQr08&list=PLUl4u3cNGP6317WaSNfmCvGym2ucw3oGp
6.851: Advanced Data Structures (22 videos):
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0yzrZL1py0&list=PLUl4u3cNGP61hsJNdULdudlRL493b-XZf
Stanford: Programming Paradigms (17 videos)
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTSvthW34GU&list=PLC0B8B318B7394B6F&nohtml5=False
##########################################################################################
## Articles:
##########################################################################################
- https://www.topcoder.com/community/data-science/data-science-tutorials/the-importance-of-algorithms/
- http://highscalability.com/blog/2016/4/4/how-to-remove-duplicates-in-a-large-dataset-reducing-memory.html
- http://highscalability.com/blog/2016/3/23/what-does-etsys-architecture-look-like-today.html
- http://highscalability.com/blog/2016/3/21/to-compress-or-not-to-compress-that-was-ubers-question.html
- http://highscalability.com/blog/2016/3/3/asyncio-tarantool-queue-get-in-the-queue.html
- http://highscalability.com/blog/2016/2/25/when-should-approximate-query-processing-be-used.html
- http://highscalability.com/blog/2016/2/23/googles-transition-from-single-datacenter-to-failover-to-a-n.html
- http://highscalability.com/blog/2016/2/15/egnyte-architecture-lessons-learned-in-building-and-scaling.html
- http://highscalability.com/blog/2016/2/1/a-patreon-architecture-short.html
- http://highscalability.com/blog/2016/1/27/tinder-how-does-one-of-the-largest-recommendation-engines-de.html
- http://highscalability.com/blog/2016/1/25/design-of-a-modern-cache.html
- http://highscalability.com/blog/2016/1/13/live-video-streaming-at-facebook-scale.html
- http://highscalability.com/blog/2016/1/11/a-beginners-guide-to-scaling-to-11-million-users-on-amazons.html
- http://highscalability.com/blog/2015/12/16/how-does-the-use-of-docker-effect-latency.html
- http://highscalability.com/blog/2015/12/14/does-amp-counter-an-existential-threat-to-google.html
- http://highscalability.com/blog/2015/11/9/a-360-degree-view-of-the-entire-netflix-stack.html
##########################################################################################
## Papers:
##########################################################################################
Computing Weak Consistency in Polynomial Time
- http://delivery.acm.org/10.1145/2770000/2767407/p395-golab.pdf?ip=104.200.154.80&id=2767407&acc=OA&key=4D4702B0C3E38B35%2E4D4702B0C3E38B35%2E4D4702B0C3E38B35%2E5945DC2EABF3343C&CFID=769944592&CFTOKEN=71654301&__acm__=1460506755_42d28e3f230cc8e733e2e9ed1ebe3605
How Developers Search for Code: A Case Study
- http://static.googleusercontent.com/media/research.google.com/en//pubs/archive/43835.pdf
Borg, Omega, and Kubernetes
- http://static.googleusercontent.com/media/research.google.com/en//pubs/archive/44843.pdf
Continuous Pipelines at Google
- http://static.googleusercontent.com/media/research.google.com/en//pubs/archive/43790.pdf
AddressSanitizer: A Fast Address Sanity Checker
- http://static.googleusercontent.com/media/research.google.com/en//pubs/archive/37752.pdf
##########################################################################################
## Books:
##########################################################################################
Mentioned in Coaching:
The Algorithm Design Manual
http://www.amazon.com/Algorithm-Design-Manual-Steven-Skiena/dp/1849967202
Algorithms and Programming: Problems and Solutions:
http://www.amazon.com/Algorithms-Programming-Solutions-Alexander-Shen/dp/0817638474
Read first:
Programming Interviews Exposed: Secrets to Landing Your Next Job, 2nd Edition:
http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-047012167X.html
Read second:
Cracking the Coding Interview, Fourth Edition:
- http://www.amazon.com/Cracking-Coding-Interview-6th-Programming/dp/0984782850/
Additional (not suggested by Google but I added):
* - C Programming Language, Vol 2
* - C++ Primer Plus, 6th Edition
Programming Pearls:
- http://www.amazon.com/Programming-Pearls-2nd-Jon-Bentley/dp/0201657880
If you see people reference "The Google Resume", it was replaced by "Cracking the Coding Interview".
Clean Code
Code Complete
Introduction to Algorithms
##########################################################################################
## Coding exercises/challenges:
##########################################################################################
- https://courses.csail.mit.edu/iap/interview/materials.php
Recommended: LeetCode: https://leetcode.com/
TopCoder: https://www.topcoder.com/
More:
HackerRank: https://www.hackerrank.com/
Codility: https://codility.com/programmers/
Project Euler: https://projecteuler.net/index.php?section=problems
InterviewCake: https://www.interviewcake.com/
InterviewBit: https://www.interviewbit.com/invite/icjf
##########################################################################################
## Code References:
##########################################################################################
For review questions in C book:
https://github.com/lekkas/c-algorithms
##########################################################################################
## Once you've got the job (this is mainly for me):
##########################################################################################
C++ Talks at CPPCon:
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEx5DNLWGgA&index=2&list=PLHTh1InhhwT75gykhs7pqcR_uSiG601oh
Compilers:
- https://class.coursera.org/compilers-004/lecture
Computer and processor architecture:
- https://class.coursera.org/comparch-003/lecture
Long series of C++ videos:
- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfVsf4Bjg79Cu5MYkyJ-u4SyQmMhFeC1C
##########################################################################################
## Done. ##
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