> On Fri, 21 Sep 2007 15:40:24 +0200, Frans Bouma <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> >> Well, if it's for a junior programmer they might not have a lot of design
> >> experience, so asking them to solve a coding problem working it out in
front
> >> of you, and thinking out loud, will reveal a lot about how they think. So
I
> >> wouldn't call this "stupid" (in fact I think that's uncalled for).
> >
> > The tests are IMHO stupid because they:
> >1) could make you not pick the one you should because the daily work the
hire
> >will do is different than writing little routines which are already in the
> >framework
does the question get harder if a method doesn't exist in the framework?
I think your employee will write code ON TOP OF the framework, not the
framework code itself or tiny routines already there. So code working with the
framework is often different than code which should be in the framework or a
tiny routine.
(your example was in fact *not* an example or reversing a string in place)
Indeed. I didn't do it in place. But it's not possible to do it in
place, as in C# strings are immutable. :) Did you think of that btw?
So I failed your test and you would not hire me. See how silly this
is? :)
> >2) could make you pick the wrong person because you think his string
reversal
> >goo was excellent while he'll fail miserably designing some classes or
writing
> >some basic OO code.
>
> the point is if he *cannot* write the function......if he cannot reverse a
> simple string then what does that tell us?
that he can't reverse a string. Though I don't think the person would
draw a complete blank stare, so there will be thoughts of solutions. THOSE
will tell you more. I'm with Per, you should talk about various .net elements
instead.
> Again it would seem to be the claim there is no correlation between
> programming and the application of basic algorithms.
programming is about writing algorithms, not about typing code. So I
don't think I can agree with your conclusion that I would claim what you say I
claim. All I say is that if you test a person if s/he can cook up a given
algorithm that it would tell anything. I say: no that doesn't say anything.
FB
===================================
This list is hosted by DevelopMentor® http://www.develop.com
View archives and manage your subscription(s) at http://discuss.develop.com
