Are Interviews really language agnostic? Companies say that you can code in any language for you interview. But in recent job postings such as Lyft or Facebook they specifically require that you know C++. For these roles can I still interview in Python? How would they know that I'm good at C++ then?
Depends on the company, depends on the interview.
I guess I'm weird. Because I'm one of the few who feel they can code much faster in C++ than in Python.
How is the interview process at cruise? I see a lot of c++ jobs. Do you have to use c++ for those interviews?
Similar to other places. C++ is required only for very specific teams.
If the job requires C/C++, the coding interviews are going to be in C++. C++ isn't like other languages, it requires a more detailed understanding of how the machine works. Part of the interview is determining if you have this skill set. Pointers, memory management, the cost of allocations, smart pointers, bit manipulation, class structures and virtual function calls. The ability to implement core data structures when needed (especially in a no STL allowed type role.)
Interviews are language agnostic but while making a borderline hiring decisions they'll say "This guy doesn't have enough experience in Node.js which we use so let's not hire him".
Break the wheel: design your own language on the fly and code in it
Most online programming challenges require maps to succeed. If you are coding on coderpad imho python is definitely the most productive platform, although I've seen one candidate succeed in Java. I've seen failures in C++, JavaScript, etc.
If c/c++ is a hard requirement, I’ll ask a screener question about pointers
I see. So you would do that and then proceed with Python for algo questions? I am primarily a C++ user but have been finding that leetcoding is way easier in Python.
Or stick with c++ until the whiteboard onsite