I have stripe onsite coming up in a week. I have been using python for all leetcode type interviews but at work I use java. Recruiter was recommending that I should use java since I use that for work but now when I am trying to solve questions in java, it's taking me much longer to solve. I think java might be helpful in debugging rounds and integration rounds given my daily work is in java but I don't have a good way to assess how will I do with python in those. Inputs are welcome, specially what would be the drawback of using python in debugging and integration rounds? Yoe: 8 TC: 320k #interview #software #swe
There are different expectations of how far you’ll get by language. Yes Python is easier because it’s fewer loc but we’ll also expect you to get farther to pass the minimum bar. Go with the one that you’re strongest in.
Thanks for the insight. I would say python would be strong in terms of speed and data structure familiarity, I wasn't sure how well I would do with debugging and integration rounds. Since, haven't done any interviews like that. Regarding knowing libraries, I guess json and http are the ones I would need and for python it's pretty simple.
Personally I wouldn’t expect a candidate to complete less due to their choice of language. It’s your choice so you get to choose what you work fastest in. Java is much more verbose and people often run into silly things like importing the right namespaces and using the right public static final throws blahblah keywords. Also no REPL. But using a language you don’t know well will also cause problems. One sidetrack Java candidates run into is their code does not return the expected result, then they spend like 10 minutes trying to print the contents of a list or a hashmap or something. Please know your way around collections
Good to have this perspective as well. Yes, I also think java is too verbose for interviews and only way to make up for speed is to heavily rely on IDE auto completes. Even like creating test cases are time consuming, simple map initialization takes too many lines of code. Definitely helpful comments
Are most phone screen problems the same?
In my experience, whatever gives you the shortest loop of thoughts to working code is what you should go with. So I’d probably say Python if you can work faster in it. Just learn the Python debugging tooling equivalents for what you use in Java.
Just curious do u guys use Java a lot
We don't use it a lot @gzz235 but some hipster team decided we should migrate everything over to Java and MySQL. so now that's happening. All new products are unfortunately being written in old versions of Java
I recommend using python since you can achieve more within short timing of interview
How many steps are there in a normal question? How many are you expected to get through?
Tech Industry
3d
63201
Crossed a line with my boss
Today I Learned
Yesterday
663
How many books do you usually read in a year?
Tech Industry
Yesterday
1421
Women, help me understand why this is inspirational
Health & Wellness
Yesterday
450
Lasik cost
Tech Industry
Yesterday
2485
What happens when most of your team is Indian?
Use whatever you feel more comfortable with. I would go with python in your case as it turns to less LOC and you could finish the solution faster
Thanks, that's what I was thinking too but wanted to get some opinions from people from stripe, on what are the pros and cons of rounds other than algorithms one.