Watch your Language

Pick One Language for the Interview

You can use a language you are comfortable in to do the coding part of the interview, but for large companies, these are solid choices:

• C++

• Java

• Python

You could also use these, but read around first. There may be caveats:

• JavaScript

• Ruby

Here is an article I found about choosing a language for the interview: Pick One Language for the Coding Interview.

You need to be very comfortable in the language and be knowledgeable.

Read more about choices:

• http://www.byte-by-byte.com/choose-the-right-language-for-your-coding-interview/

• http://blog.codingforinterviews.com/best-programming-language-jobs/

See language resources here

You'll see some C, C++, and Python learning included below, because I'm learning. There are a few books involved, see the bottom.

Book List

This is a shorter list than what I used. This is abbreviated to save you time.

Interview Prep

• Programming Interviews Exposed: Coding Your Way Through the Interview, 4th Edition

  • answers in C++ and Java

  • this is a good warm-up for Cracking the Coding Interview

  • not too difficult, most problems may be easier than what you'll see in an interview (from what I've read)

• Cracking the Coding Interview, 6th Edition

  • answers in Java

If you have tons of extra time:

Choose one:

• Elements of Programming Interviews (C++ version)

• Elements of Programming Interviews in Python

• Elements of Programming Interviews (Java version)

  • book

  • Companion Project - Method Stub and Test Cases for Every Problem in the Book

Language Specific

You need to choose a language for the interview (see above).

Here are my recommendations by language. I don't have resources for all languages. I welcome additions.

If you read through one of these, you should have all the data structures and algorithms knowledge you'll need to start doing coding problems. You can skip all the video lectures in this project, unless you'd like a review.

Additional language-specific resources here.

C++

I haven't read these two, but they are highly rated and written by Sedgewick. He's awesome.

• Algorithms in C++, Parts 1-4: Fundamentals, Data Structure, Sorting, Searching

• Algorithms in C++ Part 5: Graph Algorithms

• Open Data Structures in C++

  • Rich and detailed collection of Data Structures and Algorithms

  • Great for first-timers

If you have a better recommendation for C++, please let me know. Looking for a comprehensive resource.

Java

• Algorithms (Sedgewick and Wayne)

  • videos with book content (and Sedgewick!) on coursera:

    • Algorithms I

    • Algorithms II

OR:

• Data Structures and Algorithms in Java

  • by Goodrich, Tamassia, Goldwasser

  • used as optional text for CS intro course at UC Berkeley

  • see my book report on the Python version below. This book covers the same topics

Python

• Data Structures and Algorithms in Python

  • by Goodrich, Tamassia, Goldwasser

  • I loved this book. It covered everything and more

  • Pythonic code

  • I found a book report: https://startupnextdoor.com/book-report-data-structures-and-algorithms-in-python/

• Open Data Structures in Python