Round 1
Questions:
Implement the function getTotalCount(int numDocs), which returns the total number of words in documents with ID numbers in the range [0, numDocs).
//You have the following API available to retrieve the number of words in a document. //Runs a job on machine with 'machineId' to count the words in document with 'docId' public CWFuture countWords(int machineId, int docId); // Class CWFuture class CWFuture { // Blocks until the operation has completed and a result is available, and returns the result. int join(); // Returns whether or not the operation has completed. boolean isDone(); }
Candidate's Approach
The candidate discussed constraints and edge cases for the problem. After receiving approval for the initial solution, they coded it and addressed follow-up questions regarding limited machines and optimizing for multiple machines with the same ID. The candidate proposed reusing duplicate machine IDs to handle document processing efficiently.
Interviewer's Feedback
The candidate received feedback indicating a rejection based on:
- Not providing edge cases (the candidate believes they did).
- Concerns about time management and not finishing coding quickly enough (the candidate felt they managed their time well).
- Optimization issues (the candidate had asked for clarifications and made optimizations during follow-ups).
The candidate felt the feedback was generic and unfair, suggesting a bias in the interview process.