NYCPHP Meetup

[Ben Sgro (ProjectSkyLine)]

Hey again,

"I think 150 lines is huge, I want to do it in two. =D"
heh.

"Although,  when would anyone want to switch variable values? Just use the 
one that
 already has the right value. Saves three lines of code!"

Good point. I just liked the question because it makes them think.

"My record is currently at 761 lines for a script including comments and
 empty lines. I think 150 isn't huge.".

So what did you do in those 761L?

That script I showed is actually:

[sk at tinman dmiid]$ cat mine.php | wc -l
125

Only 125L of code. You can view it here:
http://www.projectskyline.com/phplist/mine.txt

Its a datamining script.

"I wish I could spend more time on learning PHP."
Me too. Right now I'm working through, 'PHP5 Objects, Patterns and 
Practice",
& 'The PEAR Installer Manifesto'. <-- Is pretty neat so far...I'm curious 
about
using phing and the pear channels for distributing applications and 
application
updates. Oh, and not to mention 'Pro PHP Security'.

I should buy some stock in bookpool & Apress! heh.

- Ben

Ben Sgro, Chief Engineer
ProjectSkyLine - Defining New Horizons
+1 718.487.9368 (N.Y. Office)

Our company: www.projectskyline.com
Our products: www.project-contact.com

This e-mail is confidential information intended only for the use of the 
individual to whom it is addressed.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Krings" <ramons at gmx.net>
To: "NYPHP Talk" <talk at lists.nyphp.org>
Sent: Saturday, July 07, 2007 8:05 PM
Subject: Re: [nycphp-talk] Questions to ask at a job interview?


> Ben Sgro (ProjectSkyLine) wrote:
>> Hey again,
>>
>> So, I had a string of interviews over the last two weeks.
>>
>> I have just hired one candidate that I believe will be a good addition to 
>> our company.
>>
>> I ended up using the Joel Spolsky (or whoever coined this) question:
>>
>> I have two variables and I want to switch their values.
>>
>> Some candidates totaly froze, and other's got it quickly.
>
> I'd use a third variable to keep a copy of one variable before basically 
> making both the same first and then assigning the saved to copy to the 
> originally uncopied variable.
> Did I get hired?
> No! Well, unless you are desparate...
> Thanks to Google I now know the answer:
> $x = $x xor $y;
> $y = $x xor $y;
> $x = $x xor $y;
>
> I guess this shows that I have no formal programming training. Although, 
> when would anyone want to switch variable values? Just use the one that 
> already has the right value. Saves three lines of code! Same amount of 
> lines is used with a helper variable, but the xor stuff uses less memory.
>
>> I also showed some source code, a *small* 150L script, and asked them 
>> what it did.
>>
>> Not only was it commented, but the function & variable names are 
>> extremely obvious.
>
> Mind sharing that test script with me (us)? I simply want to know how good 
> or bad I am.
>
>> Some looked in awe and said, "this is a small script?" while some took a 
>> few minutes
>> and looked over the code, then attempted to explaint to me what it did.
>>
>
> My record is currently at 761 lines for a script including comments and 
> empty lines. I think 150 isn't huge.
>
>> Overall, it was a great experiance. I look forward to finding new talent 
>> to add to our growing
>> company.
>>
>> Thanks for all the responses and feedback!
>>
>> - Ben
>
> Thanks for asking and sharing with us. And for giving a PHP beginner an 
> awesome opportunity to pick up some more skill. I wish I could spend more 
> time on learning PHP.
>
>
> David
>
>
> David
>
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