Distinguished Software Engineer, Systems Infrastructure

LinkedIn

Let's dive into C++ and networking concepts, followed by a concurrency coding challenge. Part 1: C++ and Networking Fundamentals Explain the difference between TCP and UDP. Provide examples of applications that would be best suited for each protocol. For instance, why is TCP preferred for web browsing, while UDP is often used for online gaming? Describe the OSI model. What is the purpose of each layer, and how does data travel from the application layer on one machine to the application layer on another? What are sockets? Explain how they are used to establish network connections in C++. Provide a simple code example demonstrating how to create a socket and listen for incoming connections. Explain the concept of network address translation (NAT). How does NAT allow multiple devices on a private network to share a single public IP address? Discuss different types of network topologies. What are the advantages and disadvantages of star, bus, ring, and mesh topologies? Part 2: Concurrency Coding Challenge Implement a thread-safe queue in C++. The queue should support the following operations: enqueue(item): Adds an item to the back of the queue. dequeue(): Removes and returns the item at the front of the queue. If the queue is empty, it should block until an item becomes available. size(): Returns the number of items in the queue. Your implementation should be robust and handle concurrent access from multiple threads without data corruption or race conditions. Explain the synchronization primitives you have used (e.g., mutexes, condition variables) and why you chose them. Provide a basic example demonstrating how multiple threads can enqueue and dequeue items from your thread-safe queue concurrently.

LinkedIn

Let's design the LinkedIn feed. Consider the user experience, key features, scalability, and personalization aspects. For instance, how would you prioritize content from connections versus suggested content? How would you handle different content types like text, images, videos, and articles? How do you design a system to ensure that the feed remains responsive even with millions of active users? How would you personalize the feed to show users content they are most likely interested in, and what data would you use to achieve this personalization? Finally, how would you prevent the spread of misinformation or harmful content within the feed?

LinkedIn

Tell me about a time you faced a difficult conflict at work and how you handled it. To give me a clearer picture, please include the following details: Describe the situation: What was the specific conflict or difficulty you encountered? What were the core issues at stake? Identify the parties involved: Who were the individuals or groups involved in the conflict? What were their perspectives and motivations? Explain your role: What was your role in the situation? Were you a direct participant, a mediator, or an observer? Outline the actions you took: What specific steps did you take to address the conflict? Did you try to negotiate, compromise, or escalate the issue? Explain the outcome: What was the final result of your actions? Was the conflict resolved successfully, or were there any lingering issues? Reflect on the lessons learned: What did you learn from this experience? Would you have handled anything differently in retrospect?