Software Engineering, Platform Modernization Engineering - L5

Netflix

How can you execute threads A, B, and C in a specific sequence using multithreading?

Netflix

Let's design a tool to evaluate GitHub repositories based on metrics like stars and forks. Functionality:** The tool should: Fetch data from the GitHub API (stars, forks, open issues, contributors, etc.) for a given repository. Calculate a popularity score based on a weighted combination of these metrics. For example, stars might have a higher weight than open issues. Allow users to compare multiple repositories side-by-side. Present the data in a clear and visual way (charts, graphs, tables). Allow users to customize the weights used in the popularity score calculation. Handle API rate limiting gracefully (e.g., caching, authentication). Include features for trending topics/repositories. Example:** A user wants to compare the popularity of facebook/react versus angular/angular. They should be able to enter these repositories into the tool and see a comparison table showing the number of stars, forks, open issues, and the calculated popularity score for each. The user should also be able to adjust the weight given to stars in the popularity score to see how it affects the overall ranking. Consider additional features like displaying the rate of growth over the last month/year. What are the key components, architecture, and considerations for building such a tool, and what technologies would you choose and why?

Netflix

Tell me about the most challenging product you've ever worked on. To fully explain the challenges, please address the following points: Describe the product: What was its purpose? Who was the target audience? What key features did it have? Explain the challenges: What specific technical or non-technical hurdles did you face during its development or maintenance? For example, did you struggle with scalability, performance, security, ambiguous requirements, tight deadlines, or limited resources? Be specific. Discuss your role: What were your responsibilities within the team? How did your skills and experience contribute to overcoming these challenges? Explain the solutions: What strategies or techniques did you employ to address these challenges? Did you have to learn new technologies, implement innovative solutions, or collaborate with other teams to succeed? Provide concrete examples. Describe the outcome: What was the result of your efforts? Did you successfully overcome the challenges? What impact did the product have on the users or the business? What lessons did you learn from this experience? For instance, imagine you were developing a real-time data analytics platform for a financial institution. A significant challenge was processing and analyzing massive volumes of data with low latency. You might discuss how you implemented distributed computing techniques, optimized database queries, and worked with data scientists to develop efficient algorithms. Or perhaps you were building a mobile app for a healthcare provider, and you struggled with ensuring patient data privacy and security. You could explain how you implemented end-to-end encryption, followed strict security protocols, and conducted thorough security audits. Or maybe you were tasked with modernizing a legacy system, and you encountered compatibility issues and resistance to change. You could describe how you carefully planned the migration process, communicated the benefits of the new system to stakeholders, and provided training to users.