SRE interviews include algorithmic problems, but simpler than SWE interviews.
Common patterns:
- String manipulation: Parse, split, join
- Hash maps: Count occurrences, group by key
- Sorting: Top N items, order by criteria
- Basic graphs: Dependencies, reachability
Less common in SRE:
- Complex dynamic programming
- Advanced tree algorithms
- Competitive programming tricks
Approach:
. Clarify the problem and constraints . Think of a straightforward solution first . Consider edge cases . Optimize if needed (but working code first)
Interview tip: Focus on correctness over clever optimizations.