Cracking The Coding Interview
by Gayle Laakmann McDowell · first published 2010
37% recommend52% neutral11% critical
Why HN recommends it
Prep for big tech whiteboard interviews: covers core data structures, algorithms and runtime complexity with practice problems. Suits self-taught devs and career changers, ideally paired with LeetCode or HackerRank.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
I am not a recruiter. I am a software engineer. And as such, I know what it's like to be asked to whip up brilliant algorithms on the spot and then write flawless code on a whiteboard. I've been through this as a candidate and as an interviewer. Cracking the Coding Interview, 6th Edition is here to help you through this process, teaching you what you need to know and enabling you to perform at your very best. I've coached and interviewed hundreds of software engineers. The result is this book. Learn how to uncover the hints and hidden details in a question, discover how to break down a p
Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
Related books
Elements of programming interviews
Adnan Aziz
Recommended by 36 · mentioned by 5736 recommend · 57 mention36 recommend · 5736 recommend
2008–2021Programming interviews exposed
John Mongan, Noah Suojanen, Eric Giguère
Recommended by 29 · mentioned by 4229 recommend · 42 mention29 recommend · 4229 recommend
2007–2026The algorithm design manual
Steven S. Skiena
Recommended by 195 · mentioned by 265195 recommend · 265 mention195 recommend · 265195 recommend
2007–2026Introduction to Algorithms
Thomas H. Cormen, Charles E. Leiserson, Ronald L. Rivest, Clifford Stein
Recommended by 274 · mentioned by 712274 recommend · 712 mention274 recommend · 712274 recommend
2009–2024Algorithms in a nutshell
George T. Heineman
Recommended by 12 · mentioned by 2112 recommend · 21 mention12 recommend · 2112 recommend
2011–2020Algorithms for interviews
Adnan Aziz
Recommended by 4 · mentioned by 64 recommend · 6 mention4 recommend · 64 recommend
2011–2025The Google resume
Gayle Laakmann McDowell, Vanessa Hart
Recommended by 6 · mentioned by 96 recommend · 9 mention6 recommend · 96 recommend
2016–2021Advanced data structures
Peter Brass
Recommended by 3 · mentioned by 33 recommend · 3 mention3 recommend · 33 recommend
I like Cracking the Coding Interview: http://www.amazon.com/Cracking-Coding-Interview-Fourth-Progr... And The Algorithm Design Manual by Skiena: http://www.amazon.com/Cracking-Coding-Interview-Fourth-Progr...
on “Ask HN: good, quick algorithms course to prepare for big tech interviews?” ↗…Williams Publisher: Peachpit Press "The C Programming Language" by Brian W. Kernighan Publisher: Prentice Hall "The Design of Everyday Things" by Donald A. Norman Publisher: Basic Books "Cracking the Coding Interview: 150 Programming Questions and Solutions" by Gayle Laakmann McDowell Publisher: CareerCup "What Intelligence Tests Miss: The Psychology of Rational Thought" by Keith E. Stanovich Publisher: Yale…
on “Top Books on Amazon Based on Links in Hacker News Comments” ↗…recommended by a friend who I met because I was networking. [1] The only exception for me was the months following 9/11, when no one was hiring because the whole nation was in shock. [2] I really recommend "Cracking the Coding Interview" by Gayle Laakmann McDowell; if you can answer all of the questions relevant to your field, you should be golden.
on “Java Doesn’t Suck” ↗…the job next time" there are a few concrete steps you can take. 1. Find, read, and do the exercises in two or three of the various popular books on "programming interviews". I'm thinking of books like Cracking the Coding Interview[1], Programming Interviews Exposed[2], Ace the Programming Interview[3], etc. 2. The companies you mentioned are well known for asking lots of detailed questions on fundamental computer sciences concepts.…
on “Ask HN: Dealing with Failed Interview at Google and AWS?” ↗Cracking the Coding Interview is great, though you have to pay for it: http://www.amazon.com/Cracking-Coding-Interview-Programming-... MIT's IAP course resources are pretty good too: http://courses.csail.mit.edu/iap/interview/materials.php
on “Ask HN: Amazon internship interview - what to study?” ↗…Here puzzle interviews are pretty silly. Rather than splitting people into groups of "good developers" and "bad developers" they can really be split up into these two categories. 1) People who read Cracking the Coding Interview 2) People who haven't heard of this book. http://www.amazon.com/Cracking-Coding-Interview-Programming-... Seriously; any competent programmer can crank through the stuff in that book in a week or two…
on “I Hate Puzzles: Am I Still a Programmer? (2011)” ↗…Check out some Machine Learning books: # Pattern Recognition and Machine Learning # Computer Networks (5th Edition) I would look at the following book if you wanted more Q&A and interview questions: # Cracking the Coding Interview: 150 Programming Questions ... Tutorial memberships: # I would buy a Tuts+ account, they have been very slow in releasing new content (too bad), however they have lots of great Web Development stuff.…
on “Ask HN: I have $2k for books, training and confs. What should I spend it on?” ↗"Cracking the Coding Interview" (probably wouldn't even have a career without this book) "The Little Schemer" "Stories of Cats and the Lives They Touch" by Peggy Schaefer
on “Ask HN: What three books impacted your career the most?” ↗…benefit an employer. On the bright side, something of an industry has been built up around preparing people for tech company interviews (similar to the SAT prep industry). Check out Gayle McDowell's Cracking the Coding Interview[0], CodeKata[1], or Interview Cake[2]. [0] https://www.amazon.com/Cracking-Coding-Interview-Programming... [1] http://codekata.com/ [2] https://www.interviewcake.com/
on “Ask HN: How to get better at technical interviewing?” ↗There are some good books on the subject. Start with "The Google Resume" by Gayle McDowell. Then move on to industry specific books like Cracking the Coding Interview.
on “Ask HN: Laid off. Now what?” ↗Maybe grab a copy of Cracking The Coding Interview[1] and work through that? And as cliched as it sounds, as a fairly targeted, short-term thing, you might consider jumping on leetcode and grind through some of the exercises there. How useful that would…
on “Ask HN: Losing job at year end. What should I do in the meantime?” ↗…weren't even that different, and just involved using a hashtable. Grinding through hundreds of LC to try and memorize/familiarize yourself with the solutions really isn't the right method. Have you read Cracking the Coding Interview? Gayle McDowell has some videos on youtube in which she explains her process.
on “Leetcode has taught me that I'm a bad engineer” ↗…if you are at that level. What you're likely missing (besides experience) is the computer sciency theoretical stuff, which makes a difference. I'd suggest getting the big green coding interview book (Cracking the Coding Interview by Gayle Laakmann McDowell) and brush up on basic algorithms, data structures and general CS-speak. I think your best bet is to start applying for jobs, be totally honest about your knowledge and experience,…
on “Ask HN: Any hobbyists turned professional developers?” ↗…Competitive Programmer’s Handbook” [0]. The only gripe I have with this book is I wish it had example problems to go along with the theoretical aspect of each of the categories. Also I would recommend the "Cracking the Coding Interview" HackerRank challenges [1] which are written and compiled by Gayle Laakmann McDowell (who is the author of the book with the same title as the course.) I recommend watching the videos that go along with…
on “Ask HN: Got a CS degree, but I’m unable to be programmer. What can I do?” ↗Cracking the coding interview :)
on “Ask HN: Mind bending books to read and never be the same as before?” ↗