Seemed simple at first and I went straight to a streams solution.
Start by clarifying the problem and any constraints (e.g., input size, memory limits, whether the input can be modified). Then discuss a straightforward solution using a single pass to collect evens and reverse them, and analyze its time and space complexity. If appropriate, mention alternative approaches like in-place reversal or using two pointers, and compare trade-offs.
Pro tip: Demonstrate awareness of edge cases and production concerns: ask about input size to decide between in-memory and streaming approaches, and mention that in a real system you'd consider readability, testability, and whether the function should mutate the input.
Ask about input size, data types, whether the input list can be modified, and expected output format. Confirm if the result should be a new list or if in-place modification is acceptable.
Propose iterating through the list once to collect even numbers into a new list, then reversing that list. State the time complexity O(n) and space complexity O(k) where k is the number of evens.
Mention that you could reverse the original list first and then filter, or use two pointers to filter in-place if mutation is allowed. Compare readability, memory usage, and performance.
Walk through edge cases: empty list, all odds, all evens, single element. Suggest writing unit tests to verify correctness.
Implement the chosen approach with clear variable names and comments. If time permits, optimize for space by using in-place reversal when possible.
AI-generated suggestions, not part of the candidate's original notes. May be inaccurate — verify before relying on them.