← Early-stage Startup Interview Insights
This was the follow-up after the first problem, and it shifted the whole vibe of the interview.
Start by clarifying requirements and constraints, then design a robust endpoint with failure handling and a key-door model. Implement the core algorithm using graph traversal, and discuss trade-offs and scalability.
Pro tip: Demonstrate awareness of startup constraints by proposing a simple, iterative solution first, then discussing how to evolve it for scale and reliability.
Ask questions to understand the scope: expected load, failure modes, consistency needs, and whether the key-door model is part of the API or a separate game logic.
Define the endpoint's purpose, HTTP method, request/response schema, and error handling. Consider idempotency and retry mechanisms for server failures.
Represent the problem as a graph where rooms are nodes and doors are edges. Keys act as prerequisites to traverse certain edges. Use BFS/DFS to determine if all doors can be unlocked.
Incorporate retries with exponential backoff, circuit breakers, and fallback responses. Ensure the endpoint remains available and data consistent during failures.
Talk about time/space complexity, potential bottlenecks, and how to scale horizontally. Mention monitoring and logging for production readiness.
AI-generated suggestions, not part of the candidate's original notes. May be inaccurate — verify before relying on them.