Two hours for one problem sounds generous until you're 45 minutes in and still not sure you understand the output format correctly.
Start by clarifying the input format and expected output, then design a modular solution that separates parsing, layout computation, and rendering. Discuss trade-offs between simplicity and extensibility, and walk through a concrete example to demonstrate correctness.
Pro tip: Proactively discuss how you would test edge cases like empty input, very large inputs, and special characters, and mention how you'd structure the code for maintainability and future extensions.
Ask questions to understand the exact input format (e.g., string, list of strings, nested structures) and the desired output (e.g., ASCII art, formatted table, tree). Confirm any constraints like maximum dimensions or character set.
Decide on an internal representation for the parsed input and the output canvas. For example, use a 2D grid of characters or a tree structure that can be rendered.
Break the problem into steps: parse input, compute layout (positions, sizes), and render to ASCII. Consider using recursion for nested structures or a simple loop for flat inputs.
Write clean, modular code with functions for each step. Test with simple cases first, then edge cases like empty input, single element, and deeply nested structures.
Talk about time/space complexity, alternative approaches (e.g., using a library vs. custom), and how you would extend the solution to support additional features like styling or different output formats.
AI-generated suggestions, not part of the candidate's original notes. May be inaccurate — verify before relying on them.