Ask HN: Does anyone else struggle with arrays?

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33633372

by DumbArray • 4 years ago

2 9 4 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

I find it difficult to implement low-level array-based algorithms and data structures (sort, queues, stacks, etc.) from scratch, even though I'm proficient at software development in general. Is this a common thing?

PaulHoule2• 4 years ago

Definitely it is easy to mistake 𝘪 for 𝘪+1 (or is it 𝘪-1?)

shrthnd• 4 years ago

Which is more efficient?

PaulHoule2• 4 years ago

It is not so much as which is efficient as which is correct. Implementing many algorithms it is easy to pick the wrong one which is most problematic when it gives answers that are almost right.

Pro tip. Unit tests are super effective for algorithms that are tricky. Write some simple test cases and understand how they work using the debugger.

superchroma• 4 years ago

Generally, pretty efficient implementations of such should be already provided in most core libraries along with the data structures in question.

Are you practicing for l33tcode or something?

DumbArray• 4 years ago

Yeah, this question was prompted by leetcode lol <grimaces>

badpun• 4 years ago

If you've never programmed in a lower-level language before, then it's a new skill that you have to build from the ground-up. Just keep practicising and you'll get better quickly - it's not that hard.

joshxyz• 4 years ago

yep to this day and age i still google how to array sorr in javascript.

_448• 4 years ago

Could you be more specific what you find difficult? That will help others provide you with guidance.

pacerier• 4 years ago

No (in those good times, "software development" was not overloaded to mean everything/anything so that all is said to be proficient at it).

Ask HN: Does anyone else struggle with arrays?

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