One of the technical questions the interviewer asked was to create a data structure that would insert in O(log n) and return an iterator that would iterate the data back in sorted order in O(n) time. I knew it was a binary tree and the iterator would use an inorder traversal of the tree so I started typing it out.

But when I got to the iterator part, I just couldn’t figure it out.  I knew for sure it was an inorder traversal but I couldn’t figure out how to turn the recursive algorithm that I knew into an iterative one. So I sat there and drew some trees to try and visualize the algorithm for it. I thought using a stack for the traversal would also probably work but I couldn’t figure that out either. And then time was up.

So we continued the interview. I asked some questions about the position. Then the interview ended.

I hung around for a little bit with a friend that worked there and referred me for the job then we biked back to our dorms. As soon as I got back I opened up Visual Studio and worked on the problem again because I knew that if I didn’t I’d probably end up staying up all night thinking about it.

It figured it out in ten minutes.

Coding under pressure, man. Can’t do it.

Hopefully this will encourage me to do something productive like… finishing all the other games in my Steam library.

Want.

I just completed GIRP in 23 minutes and 5.4 seconds and received a lump of coal.

I have never felt more accomplished.

If you haven’t played GIRP yet, play it now. A word of warning though:  the same guy who made QWOP, made GIRP.

Yay, new phone. Now I can actually play Angry Birds. And maybe start Android development.

Yep, I just bought this keyboard for $242.10, shipped.

Now let me explain. My RSI/carpal-tunnel symptoms have been getting worse and worse so I’ve been looking for some ergonomic keyboards to help fix it. There is quite a selection of them but I wanted one with mechanical switches leaving only a few (expensive) choices. Among them was the the Kinesis Advantage, one of the highest-regarded ergonomic keyboards. The huge price tag had put me off initially but then I thought about it for a bit. Here’s the rationale I came up with to convince myself into buying it:

• I’m probably going to be making a living typing on a keyboard, might as well make it a nice one and not ruin my hands.
• I’m hoping this will help with the RSI/carpal-tunnel problems. Better get a ergonomic keyboard than have to go to doctor to treat them, right?
• It’ll make me type faster and be more productive (hopefully).
• It’ll look super cool!
• $242.10 is still not that expensive for a keyboard is it? I feel like keyboards are often the most neglected piece of computer hardware and most people buy the cheapest one they can find. As a person who uses the computer for the majority of the day, the keyboard is one of the most important pieces of a system. It’s how you interact with your computer, how you control it (yeah, yeah, there’s the mouse too). It should be on par with the other components of your system.
• IT’S 19.3% OFF!

That last one was what really convinced me to buy it. Can’t mess with the percentages man.

I will probably put up a review when I get it. I’m excited; I love getting stuff in the mail.

I bought a Kindle. Its pretty neat.

Just visit dropbox.com/edu and have them send you an email with a confirmation link. Click the link and bam, more storage.

And if you don’t have dropbox already, I am disappointed.

I implemented the A* pathfinding algorithm in python/pygame today. Yep. I was bored of doing Source SDK stuff for my CSE381 class and so I decided to learn a new language, framework, and algorithm. The program itself is pretty basic and isn’t really that optimized but it works. Maybe I’ll post the executable once I figure out how to build python code into exes.

I’m actually really liking python/pygame. Maybe I’ll make my next game with it.