Puzzles for Programmers and Pros [Paperback]

Dennis Shasha (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 7, 2007 | ISBN-10: 0470121688 | ISBN-13: 978-0470121689 | Edition: 1

• Aimed at both working programmers who are applying for a job where puzzles are an integral part of the interview, as well as techies who just love a good puzzle, this book offers a cache of exciting puzzles
• Features a new series of puzzles, never before published, called elimination puzzles that have a pedagogical aim of helping the reader solve an entire class of Sudoku-like puzzles
• Provides the tools to solve the puzzles by hand and computer
• The first part of each chapter presents a puzzle; the second part shows readers how to solve several classes of puzzles algorithmically; the third part asks the reader to solve a mystery involving codes, puzzles, and geography
• Comes with a unique bonus: if readers actually solve the mystery, they have a chance to win a prize, which will be promoted on wrox.com!

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Puzzles for Programmers and Pros

Solving puzzles demands a mindset that starts with a vulnerable openness followed by a rigorous drive to find a solution. Whether you're preparing for a programming job interview or just like a challenge, this book takes you on a tour of problem-solving techniques so you can dramatically improve your skills. You'll learn how to conquer simple elimination puzzles like Sudoku and how to apply heuristic techniques to far more complex problems.

Dr. Shasha provides you with the tools to solve several classes of puzzles by handand computer. These include scheduling,strategic, geometric, and probabilistic puzzles. You'll also find a mystery involving codes, bank accounts, and geography that you can solve for the chance to win a prize. The approaches and techniques in this book will help you solve the kind of application puzzles the real world may throw at you.

What you will learn from this book

• How to expand your puzzle-solving abilities and tackle new challenges

• Proven steps that will help you quickly progress from basic puzzles to a more advanced level

• How to prepare for various types of puzzles presented during a programming interview

• Techniques for determining the best solution to a puzzle

• Methods for solving puzzles using decryption and combinatorics

Who this book is for
This book is for programmers who need to brush up on their puzzle-solving skills as they prepare for the programming job interview. It is also for anyone who love puzzles and challenges.

Wrox guides are crafted to make learning programming languages and technologies easier than you think, providing a structured, tutorial format that will guide you through all the techniques involved.

About the Author

Dr. Dennis Shasha is a professor of Mathematical Sciences in the Department of Computer Science at NYU. Along with research and teaching in biological computing, pattern recognition, database tuning , cryptographic file systems, and the like, Dennis is well-known for his mathematical puzzle column for Dr. Dobbs whose readers are very sharp and his Puzzling Adventures Column for the Scientific American. His puzzle writing has given birth to fictional books about a mathematical detective named Dr. Ecco. Dr. Shasha has also co-authored numerous highly technical books. Dennis speaks often at conferences and is a tireless self-promoter in the world of “mensa-like” puzzles.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Wrox; 1 edition (May 7, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470121688
• ISBN-13: 978-0470121689
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #230,694 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Analysis, January 7, 2008

By 

R. Ordonez (New York USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Puzzles for Programmers and Pros (Paperback)

The book contains a set of really good puzzles. Solving the puzzles will keep you entertained for days. However, the descriptions of many puzzles are too long. I am not sure if you would encouter most of the puzzles described in this book in job interviews. However the content and the complexity of the puzzles are definitely of high quality.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good book for brain teasing and interview, May 28, 2008

By 

Yi Feng "YiF" (Astoria, NY) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Puzzles for Programmers and Pros (Paperback)

The book presents a number of puzzles, of different difficult level, with proposed solutions. In general, the puzzles are not very hard to solve if you follow the hint/guide by the author, and can be done in reasonable time. It is a good practice if you are going through a number of interviews for technical positions. It can also serve as a spare time reading for those doing research in algorithm engineering.

The language of the book is a bit descriptive, not as formal and precise as I expected. This is a personal preference and I know some folks love this type of language. Given the price and content, I would give it 4 stars.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pratical examples of algorithm in action, May 29, 2008

By 

K. Wang (Bayside, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Puzzles for Programmers and Pros (Paperback)

Before reading this book, I actually did not know how to use the dynamic programming algorithm in practice. This books taught me in one page from "Sweet Packs" puzzle. The solution is so simple and elegance that I can still remember it almost a year later. I was surprised to see how an ordinary problem can be solved with an old algorithm from a different perspective.
This book is unique. Unlike other puzzle book, it's dedicated for programmers. And I think doing puzzle from time to time may help improve brain function. Some of the problems can be hard. If you want some simple puzzles for interview, you may also try this book "How would you move mount Fuji? - Microsoft's cult of puzzle".