Best of Big Tech — 2024

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    Article
    Avatar of communityCommunity Picks·2y

    Framework to land $500k+ Software Engineer Job without Leetcoding

    Switching jobs in tech shouldn't require endless leetcode grinding, as real-world job skills differ. Experienced engineers can land high-paying roles without focusing on leetcode by using the Eliminate-Offset-Frame (EOF) framework. This involves identifying companies that value practical coding skills, negotiating interview formats, and leveraging system design strengths. Diversifying job targets to mid-tier companies can offer similar benefits as big tech roles.

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    Article
    Avatar of pragmaticengineerThe Pragmatic Engineer·2y

    The software engineering industry in 2024: what changed, why, and what is next

    The tech industry has undergone significant changes over the past 18 months, affecting VC capital, Big Tech's hiring/firing behavior, tech IPOs, and the job market. Insights shared in the Craft Conference keynote address these shifts and predict future software engineering trends.

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    Article
    Avatar of quastorQuastor Daily·2y

    Lessons from Big Tech on Building Resilient Payment Systems

    Discover key lessons from Shopify and DoorDash on building resilient payment systems. Learn about idempotency keys, setting low timeouts, implementing circuit breakers, and monitoring using the Four Golden Signals. Additionally, explore how load testing can prevent costly outages and why deciding between building in-house features or opting for external vendors is crucial for startups.

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    Article
    Avatar of developingdevThe Developing Dev·1y

    Why Leetcode Is So Popular

    Leetcode is popular for big tech interviews because it effectively filters a large number of job applicants within a short time. Although it has its flaws, alternatives face challenges such as being too time-consuming or easy to game. Companies rely on Leetcode for its meritocratic nature, allowing candidates from various backgrounds to succeed through preparation. Smaller companies may use more practical interview questions, but the momentum in big tech is unlikely to change soon.

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    Article
    Avatar of communityCommunity Picks·2y

    Why techies leave Big Tech

    Big Tech jobs are highly coveted for their brand value, top-market compensation, and massive operational scale. However, various factors such as diminishing job stability, limited professional growth opportunities, closed career paths, organizational politics, and compensation drops lead engineers to leave these positions. Despite Big Tech's high pay, personal ambitions, preference for dynamic work environments in startups, and changes in company culture contribute to the decision to move on. The high compensation also provides a financial cushion, making it easier for professionals to take risks on new opportunities.

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    Article
    Avatar of dailydoseofdsDaily Dose of Data Science | Avi Chawla | Substack·2y

    16 Popular Open-source Contributions by Big Tech

    Big tech companies like Microsoft, Google, Meta, Yandex, and NVIDIA have significantly contributed to the machine learning ecosystem through various open-source projects. These contributions include Microsoft's DeepSpeed and ONNX, Google's TensorFlow and JAX, Meta's PyTorch and LLaMA, Yandex's CatBoost and ClickHouse, and NVIDIA's RAPIDS and TensorRT. Understanding these tools can help you tackle real-world problems efficiently.

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    Article
    Avatar of developingdevThe Developing Dev·2y

    Big Tech vs Startups (for New Grads)

    Deciding between big tech companies and startups for your first job can be challenging. Working at big tech firms offers prestige, structured career growth, excellent skill development opportunities, solid talent networks, and competitive compensation. In contrast, startups present higher risks with potentially higher rewards, varied work experiences, and closer access to founders. For most new graduates, starting in big tech provides a strong foundation, making it easier to transition into entrepreneurial ventures later.

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    Video
    Avatar of mentaloutlawMental Outlaw·2y

    Google is Running Out of Storage

    Google is facing storage capacity issues, leading to the deletion of inactive Gmail accounts to free up space. This trend reflects the unsustainable nature of free services as tech companies struggle with reduced ad revenue due to ad blockers and a saturated data market. Other companies like Amazon and Snapchat are also implementing cost-saving measures, signaling a shift away from free services on the internet.

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    Article
    Avatar of freecodecampfreeCodeCamp·2y

    How John Washam crammed for 8 months, got a job at Amazon, then taught 1,000s of other devs to do the same [#134]

    This podcast episode features an interview with John Washam, a software engineer at Amazon and creator of Coding Interview University. Highlights include John's journey from delivering pizzas to buying his first computer, his transition from a military career to tech, and his experience self-teaching Computer Science in 8 months to secure a job in big tech. The episode also covers what it's like working as a senior developer at a major tech company.

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    Article
    Avatar of pragmaticengineerThe Pragmatic Engineer·1y

    Why my new audiobook “The Software Engineer's Guidebook” is everywhere except on Audible

    Audible's monopolistic practices and slow approval process are impacting authors and publishers. Despite the demand for Audible, many authors, including the writer of 'The Software Engineer's Guidebook', find Audible's high take rates unfair. Alternatives like Spotify and direct purchases are recommended until Audible changes its approach. Notable authors like Brandon Sanderson have also criticized Audible’s practices and advocated for fairer royalty systems for all authors.

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    Article
    Avatar of hnHacker News·2y

    How I ship projects at big tech companies

    Shipping projects in big tech companies requires prioritizing the shipping process itself above all else. It involves understanding that shipping is about satisfying leadership and maintaining their trust through clear communication, problem anticipation, and fallback plans. Successful project shipment hinges on having someone with end-to-end understanding and deploying changes early to mitigate risks.

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    Article
    Avatar of dhhDavid Heinemeier Hansson·2y

    Beware the leviathans

    The post discusses concerns about the potential consequences of dismantling Big Tech monopolies, specifically in relation to the Digital Markets Act and increased government control over online platforms. It highlights the desire for clear and consistently enforced rules, while also acknowledging the risks of oppressive powers and censorship.

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    Video
    Avatar of communityCommunity Picks·2y

    This video will change your mind about the AI hype

    The post discusses the exaggerated hype surrounding AI technology, pointing out the ongoing investments by big tech companies despite uncertainties. It emphasizes the historical pattern of tech hype, mentioning notable examples like Tesla, and how companies benefit from such hype even if the technology doesn't immediately deliver groundbreaking improvements. It also reflects on the challenges of AI advancements and cautions against making drastic career decisions based on speculative predictions about AI's future impact on jobs.

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