How necessary are the programming fundamentals?
&gt; music theory has also an implicit application, which is that people who learn music theory become better musicians in general. Even though the person might not be composing their own songs, their understanding of how music works likely makes them extremely comfortable playing and improvising any kind of song.<p>I think the author is trying too hard to draw a correlation between algorithm and programming.  Knowing algorithm doesn&#x27;t mean you implicitly know how to program.<p>He is also ignoring the masses that simply memorize the answers without knowing why a specific algorithm is used.  Most will freely admit they can&#x27;t remember these fundamentals after a few months.  I don&#x27;t blame them though because you are expect to give the optimal answer with a snap of a finger in interview.  All those interviewers that argue they want to understand the thought process of the interviewee are simply lying to themselves.  Some of them are even browsing the internet while you solve the question.<p>The real reason large companies use algorithms is because too many people apply for a job.  Many are equally qualified and they need a way to justify their hire.  200 applicants in 1 hour for every single job.<p>The real sin are startups that think they are Google and use the same interview process to feel better about themselves.  I have seen more than a few interviewers with a chip on their shoulder at some no-name startup.