• (disco)

    If a company wants me to compile code just to see their ad, it doesn't matter whether it works or not; I'm not interested. Just put up a normal ad, and be done with it.

  • (disco) in reply to RaceProUK

    The thing is, you don't need to compile anything; just read the damn string literals.

  • (disco) in reply to Gaska

    So much this. If you genuinely worry that a slightly light-hearted ad contains source that doesn't compile, you take yourself far too seriously. Adjust your meds and go about your day.

  • (disco)

    The most glaring reasons it wont' compile: curly quotes (clearly put in by the typesetter), spaces in the class name (likely also put in by the typesetter), and lack of library Php, which, whatever. The only major error I see is that you can't use Aggregate directly on a string array, it has to be a collection object. Which, meh. Nobody wants to muddy up their advert with a bunch of array operations.

    The EA Canada billboard, now, that's super annoying.

  • (disco) in reply to Yamikuronue

    You forgot something:

             Console.WriteLine(score > THRESHOLD
                               ? @”Contact [email protected] today”

         Console.ReadLine();

    It's missing a closing parenthesis. And the second half of the ternary operator.

  • (disco) in reply to Yamikuronue
    Yamikuronue:
    The only major error I see is that you can't use Aggregate directly on a string array, it has to be a collection object
    That's what I thought; turns out, it works on anything that implements `IEnumerable<T>`… *including* `String`!
  • (disco) in reply to RaceProUK
    RaceProUK:
    it works on anything that implements IEnumerable<T>

    But not String []. I stuck it in DotNetFiddle to confirm.

    aliceif:
    It's missing a closing parenthesis. And the second half of the ternary operator.

    You're right, I forgot I closed that off. That's TRWTF then. I'm inclined to blame long line lengths getting cut off when they set the ad tho.

  • (disco) in reply to Yamikuronue
    Yamikuronue:
    RaceProUK:
    it works on anything that implements IEnumerable<T>
    But not String []. I stuck it in DotNetFiddle to confirm.
    It does though; T[] implements IEnumerable<T>.

    Did you add using System.Linq;?

  • (disco) in reply to RaceProUK
    RaceProUK:
    Did you add using System.Linq;?

    No, I'm not actually a C# developer so I didn't know what libraries to add. But I got it 90% there in a few minutes while sipping my morning tea, which makes it Not That Bad IMO.

  • (disco) in reply to Yamikuronue
    Yamikuronue:
    No, I'm not actually a C# developer so I didn't know what libraries to add
    Fair enough ;)
  • (disco) in reply to RaceProUK

    While looking for a half-remembered poorly-written ad like this, I stumbled across one that's actually in PhP:

    http://codeinthehole.com/writing/a-pseudo-code-job-advert-and-its-discontents/

  • (disco)

    So they see who's knowledgeable enough to nitpick the ad, thus testing their error-finding skills. Brillant!

  • (disco) in reply to gwowen
    gwowen:
    So much this. If you genuinely worry that a slightly light-hearted ad contains source that doesn't compile, you take yourself far too seriously. Adjust your meds and go about your day.

    On the other hand, the effort of actually making it valid code is so low compared to the rest of the effort/money that went into making those ads that it's mostly just embarrassing that it doesn't work. So why not just do it right(tm)?

  • (disco)

    Looks like a poorly modified version of this: http://careers.stackoverflow.com/jobs/47026/criteoseniordevelopercs-senior-software-criteo At least that version looks like it may actually compile and run (NB: not actually a C# dev either)

  • (disco) in reply to Yamikuronue

    Why the hell is the offerJob method static? So they can offer me a job while having no actual offices open?

  • (disco) in reply to cvi
    cvi:
    So why not just do it right(tm)?

    Likely it was originally right, but multiple revisions of copy editor types made it look nicer / cleaner to them but less nice to a compiler.

  • (disco) in reply to esharp

    WOW.

    Yes. That's what they did.

    All benefit of the doubt rescinded. They copied that, edited it, left off the bit with Critero's web address (and that's where the other half of the ternary went), didn't apparently realize that php is a different language than c#, and put in typesetting errors like curly quotes.

    Great find.

  • (disco) in reply to esharp

    And in one stroke, the :wtf: factor of the submission has doubled

  • (disco) in reply to RaceProUK

    I swear we discussed another ad like this before. I thought in the old forums, but haven't been able to find it.

  • (disco) in reply to boomzilla
    boomzilla:
    I swear we discussed another ad like this before. I thought in the old forums, but haven't been able to find it.

    Like a year ago, and already here:

    http://what.thedailywtf.com/uploads/default/_optimized/ab2/140/2a7e08cfc9_666x500.jpg

  • (disco) in reply to Maciejasjmj

    The funny thing about the code on billboard is that the else clause will only be executed once in 231 times on average.

  • (disco) in reply to Gaska
    Gaska:
    The funny thing about the code on billboard is that the else clause will only be executed once in 231 times on average.

    hmm?

    unless operator predidence is other than i remember it being wouldn't that be every other time on average?

    random() < RAND_MAX / 2

    becomes

    random() <  (RAND_MAX / 2)

    right?

  • (disco) in reply to accalia

    Wait, disregard that. I totally misread the whole expression.

  • (disco) in reply to accalia
  • (disco)

    Two possibilities here:

    1. The code is fair warning to any prospective job applicants. They will have no grounds for seeking mental health benefits from the employer when they inevitably go nuts on the job.

    2. The code is an encoded signal for help. HR asked for a "code example" for the website. The poor schmucks trapped in the salt mines concocted this abomination to send a message to the outside in hopes of finding a way out.

  • (disco)

    Other things that are wrong: Using Aggregate to ask a series of questions and sum the answer strikes me as trying too hard to make clever use of Linq and ending up with something unnecessarily confusing and complex. Just use a foreach loop instead. If that's the kind of code that they think demonstrates their skills and standards, I'll pass before I have a chance to see what monstrosity they wrote trying to look clever for any task that's actually complex.

    On the code not compiling - We usually say that a candidate writing code in an interview that will obviously never compile means that he is unqualified and should not be hired. I would also say that a software company posting a job ad with code that obviously won't compile is a dysfunctional and unprofessional place to work, and no qualified candidate should bother applying.

  • (disco) in reply to ufmace
    ufmace:
    candidate writing code in an interview
    in anything other than a proper IDE with all appropriate references (same as when actually on the job) is total [censored]
  • (disco) in reply to ufmace
    ufmace:
    We usually say that a candidate writing code in an interview that will obviously never compile means that he is unqualified and should not be hired.
    I assume therefore you give them an IDE and/or a toolchain so they can make sure it *can* be compiled?
  • (disco) in reply to ufmace
    ufmace:
    Other things that are wrong: Using Aggregate to ask a series of questions and sum the answer strikes me as trying too hard to make clever use of Linq and ending up with something unnecessarily confusing and complex. Just use a foreach loop instead.

    http://what.thedailywtf.com/t/i-did-the-dumb-coding-challenge-r/48520/156?u=boomzilla

    FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT

  • (disco) in reply to ufmace
    ufmace:
    Using Aggregate to ask a series of questions and sum the answer strikes me as trying too hard

    Came here to say this. Using Aggregate as a for loop is abusing Linq. I wouldn't be surprised if a future incarnation of Linq introduces intermediate result caching and makes this practice dangerous.

  • (disco) in reply to RaceProUK
    RaceProUK:
    I assume therefore you give them an IDE and/or a toolchain so they can make sure it can be compiled?
    Nope. Piece of paper and instructions to write in either Brainfuck, Whitespace or Unary. Anything that doesn't compile meanns that programmer isn't l337 enough
  • (disco) in reply to Jaloopa

    I'll go for Whitespace

  • (disco)

    Ni ce cl ass : class Senior Developer

  • (disco)

    I think I understand this--they're writing ads in code because they realize programmers are more likely to read code than a traditional ad.

    I also wouldn't be too harsh about the errors here, either--the errors strike me as the result of non-tech people getting their grubby paws on code that did work. It's quite readable as it stands.

    Now, using C# to advertize a PHP job is definitely in line with the theme of this board!

  • (disco) in reply to LorenPechtel
    LorenPechtel:
    Now, using C# to advertize a PHP job is definitely in line with the theme of this board!

    Why? It's well known that PHP coders are bad coders by definition, so why would you want to hire one? You find a good C# developer, train them in PHP, work them until the language destroys their brain then let them go. Easy

  • (disco) in reply to Jaime
    Jaime:
    Came here to say this. Using Aggregate as a for loop is abusing Linq. I wouldn't be surprised if a future incarnation of Linq introduces intermediate result caching and makes this practice dangerousfraught with hilarious consequences.

    ;-)

    Jaloopa:
    Why? It's well known that PHP coders are bad coders by definition, so why would you want to hire one? You find a good C# developer, train them in PHP, work them until the language destroys their brain then let them go. Easy and Evil.

    FTFY

  • (disco) in reply to Jaloopa

    I don't know why you'd say that PHP coders have destroyed brains.

    Filed under: Damn it, BRB, the dragon pig escaped again! Someone hand me my shears and a lollipop!

  • (disco) in reply to Jaime
    Jaime:
    Using Aggregate as a for loop is abusing Linq. I wouldn't be surprised if a future incarnation of Linq introduces intermediate result caching and makes this practice dangerous.
    I don't think linq even defines an iteration order for Aggregate. It certainly doesn't have one when you use AsParallel().
  • (disco)

    Here's my solution for an job ad:

    d991bde5970f7782a2c767c59e399bb3

    What? You don't understand md5? You can't work with us :smiling_imp:

  • (disco) in reply to Eldelshell
    Eldelshell:
    d991bde5970f7782a2c767c59e399bb3

    huh.... usually whacking one of those MD5 sums into google will spit out the value that was MD5 summed to get that value.....

    not this time it seems. maybe google stopped indexing those rainbow table sites?

  • (disco) in reply to accalia
    accalia:
    usually whacking one of those MD5 sums into google will spit out the value that was MD5 summed to get that value.

    The value is not unique, though. The goal, in this case, is not merely to get a value with that hash, but the specific, original text of the job ad. That's rather a bit harder.

  • (disco) in reply to HardwareGeek
    HardwareGeek:
    The goal, in this case, is not merely to get a value with that hash, but the specific, original text of the job ad.

    Anything that appears to be a job ad without random garbage in it is probably the solution then, as the likelihood of two meaningful strings having the same MD5 is pretty low. (Garbage requirements would be different…)

  • (disco) in reply to HardwareGeek
    HardwareGeek:
    That's rather a bit harder.

    which is why salting works to improve the security of MD5 (not that you should use MD5 at all anymore. it's too broken use blowfish or SHA512 at the minimum, or even better use an external auth service and let them deal with passwords via OAUTH2 or similar authentication framework)

  • (disco) in reply to dkf
    dkf:
    Anything that appears to be a job ad without random garbage in it is probably the solution then

    Agreed. I know MD5 is considered highly flawed because it's not too hard to find inputs that hash to the same output, but I don't know enough about it to know how hard it is to search the set of matching inputs for a specific one, nor how to go about doing so if it's possible. The best idea I can come up with is a brute force attack — something like seeding a Markov generator with appropriate job ad words and phrases, and hoping that eventually some output hash matches. That could take a long time.

    Filed under: I am not a cryptographer, and I don't even play one on TV.

  • (disco)

    "Hey guys, we really really need a PHP programmer, this is how badly ..."

  • (disco) in reply to Matt_Westwood

    If you want to show someone how badly you need a PHP programmer, just provide a link to your site where everything is the same, but you add

    error_reporting(E_ALL);
ini_set("display_errors", 1);

    On top of your files.

    Then again, that might just scare people off...

  • (disco)

    I can comprehend the point of the EA Canada ad: only people who know at least a little something about programming will understand it, and thus they cut out a lot of junk inquiries. But the PHP job ad ... what's the point? The text is plainly visible. Is it just supposed to be cute?

  • (disco) in reply to HardwareGeek
    HardwareGeek:
    but I don't know enough about it to know how hard it is to search the set of matching inputs for a specific one
    MD5 is still unbroken in this sense, unless the NSA isn't telling. You can do a rainbow table attack (intuitively, this is a space/time tradeoff) but nothing is going to make finding an inverse feasible for a non-trivial input.

    One should still stick to other hash functions though. :-)

  • (disco) in reply to EvanED

    Eh, it's still fine for verifying file transfers and such. By which I mean for backups and such, not files downloaded off the Internet, because sticking a payload into them is plausible enough.

  • (disco)

    I just had a "Be sure to drink your Ovaltine" moment.

    F U EA Canada

Leave a comment on “Recruiting Desperation”

Log In or post as a guest

Replying to comment #:

Log Out

« Return to Article