"Because anyone who can't do this almost certainly doesn't have the ability to program any software system well, some shitty web app or otherwise. You're not trying to fill out a remedial CS course in community college, you're trying to get someone to program real things real people use."
So...I'm hiring someone that can reverse a string because this demonstrates that they can program real things that real people use?
"And yes I've hired people and all of them have had to answer much more complex algorithmic questions to get the job and all of them turned out to be competent."
Out of interest, what did this job entail? I assume that you quizzed them on their knowledge of basic algorithms because they are required to write them, right?
So...I'm hiring someone that can reverse a string because this demonstrates that they can program real things that real people use?
"And yes I've hired people and all of them have had to answer much more complex algorithmic questions to get the job and all of them turned out to be competent."
Out of interest, what did this job entail? I assume that you quizzed them on their knowledge of basic algorithms because they are required to write them, right?