From 89aec38c1194082eaa4c3aed55e850f46977a453 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Dan Stone Date: Tue, 25 Feb 2020 11:24:50 +0000 Subject: [PATCH 01/10] Update README.md --- README.md | 2 +- 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-) diff --git a/README.md b/README.md index c4ae96b..039f47d 100644 --- a/README.md +++ b/README.md @@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ Ideally the results will be sorted so that the most relevant result is first in ## Technical Notes -The program can be a command line app, a set of functions for REPL usage or a web app. +The program can be a command line app, a set of functions for REPL usage or a web app. It can be written in any language you want. The goal of this test is to appraise your programming ability, that is to say – how simple, readable, efficient and correct your solution is. In addition good comments, good function/interface design and good naming will be looked for. From eda4248edf9d9e507da5ba7f674433c8ddcd9eb0 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Dan Stone Date: Tue, 25 Feb 2020 11:25:12 +0000 Subject: [PATCH 02/10] Update README.md --- README.md | 2 +- 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-) diff --git a/README.md b/README.md index 039f47d..fdf707a 100644 --- a/README.md +++ b/README.md @@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ We have left the level of sophistication up to you, we find it is easier to make - Performance / Resource utilisation is another area where you can apply more sophistication to the solution. - Degree to which the solution is generalized without loss of clarity is another. -Because we are trying to appraise your programming ability and initiative, be reasonable in your use of libraries or existing search tools – In this test we really do want you to reinvent the wheel as far as the core problem is concerned! So just using `grep` will not win you many points. Feel free to use established techniques and algorithms, in fact this is encouraged. +Because we are trying to appraise your programming ability and initiative, be reasonable in your use of libraries or existing search tools – In this test we really *do* want you to reinvent the wheel as far as the core problem is concerned! So just using `grep` will not win you many points. Feel free to use established techniques and algorithms, in fact this is encouraged. You can spend as long or as little as you would like on the test, it does not have to be perfect! I think anywhere from 2-6 hours would be appropriate. From 849afd27e794062633f8db74659996cba5d262ad Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Dan Stone Date: Tue, 25 Feb 2020 11:30:44 +0000 Subject: [PATCH 03/10] Update README.md --- README.md | 2 +- 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-) diff --git a/README.md b/README.md index fdf707a..4c21116 100644 --- a/README.md +++ b/README.md @@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ We have to give users the ability to search for recipes. We have some text files Example text files: [recipes.zip](https://media.riverford.co.uk/downloads/hiring/sse/recipes.zip) -We would like a program that can provide a search function over these files, each search returning around 10 relevant recipes if possible. +We would like a program that can provide a search function over these files, each search returning a small number (e.g around 1-10) relevant recipes if possible. The text files are of differing sizes, and are encoded as utf-8. New text files are coming in all the time, so we should not assume a static set of recipes. From 55d2d5867a5e32b82c818795f7cd2c1372e5f132 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: wotbrew Date: Mon, 20 Sep 2021 10:07:40 +0100 Subject: [PATCH 04/10] Update README.md --- README.md | 2 +- 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-) diff --git a/README.md b/README.md index 4c21116..7f33cd4 100644 --- a/README.md +++ b/README.md @@ -35,6 +35,6 @@ Because we are trying to appraise your programming ability and initiative, be re You can spend as long or as little as you would like on the test, it does not have to be perfect! I think anywhere from 2-6 hours would be appropriate. -Please host the program source on github.com (e.g by forking this repo), gitlab.com or provide a link to a zip file on google drive. Let me know you’ve done it by sending a link to danielstone@riverford.co.uk +Please host the program source on github.com (e.g by forking this repo), gitlab.com or provide a link to a zip file on google drive. Let me know you’ve done it by sending a link to bradbollenbach@riverford.co.uk Good luck! From 2310556dc5ef2e2030575da2d1cec2a49ab8f0bc Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Brad Bollenbach Date: Wed, 13 Oct 2021 17:11:07 +0100 Subject: [PATCH 05/10] Clarify requirements around testing and language of choice --- README.md | 10 ++++++---- 1 file changed, 6 insertions(+), 4 deletions(-) diff --git a/README.md b/README.md index 7f33cd4..30bd4c1 100644 --- a/README.md +++ b/README.md @@ -15,13 +15,15 @@ Our requirements have been listed by a key business stakeholder: ## Essential requirements: - Search results should be relevant, e.g. a search for broccoli stilton soup should return at least broccoli stilton soup. +- Ideally the results will be sorted so that the most relevant result is first in the result list. - Searches should complete quickly so users are not kept waiting – this tool needs to serve many users so lower latency will mean we can serve more concurrent searches - ideally searches will take < 10ms. +- Documentation that describes how to set up and run your solution. -Ideally the results will be sorted so that the most relevant result is first in the result list. +**A test suite is optional.** We are most interested in evaluating the quality of your solution to the search problem, not in the simpler task of writing tests for the solution. ## Technical Notes -The program can be a command line app, a set of functions for REPL usage or a web app. It can be written in any language you want. +**Please use whichever language you are most comfortable in.** We want to see what your best work looks like, without needing to factor in a lack of familiarity with the language in our evaluation. The program can be a command line app, a set of functions for REPL usage (or equivalent for your language) or a web app. The goal of this test is to appraise your programming ability, that is to say – how simple, readable, efficient and correct your solution is. In addition good comments, good function/interface design and good naming will be looked for. @@ -31,10 +33,10 @@ We have left the level of sophistication up to you, we find it is easier to make - Performance / Resource utilisation is another area where you can apply more sophistication to the solution. - Degree to which the solution is generalized without loss of clarity is another. -Because we are trying to appraise your programming ability and initiative, be reasonable in your use of libraries or existing search tools – In this test we really *do* want you to reinvent the wheel as far as the core problem is concerned! So just using `grep` will not win you many points. Feel free to use established techniques and algorithms, in fact this is encouraged. +Because we are trying to appraise your programming ability and initiative, be reasonable in your use of libraries or existing search tools. In this test we really *do* want you to reinvent the wheel as far as the core problem is concerned! So just using `grep` will not win you many points. Feel free to use established techniques and algorithms, in fact this is encouraged. You can spend as long or as little as you would like on the test, it does not have to be perfect! I think anywhere from 2-6 hours would be appropriate. -Please host the program source on github.com (e.g by forking this repo), gitlab.com or provide a link to a zip file on google drive. Let me know you’ve done it by sending a link to bradbollenbach@riverford.co.uk +Please host the program source on github.com (e.g by forking this repo), gitlab.com or provide a link to a zip file on google drive. Let me know you’ve done it by sending a link to bradbollenbach@riverford.co.uk. Good luck! From 561144128c9be36d6b293eab6e0697ac8c464aa2 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Brad Bollenbach Date: Wed, 13 Oct 2021 17:20:11 +0100 Subject: [PATCH 06/10] Update README.md --- README.md | 6 +++--- 1 file changed, 3 insertions(+), 3 deletions(-) diff --git a/README.md b/README.md index 30bd4c1..c0ed892 100644 --- a/README.md +++ b/README.md @@ -17,13 +17,13 @@ Our requirements have been listed by a key business stakeholder: - Search results should be relevant, e.g. a search for broccoli stilton soup should return at least broccoli stilton soup. - Ideally the results will be sorted so that the most relevant result is first in the result list. - Searches should complete quickly so users are not kept waiting – this tool needs to serve many users so lower latency will mean we can serve more concurrent searches - ideally searches will take < 10ms. -- Documentation that describes how to set up and run your solution. +- Documentation that describes how to set up and run your solution. The easier it is to run your solution (e.g. without needing to install bulky IDEs to build it), the better. -**A test suite is optional.** We are most interested in evaluating the quality of your solution to the search problem, not in the simpler task of writing tests for the solution. +**A test suite is optional.** You should of course feel free to write tests if they help you think, but please note that we are most interested in evaluating the quality of your solution to the search problem, not in the simpler task of writing tests for the solution. ## Technical Notes -**Please use whichever language you are most comfortable in.** We want to see what your best work looks like, without needing to factor in a lack of familiarity with the language in our evaluation. The program can be a command line app, a set of functions for REPL usage (or equivalent for your language) or a web app. +**Please use whichever language you are most comfortable in.** We want to see what your best work looks like, without needing to factor in a lack of familiarity with the language in our evaluation. We'll assume you chose the tools you know best. The program can be a command line app, a set of functions for REPL usage (or equivalent for your language) or a web app. The goal of this test is to appraise your programming ability, that is to say – how simple, readable, efficient and correct your solution is. In addition good comments, good function/interface design and good naming will be looked for. From 3d06dea0dfa1cbb4ca714b8865e2ac4e9dd0b4ae Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: wotbrew Date: Wed, 17 Nov 2021 15:06:18 +0000 Subject: [PATCH 07/10] Update README.md --- README.md | 2 +- 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-) diff --git a/README.md b/README.md index c0ed892..db5539d 100644 --- a/README.md +++ b/README.md @@ -37,6 +37,6 @@ Because we are trying to appraise your programming ability and initiative, be re You can spend as long or as little as you would like on the test, it does not have to be perfect! I think anywhere from 2-6 hours would be appropriate. -Please host the program source on github.com (e.g by forking this repo), gitlab.com or provide a link to a zip file on google drive. Let me know you’ve done it by sending a link to bradbollenbach@riverford.co.uk. +Please host the program source on github.com (e.g by forking this repo), gitlab.com or provide a link to a zip file on google drive. Let me know you’ve done it by sending a link to danielstone@riverford.co.uk. Good luck! From c3e2dbc5670cc28cc7a2fd572802f942d209eda7 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Brad Bollenbach Date: Mon, 7 Mar 2022 09:29:07 +0000 Subject: [PATCH 08/10] update contact details in README --- README.md | 2 +- 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-) diff --git a/README.md b/README.md index db5539d..7175054 100644 --- a/README.md +++ b/README.md @@ -37,6 +37,6 @@ Because we are trying to appraise your programming ability and initiative, be re You can spend as long or as little as you would like on the test, it does not have to be perfect! I think anywhere from 2-6 hours would be appropriate. -Please host the program source on github.com (e.g by forking this repo), gitlab.com or provide a link to a zip file on google drive. Let me know you’ve done it by sending a link to danielstone@riverford.co.uk. +Please host the program source on github.com (e.g by forking this repo), gitlab.com or provide a link to a zip file on google drive, and reply to the person who originally sent you the test to provide them the relevant links. Good luck! From 13b01a26d2b1dd1994c1c91760093828183801dd Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: katherinerowlinson Date: Wed, 26 Mar 2025 11:00:03 +0000 Subject: [PATCH 09/10] Update contact details --- README.md | 2 +- 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-) diff --git a/README.md b/README.md index 7175054..0ae3b51 100644 --- a/README.md +++ b/README.md @@ -37,6 +37,6 @@ Because we are trying to appraise your programming ability and initiative, be re You can spend as long or as little as you would like on the test, it does not have to be perfect! I think anywhere from 2-6 hours would be appropriate. -Please host the program source on github.com (e.g by forking this repo), gitlab.com or provide a link to a zip file on google drive, and reply to the person who originally sent you the test to provide them the relevant links. +Please host the program source on github.com (e.g by forking this repo), gitlab.com or provide a link to a zip file on google drive, and let us know you've done it by sending a link to danielstone@riverford.co.uk and katherinerowlinson@riverford.co.uk. Good luck! From 567e4abd1c0e294d42d982c4db7eced54cc3d8ed Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Tom Willcocks Date: Tue, 13 May 2025 12:25:01 +0100 Subject: [PATCH 10/10] update contact details --- README.md | 2 +- 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-) diff --git a/README.md b/README.md index 0ae3b51..6495837 100644 --- a/README.md +++ b/README.md @@ -37,6 +37,6 @@ Because we are trying to appraise your programming ability and initiative, be re You can spend as long or as little as you would like on the test, it does not have to be perfect! I think anywhere from 2-6 hours would be appropriate. -Please host the program source on github.com (e.g by forking this repo), gitlab.com or provide a link to a zip file on google drive, and let us know you've done it by sending a link to danielstone@riverford.co.uk and katherinerowlinson@riverford.co.uk. +Please host the program source on github.com (e.g by forking this repo), gitlab.com or provide a link to a zip file on google drive, and let us know you've done it by sending a link to danielstone@riverford.co.uk and tomwillcocks@riverford.co.uk. Good luck!