Documentation Index
Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://swe.aboneda.com/llms.txt
Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
Study Plan
Master the core CS fundamentals in this order:- Operating Systems — Processes, threads, memory management, scheduling, and deadlocks
- Networking — TCP/UDP, HTTP/HTTPS, DNS, REST vs gRPC, latency vs throughput
- Compilers & Interpreters — Lexing, parsing, ASTs, and how code gets executed
Key Interview Questions
What happens when you type google.com in the browser?
What happens when you type google.com in the browser?
DNS resolution → TCP handshake → TLS negotiation → HTTP request → server processing → response rendering. Cover each layer: DNS lookup, IP routing, TCP 3-way handshake, TLS certificates, HTTP GET, server-side handling, and browser rendering pipeline.
How does memory management work in an OS?
How does memory management work in an OS?
Cover virtual memory, paging, segmentation, page tables, TLB caches, and how
the OS maps virtual addresses to physical memory. Discuss page faults,
swapping, and memory allocation strategies (first-fit, best-fit, buddy
system).
Explain multithreading vs multiprocessing.
Explain multithreading vs multiprocessing.
Threads share the same address space within a process, making communication
fast but requiring synchronization (mutexes, semaphores). Processes have
isolated memory, making them safer but with higher IPC overhead. Discuss use
cases for each and the GIL in Python.
What is a deadlock and how do you prevent it?
What is a deadlock and how do you prevent it?
A deadlock occurs when processes hold resources while waiting for others,
forming a circular dependency. Four conditions: mutual exclusion,
hold-and-wait, no preemption, circular wait. Prevention strategies include
resource ordering, timeout-based detection, and lock hierarchies.
Explain TCP vs UDP and when to use each.
Explain TCP vs UDP and when to use each.
TCP is connection-oriented with guaranteed delivery, ordering, and flow
control — ideal for web, file transfer, and email. UDP is connectionless with
no guarantees — ideal for real-time applications like video streaming, gaming,
and DNS queries where speed matters more than reliability.
How does DNS resolution work?
How does DNS resolution work?
Browser cache → OS cache → recursive resolver → root nameserver → TLD
nameserver → authoritative nameserver. Discuss DNS record types (A, AAAA,
CNAME, MX), TTL, DNS caching layers, and how CDNs use DNS for geographic
routing.
What is the difference between a process and a thread?
What is the difference between a process and a thread?
A process is an independent execution unit with its own memory space. A thread
is a lightweight unit within a process sharing the same memory. Context
switching between threads is cheaper than between processes. Discuss thread
safety, race conditions, and synchronization primitives.
How does a compiler differ from an interpreter?
How does a compiler differ from an interpreter?
A compiler translates the entire source code to machine code before execution
(C, Rust, Go). An interpreter executes code line-by-line at runtime (Python,
Ruby). Discuss hybrid approaches like JIT compilation (Java, JavaScript V8),
and trade-offs in performance vs development speed.
Explain how virtual memory works.
Explain how virtual memory works.
Virtual memory gives each process the illusion of a large, contiguous address
space. The OS uses page tables to map virtual pages to physical frames. When a
page isn’t in RAM, a page fault triggers loading from disk. Discuss TLB, page
replacement algorithms (LRU, FIFO), and thrashing.
What happens during a context switch?
What happens during a context switch?
The OS saves the current process/thread state (registers, program counter, stack pointer) to its PCB, selects the next process via the scheduler, and restores that process’s state. Discuss the overhead involved and why minimizing context switches improves performance.