Count Completed Jobs in a Serial Single-Worker Pipeline

Last updated: July 13, 2026

Quick Overview

This question asks the candidate to implement a function that counts the number of completed jobs in a serial single-worker pipeline.

Plaid
Coding & Algorithms
Software Engineer
Plaid
July 13, 2026
Software Engineer
Technical Screen
Coding & Algorithms
Medium

16

0

136 solved


This question asks the candidate to implement a function that counts the number of completed jobs in a serial single-worker pipeline.

In a technical screen for a software engineering role at Plaid, this question is used to evaluate the candidate's coding skills, problem-solving abilities, and understanding of algorithms. The interviewer is looking for a clear and efficient implementation, as well as the candidate's ability to articulate their thought process while solving the problem.

What the Interviewer Expects
  • Demonstrates a clear understanding of the problem requirements.
  • Provides a well-structured approach to the solution.
  • Implements the solution efficiently with appropriate algorithms.
  • Discusses the time and space complexity of the solution.
  • Covers edge cases and potential pitfalls in the implementation.
Key Topics to Cover
Algorithms
Data Structures
Complexity Analysis
Problem-Solving
Coding Best Practices
How to Approach This
  1. Clarify input constraints and edge cases before writing code.
  2. Walk through your approach verbally and confirm with the interviewer before coding.
  3. Start with a brute force solution, then optimize. Mention time and space complexity.
  4. Test your solution with examples, including edge cases like empty input or duplicates.
  5. Consider common patterns: sliding window, two pointers, hash map, BFS/DFS, dynamic programming.
Possible Follow-up Questions
  • How would you modify your solution for a multi-worker pipeline?
  • Can you discuss potential optimizations for your current approach?
  • What edge cases did you consider while implementing your solution?
Sharpen Your Skills on Codemia

Practice similar problems with our interactive workspace, get AI feedback, and track your progress.

Practice DSA Problems
Sample Answer
Approach

To solve the problem of counting completed jobs in a serial single-worker pipeline, I will first outline the requirements. We need to track jobs that have been completed and ensure that we only count ...

Algorithm

The algorithm involves iterating through an array of job statuses. For each job, we will check if it is marked as completed. If it is, we will increment our count. Here is a simple Python implementati...


Submit Your Answer
Markdown supported

Related Questions