Run-Length Encoding (RLE) / Bit-Packing

CodingDatabricksLast reported August 2026High Frequency
Reported
17× across candidate reports
First seen
February 2025
Last reported
August 2026
Reported outcome
mixed

Problem Overview

Implement a streaming encoder that compresses a sequence of 32-bit integers using two interleaved encoding strategies: Run-Length Encoding (RLE) and Bit-Packing (BP). Input arrives as a stream (one integer at a time — you cannot store the entire input). The encoder must output a list of 'Run' objects, each tagged…

  • 3 candidate-reported follow-ups — the exact probes interviewers asked, with the trigger for each
  • The rest of the problem statement — full requirements, constraints, and edge cases
  • Approach and trade-offs — what passing candidates did, and the mistakes that sink people
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Verified Source
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Interviewer Follow-ups
The exact follow-ups reported by candidates, with the trigger that prompts each one — plus the mistakes that sink people.
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