Break down a shortest-path interview question step by step

Introduction

A walkthrough of how I reason through graph questions: constraints first, brute force second, then the data structure that unlocks the solution.

Why this keeps coming up

Every Challenge conversation eventually lands on the same tension: what is comfortable for the team today versus what the project will need in a year. Neither side wins by argument alone.

A way to think about it

• Defaults outlive intentions — design them deliberately.
• Decisions are cheap to make and expensive to communicate; budget for the second part.
• Disagreement is data. Write down what would change your mind.

What I would do

Start smaller than feels useful, write the reasoning in the commit or the RFC, and revisit it on a calendar date rather than a feeling.

Closing thoughts

Taste in Challenge is mostly memory. Collect yours on purpose.