Generalized around CS knowledge.

README.md

@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 # Google Interview University
 
-Translations: 
+(not only Google - for any software company)
+
+Translations:
 - [中文版本](translations/README-cn.md)
 - translations in progress:
     - [Español](https://github.com/jwasham/google-interview-university/issues/80)
@@ -19,23 +21,30 @@ Translations:
 
 ## What is it?
 
-This is my multi-month study plan for going from web developer (self-taught, no CS degree) to Google software engineer.
+This is my multi-month study plan for going from web developer (self-taught, no CS degree) to software engineer for a large company.
 
 ![Coding at the whiteboard - from HBO's Silicon Valley](https://dng5l3qzreal6.cloudfront.net/2016/Aug/coding_board_small-1470866369118.jpg)
 
-This long list has been extracted and expanded from **Google's coaching notes**, so these are the things you need to know.
+>**I originally created this as a short to-do list of study topics, but it grew to the large list you see today. Working at 
+Google was the original goal, hence the name. I didn't get an interview at Google, but the repo name lives on, and it would 
+mess up a lot of folks to change it now. The items listed here will prepare you for a career at just about any software company,
+including the giants: Amazon, Microsoft, Google, and Facebook.**
+
+You'll see a lot of Google-related items, but I've tried to generalize the list to make it useful for everyone.
+
+This list was extracted and expanded from Google's coaching notes, so these are the things you need to know.
 There are extra items I added at the bottom that may come up in the interview or be helpful in solving a problem. Many items are from
 Steve Yegge's "[Get that job at Google](http://steve-yegge.blogspot.com/2008/03/get-that-job-at-google.html)" and are reflected
 sometimes word-for-word in Google's coaching notes.
 
 I've pared down what you need to know from what Yegge recommends. I've altered Yegge's requirements 
-from information received from my contact at Google. This is meant for **new software engineers** or those switching from 
+from information received from a contact at Google. This is meant for **new software engineers** or those switching from 
 software/web development to software engineering (where computer science knowledge is required). If you have 
 many years of experience and are claiming many years of software engineering experience, expect a harder interview. 
 [Read more here](https://googleyasheck.com/what-you-need-to-know-for-your-google-interview-and-what-you-dont/).
 
-If you have many years of software/web development experience, note that Google views software engineering as 
-different from software/web development and they require computer science knowledge.
+If you have many years of software/web development experience, note that large software companies like Google, Amazon, 
+Facebook and Microsoft software engineering as different from software/web development, and they require computer science knowledge.
 
 If you want to be a reliability engineer or systems engineer, study more from the optional list (networking, security).
 
@@ -46,9 +55,7 @@ If you want to be a reliability engineer or systems engineer, study more from th
 - [What is it?](#what-is-it)
 - [Why use it?](#why-use-it)
 - [How to use it](#how-to-use-it)
-- [Get in a Googley Mood](#get-in-a-googley-mood)
 - [Don't feel you aren't smart enough](#dont-feel-you-arent-smart-enough)
-- [About Google](#about-google)
 - [About Video Resources](#about-video-resources)
 - [Interview Process & General Interview Prep](#interview-process--general-interview-prep)
 - [Pick One Language for the Interview](#pick-one-language-for-the-interview)
@@ -202,34 +209,11 @@ I'm using Github's special markdown flavor, including tasks lists to check progr
 
 [More about Github-flavored markdown](https://guides.github.com/features/mastering-markdown/#GitHub-flavored-markdown)
 
-## Get in a Googley Mood
-
-Print out a "[future Googler](https://github.com/jwasham/google-interview-university/blob/master/extras/future-googler.pdf)" sign (or two) and keep your eyes on the prize.
-
-[![future Googler sign](https://dng5l3qzreal6.cloudfront.net/2016/Oct/Screen_Shot_2016_10_04_at_10_13_24_AM-1475601104364.png)](https://github.com/jwasham/google-interview-university/blob/master/extras/future-googler.pdf)
-
 ## Don't feel you aren't smart enough
-- Google engineers are smart, but many have an insecurity that they aren't smart enough, even though they work at Google.
+- Successful software engineers are smart, but many have an insecurity that they aren't smart enough.
 - [The myth of the Genius Programmer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SARbwvhupQ)
 - [It's Dangerous to Go Alone: Battling the Invisible Monsters in Tech](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1i8ylq4j_EY)
 
-## About Google
-
-- [ ] For students - [Google Careers: Technical Development Guide](https://www.google.com/about/careers/students/guide-to-technical-development.html)
-- [ ] How Search Works:
-    - [ ] [The Evolution of Search (video)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTBShTwCnD4)
-    - [ ] [How Search Works - the story](https://www.google.com/insidesearch/howsearchworks/thestory/)
-    - [ ] [How Search Works](https://www.google.com/insidesearch/howsearchworks/)
-    - [ ] [How Search Works - Matt Cutts (video)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNHR6IQJGZs)
-    - [ ] [How Google makes improvements to its search algorithm (video)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5RZOU6vK4Q)
-- [ ] Series:
-    - [ ] [How Google Search Dealt With Mobile](https://backchannel.com/how-google-search-dealt-with-mobile-33bc09852dc9)
-    - [ ] [Google's Secret Study To Find Out Our Needs](https://backchannel.com/googles-secret-study-to-find-out-our-needs-eba8700263bf)
-    - [ ] [Google Search Will Be Your Next Brain](https://backchannel.com/google-search-will-be-your-next-brain-5207c26e4523)
-    - [ ] [The Deep Mind Of Demis Hassabis](https://backchannel.com/the-deep-mind-of-demis-hassabis-156112890d8a)
-- [ ] [Book: How Google Works](https://www.amazon.com/How-Google-Works-Eric-Schmidt/dp/1455582344)
-- [ ] [Made by Google announcement - Oct 2016 (video)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4y0KOeXViI)
-
 ## About Video Resources
 
 Some videos are available only by enrolling in a Coursera, EdX, or Lynda.com class. These are called MOOCs.
@@ -241,42 +225,22 @@ Sometimes the classes are not in session so you have to wait a couple of months,
 
 ## Interview Process & General Interview Prep
 
-- [ ] Videos:
-    - [ ] [How to Work at Google: Prepare for an Engineering Interview (video)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ko-KkSmp-Lk)
-    - [ ] [How to Work at Google: Example Coding/Engineering Interview (video)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKu_SEDAykw)
-    - [ ] [How to Work at Google - Candidate Coaching Session (video)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWbUtlUhwa8&feature=youtu.be)
-    - [ ] [Google Recruiters Share Technical Interview Tips (video)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qc1owf2-220&feature=youtu.be)
-    - [ ] [How to Work at Google: Tech Resume Preparation (video)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8npJLXkcmu8)
-
-- [ ] Articles:
-    - [ ] [Becoming a Googler in Three Steps](http://www.google.com/about/careers/lifeatgoogle/hiringprocess/)
-    - [ ] [Get That Job at Google](http://steve-yegge.blogspot.com/2008/03/get-that-job-at-google.html)
-        - all the things he mentions that you need to know are listed below
-    - [ ] _(very dated)_ [How To Get A Job At Google, Interview Questions, Hiring Process](http://dondodge.typepad.com/the_next_big_thing/2010/09/how-to-get-a-job-at-google-interview-questions-hiring-process.html)
-    - [ ] [Phone Screen Questions](http://sites.google.com/site/steveyegge2/five-essential-phone-screen-questions)
-
-- [ ] Prep Courses:
+- [ ] [ABC: Always Be Coding](https://medium.com/always-be-coding/abc-always-be-coding-d5f8051afce2#.4heg8zvm4)
+- [ ] [Whiteboarding](https://medium.com/@dpup/whiteboarding-4df873dbba2e#.hf6jn45g1)
+- [ ] [Effective Whiteboarding during Programming Interviews](http://www.coderust.com/blog/2014/04/10/effective-whiteboarding-during-programming-interviews/)
+- [ ] Cracking The Coding Interview Set 1:
+    - [ ] [Gayle L McDowell - Cracking The Coding Interview (video)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEJzOhC5ZtQ)
+    - [ ] [Cracking the Coding Interview with Author Gayle Laakmann McDowell (video)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aClxtDcdpsQ)
+- [ ] How to Get a Job at the Big 4:
+    - [ ] ['How to Get a Job at the Big 4 - Amazon, Facebook, Google & Microsoft' (video)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJZCUhxNCv8)
+
+- [ ] Prep Course:
     - [ ] [Software Engineer Interview Unleashed (paid course)](https://www.udemy.com/software-engineer-interview-unleashed):
         - Learn how to make yourself ready for software engineer interviews from a former Google interviewer.
 
-- [ ] Additional (not suggested by Google but I added):
-    - [ ] [ABC: Always Be Coding](https://medium.com/always-be-coding/abc-always-be-coding-d5f8051afce2#.4heg8zvm4)
-    - [ ] [Four Steps To Google Without A Degree](https://medium.com/always-be-coding/four-steps-to-google-without-a-degree-8f381aa6bd5e#.asalo1vfx)
-    - [ ] [Whiteboarding](https://medium.com/@dpup/whiteboarding-4df873dbba2e#.hf6jn45g1)
-    - [ ] [How Google Thinks About Hiring, Management And Culture](http://www.kpcb.com/blog/lessons-learned-how-google-thinks-about-hiring-management-and-culture)
-    - [ ] [Effective Whiteboarding during Programming Interviews](http://www.coderust.com/blog/2014/04/10/effective-whiteboarding-during-programming-interviews/)
-    - [ ] Cracking The Coding Interview Set 1:
-        - [ ] [Gayle L McDowell - Cracking The Coding Interview (video)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEJzOhC5ZtQ)
-        - [ ] [Cracking the Coding Interview with Author Gayle Laakmann McDowell (video)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aClxtDcdpsQ)
-    - [ ] How to Get a Job at the Big 4:
-        - [ ] ['How to Get a Job at the Big 4 - Amazon, Facebook, Google & Microsoft' (video)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJZCUhxNCv8)
-    - [ ] [Failing at Google Interviews](http://alexbowe.com/failing-at-google-interviews/)
-
 ## Pick One Language for the Interview
 
-I wrote this short article about it: [Important: Pick One Language for the Google Interview](https://googleyasheck.com/important-pick-one-language-for-the-google-interview/)
-
-You can use a language you are comfortable in to do the coding part of the interview, but for Google, these are solid choices:
+You can use a language you are comfortable in to do the coding part of the interview, but for large companies, these are solid choices:
 
 - C++
 - Java
@@ -292,7 +256,6 @@ You need to be very comfortable in the language and be knowledgeable.
 Read more about choices:
 - http://www.byte-by-byte.com/choose-the-right-language-for-your-coding-interview/
 - http://blog.codingforinterviews.com/best-programming-language-jobs/
-- https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-best-language-to-program-in-for-an-in-person-Google-interview
 
 [See language resources here](programming-language-resources.md)
 
@@ -312,7 +275,6 @@ This is a shorter list than what I used. This is abbreviated to save you time.
 - [ ] [Cracking the Coding Interview, 6th Edition](http://www.amazon.com/Cracking-Coding-Interview-6th-Programming/dp/0984782850/)
     - answers in Java
     - recommended on the [Google Careers site](https://www.google.com/about/careers/how-we-hire/interview/)
-    - If you see people reference "The Google Resume", it was a book replaced by "Cracking the Coding Interview".
 
 If you have tons of extra time:
 
@@ -381,7 +343,7 @@ OR:
     - by Goodrich, Tamassia, Goldwasser
     - I loved this book. It covered everything and more.
     - Pythonic code
-    - my glowing book report: https://googleyasheck.com/book-report-data-structures-and-algorithms-in-python/
+    - my glowing book report: https://startupnextdoor.com/book-report-data-structures-and-algorithms-in-python/
 
 
 ### Optional Books
@@ -460,7 +422,7 @@ Make your own for free:
 - [My flash cards database (old - 1200 cards)](https://github.com/jwasham/computer-science-flash-cards/blob/master/cards-jwasham.db): 
 - [My flash cards database (new - 1800 cards)](https://github.com/jwasham/computer-science-flash-cards/blob/master/cards-jwasham-extreme.db):
 
-Keep in mind I went overboard and have cards covering everything from assembly language and Python trivia to machine learning and statistics. It's way too much for what's required by Google.
+Keep in mind I went overboard and have cards covering everything from assembly language and Python trivia to machine learning and statistics. It's way too much for what's required.
 
 **Note on flashcards:** The first time you recognize you know the answer, don't mark it as known. You have to see the
 same card and answer it several times correctly before you really know it. Repetition will put that knowledge deeper in
@@ -1434,7 +1396,7 @@ Have a story, not just data, about something you accomplished.
 - What's a tough problem you've solved?
 - Biggest challenges faced?
 - Best/worst designs seen?
-- Ideas for improving an existing Google product.
+- Ideas for improving an existing product.
 - How do you work best, as an individual and as part of a team?
 - Which of your skills or experiences would be assets in the role and why?
 - What did you most enjoy at [job x / project y]?
@@ -1461,8 +1423,6 @@ Have a story, not just data, about something you accomplished.
 
 Congratulations!
 
-- [10 things I wish I knew on my first day at Google](https://medium.com/@moonstorming/10-things-i-wish-i-knew-on-my-first-day-at-google-107581d87286#.livxn7clw)
-
 Keep learning.
 
 You're never really done.
@@ -1472,7 +1432,7 @@ You're never really done.
     *****************************************************************************************************
     *****************************************************************************************************
 
-    Everything below this point is optional. These are my recommendations, not Google's.
+    Everything below this point is optional.
     By studying these, you'll get greater exposure to more CS concepts, and will be better prepared for
     any software engineering job. You'll be a much more well-rounded software engineer.
 
@@ -1493,8 +1453,6 @@ You're never really done.
 - [ ] [Design Patterns: Elements of Reusable Object-Oriente​d Software](https://www.amazon.com/Design-Patterns-Elements-Reusable-Object-Oriented/dp/0201633612)
     - aka the "Gang Of Four" book, or GOF
     - the canonical design patterns book
-- [ ] [Site Reliability Engineering](https://landing.google.com/sre/book.html)
-    - [Site Reliability Engineering: How Google Runs Production Systems](https://landing.google.com/sre/)
 - [ ] [UNIX and Linux System Administration Handbook, 4th Edition](https://www.amazon.com/UNIX-Linux-System-Administration-Handbook/dp/0131480057/)
 
 ## Additional Learning