[ OK ] d3b63f27-3645-4d8c-a50f-8a13b8356dad — full writeup
[ INFO ] category: Behavioral · Multiple Types difficulty: 7 freq: first seen: 2026-01-26
[7][MULTIPLE TYPES]Memory AllocationSystem Design
$ cat problem.md
OpenAI — Software Engineer ❌ Failed
Level: Mid-Level
Round: Onsite · Type: Multiple Types · Difficulty: 7/10 · Duration: 120 min · Interviewer: Unfriendly
Topics: Memory Allocation, System Design
Location: San Francisco, CA
Interview date: 2025-11-01
Got offer: False
Summary
Round 1: Memory Allocation
Question: I was asked a question about memory allocation that required a solution in O(log n) time.
Round 2: System Design
Question: I had to design YouTube.
Details
Memory Allocation Question
The interviewer asked me about memory allocation. I needed to come up with an algorithm that could allocate and deallocate memory blocks efficiently.
My Approach:
- I started by considering different data structures that could be used to track available memory blocks, like a balanced binary search tree.
- I implemented the allocation and deallocation functions, ensuring that they maintained the sorted order of available memory blocks.
YouTube Design Question
The interviewer asked me to design YouTube. This was a broad question, and I focused on several aspects:
My Design Focus:
- Video storage and retrieval
- Content delivery network (CDN) integration
- User authentication and authorization
- Search functionality
- Recommendation system
Key Insights:
- Scalability and fault tolerance are critical for a system like YouTube.
- Choosing the right data structures and algorithms is essential for performance.
- Considering the user experience is crucial for the success of the platform.