Software Engineer Interview Prep Podcast

Prabuddha Ganegoda

Ace your Software Engineer interviews with confidence. This podcast helps you organize your thinking, strengthen problem-solving skills, and prepare effectively for real technical interviews. Topics covered include: Programming (Java & Python) Data Structures & Algorithms System Design AI for Software Engineers Interview strategies & mindset Whether you're targeting Big Tech, startups, or senior engineering roles, each episode helps you think clearly, solve better, and perform at your best.

  1. -11 H

    Mastering OAuth 2.0 & Microservice Security for Senior Interviews

    Are you preparing for a senior security or backend engineering interview and struggling to articulate how to secure microservices in a zero-trust environment? In this deep dive, we break down the definitive guide to OAuth 2.0, OpenID Connect, and advanced token security to help you move beyond textbook definitions and start designing banking-grade architectures.Whether you are designing a Backend-For-Frontend (BFF) or securing a massive microservice mesh, this episode is your ultimate cheat sheet!What We Cover in This Episode:The "Hotel Keycard" Analogy (AuthN vs. AuthZ): We clarify the critical difference between OpenID Connect (verifying your identity at the front desk) and OAuth 2.0 (the keycard that tells the lock what you can access).The "Secret Handshake" (PKCE): Discover why the Proof Key for Code Exchange (PKCE) is now mandatory for public clients to prevent authorisation code interception attacks.The "Clear Backpack" Trap: We reveal why storing tokens in browser localStorage is a major interview red flag, and how the Backend-For-Frontend (BFF) pattern keeps tokens securely on the server.Defeating the "Forged Badge" (JWT Vulnerabilities): We unpack the notorious alg:none vulnerability and exactly what steps a Resource Server must take to validate a JWT signature safely.Zero-Trust Microservices & Token Exchange: Learn how to move past weak shared secrets. We explain how to use private_key_jwt (RFC 7523) for strong service identity, and why you should use Token Exchange (RFC 8693) to maintain a secure chain of custody across microservices.Banking-Grade Security (DPoP & Token Rotation): We dive into the ultimate defenses against token theft: Refresh Token Rotation, which acts as a tripwire to invalidate compromised token families, and DPoP (Sender-Constrained Tokens, RFC 9449), which mathematically binds a token to the client's private key.

    59 min
  2. -3 J

    Mastering REST API Design & Best Practices

    Mastering REST API Design & Best Practices Are you struggling to articulate the exact difference between a basic API and a production-grade, evolvable API during system design interviews? In this deep dive, we break down the 10 pillars of REST API design to help you move beyond simple CRUD operations and start building like a Senior Engineer. What We Cover in This Episode: The Richardson Maturity Model: We explain the progression of RESTful APIs and why reaching Level 3 using Hypermedia (HATEOAS) is the gold standard, allowing clients to discover capabilities dynamically instead of relying on hard-coded URLs.URI Rules & HTTP Methods: Learn the strict naming conventions of API design—such as using plural nouns, kebab-case, and completely avoiding verbs in your URLs. We also break down the critical difference between PUT (idempotent full replacement) and PATCH (partial updates).Designing for Zero-Downtime: We reveal the definitive rules of backward compatibility and how to safely evolve your API using the Expand-Contract Pattern to migrate fields without ever breaking existing client integrations.Standardized Error Contracts: Discover why returning generic error pages is an interview red flag, and how adopting the RFC 7807 Problem Details format provides actionable, machine-readable responses with built-in trace context.Performance & Security: We decode advanced caching strategies using ETag and If-None-Match headers to save massive amounts of bandwidth on conditional GET requests. Plus, we contrast rate-limiting algorithms, explaining exactly when to use a Token Bucket for controlled bursting versus a Leaky Bucket for strict throughput guarantees.Tune in to arm yourself with the precise technical vocabulary, HTTP status codes, and architectural patterns needed to confidently design scalable APIs in your next system design interview!

    1 h 11 min

À propos

Ace your Software Engineer interviews with confidence. This podcast helps you organize your thinking, strengthen problem-solving skills, and prepare effectively for real technical interviews. Topics covered include: Programming (Java & Python) Data Structures & Algorithms System Design AI for Software Engineers Interview strategies & mindset Whether you're targeting Big Tech, startups, or senior engineering roles, each episode helps you think clearly, solve better, and perform at your best.