sticky%% imprints/reputation - java ^ c++

I feel my c++ interviews aren't so successful (http://tigertanbin2.blogspot.com/2014/03/weakness-revealed-by-interviews-c.html), but many traditional efforts may generate diminishing returns. (eg: Home coding project can be very time-consuming). Instead, perhaps we should look for special "imprints" – knowledge pearls that help us impress and stand out during competitive interviews. In a way, we must beat the interviewer on some front since on many questions we would be beaten.

Venkat can often stand out within a short conversation, due to his imprints.

My java interview experience – I managed to impress interviewers and stood out although my coding/design may not stand out. Am I a stronger java guy than my friends? I guess only if you quiz me on those special topics
- lock free
- wait/notify intricacies
- condition variable as replacement of wait/notify
- custom thread pool
- volatile keyword intricacies
- skip list (sorted set)
- concurrent hash map
- special singletons

Targets (memory/threading helps efficiency) --
* subvert the virtual mechanism P928[[primer]]
* dtrace
* placement new - real use cases
* replacement of RTTI
* data alignment in market data wire format
* memory page locking
* alloca()
* custom new() and free list in [[eff c++]]
* lock free - real code not concept
* template partial specialization but I don't know the use cases?
* various custom-made smart pointers with special features -- [[safe c++]]
* memory leak detectors - home made (eff c++?)
* comma operator