Hanselminutes with Scott Hanselman Fabulous Adventures in Data Structures and Algorithms with Eric Lippert
Jan 8, 2026
Eric Lippert, programming language designer and author now writing a book on data structures and algorithms. He discusses unusual, practical data structures, the role of immutability in simpler faster designs, backtracking and stochastic programming, and how rediscovering playful algorithms can restore joy and build lasting intuition.
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Book For Problem Solvers Not Interview Prep
- Eric Lippert wrote a book to collect the unconventional algorithms and data structures he learned building developer tools, not to rehash interview fodder.
- He values long-form reading and problem-solving as the core of programming, arguing you shouldn't outsource the mental task of designing solutions.
Keep Problem Solving Human
- Don't outsource problem-solving; you can use AI to write syntax but you must retain clarity of thought for designing solutions.
- Use tools to translate thoughts into code, but practice forming the underlying algorithmic idea yourself.
Unconventional Structure And Topics
- The book organizes less-common practical topics first, then esoteric developer-tool algorithms, then stochastic programming and probability.
- Chapters include memoized immutable quadtrees and algorithms from language/tooling research.
