What does Amazon use for coding?

Amazon uses a variety of programming languages, tools, and technologies depending on the specific product, service, or team. Here’s a breakdown of the most common coding languages and tools used at Amazon:

1. Programming Languages

Amazon engineers use different programming languages based on the task or service being developed:

• Java: Widely used at Amazon, especially for backend services, given its scalability, performance, and reliability.
• Python: Popular for data analysis, machine learning, automation scripts, and some backend services due to its simplicity and rich ecosystem.
• C++: Used in systems that require high performance, like low-latency applications or hardware-level operations.
• Ruby: Frequently used for building web applications.
• JavaScript (Node.js): Used for building front-end applications, especially with AWS services and serverless architecture.

2. Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Amazon’s cloud infrastructure, AWS, is heavily used by internal teams. Many services at Amazon are built using AWS tools and technologies like:

• Lambda for serverless computing.
• DynamoDB for NoSQL databases.
• S3 for storage.
• EC2 for scalable cloud computing.

3. Tools and Technologies

• Git: Amazon engineers use Git for version control and collaboration on code.
• Docker: Used to containerize applications for consistent deployment.
• Kubernetes: Employed for orchestrating containerized applications at scale.
• Terraform: Used for infrastructure as code to automate provisioning of cloud resources.

4. IDE and Editors

Engineers at Amazon commonly use:

• Visual Studio Code: A popular code editor for multiple languages.
• IntelliJ IDEA: Preferred for Java and related technologies.
• Eclipse: Also used for Java development.

How to Prepare for Amazon's Coding Interviews

To prepare for coding interviews at Amazon, it's important to be familiar with languages like Java and Python, and the types of coding problems Amazon often asks. You can explore Grokking Data Structures & Algorithms for Coding Interviews to build a strong foundation in the concepts that are frequently tested.

Additionally, for more information on typical coding patterns used in Amazon interviews, check out the Mastering the 20 Coding Patterns blog, which covers essential patterns like sliding window and two pointers.

Summary:

Amazon uses a range of programming languages like Java, Python, and C++, alongside AWS services and tools like Docker and Kubernetes. Understanding these languages and tools will help you succeed in Amazon’s technical environment.