Before my actual M.Tech Data Science & Engineering curriculum kicked off at BITS Pilani WILP, the program ran us through two preparatory courses over a couple of weeks — an Introduction to Python course and a Zero Level Mathematical Foundation course. Eight live sessions in total, zero credits, zero pressure on paper. I went in expecting both to be easy refreshers. One of them genuinely was. The other made me reconsider how much rust I'd built up. In this post I'll walk you through what was covered in each course, what I actually learned, and my honest take on whether the bootcamp was worth the time. If you're considering BITS Pilani WILP M.Tech, planning how to prep, or just want to know what the program actually looks like before semester one starts — this should give you a real picture. Watch the Full Video I've recorded a complete walkthrough of both courses on my YouTube channel. The video covers everything below in more detail, including the slides,...
How AI Is Changing Backend Developer Interviews (With Real Evidence & Examples) Backend developer interviews are undergoing the biggest structural change since the rise of system design rounds. AI has not just accelerated coding—it has broken traditional interview signals . As a result, companies are redesigning interviews to measure things that AI cannot reliably fake. This article explains exactly how interviews have changed , what proof exists , and what you will actually be tested on as a backend developer in 2026. The Core Problem: Traditional Interviews No Longer Predict Skill Before AI: Coding speed mattered Memorized patterns worked Syntax-heavy questions filtered candidates After AI: Code generation is near-instant Boilerplate is meaningless as a signal Many candidates can “solve” problems they don’t understand Hiring managers noticed a sharp rise in false positives —candidates passing interviews but failing on the job. That forced interviews t...