Dataford
Interview QuestionsInterview GuidesExperiencesCoaching
New
Pricing
Get started
Dataford
Popular roles
Software EngineerData AnalystData ScientistData EngineerBusiness AnalystAI EngineerMachine Learning EngineerProduct Manager
Browse
Browse All RolesEvery role hub, from analyst to MLBrowse All CompaniesCompany-specific interview loopsAll Interview GuidesThe full guide library
Top questions by role
Software EngineerData AnalystData ScientistData EngineerBusiness AnalystAI EngineerMachine Learning EngineerProduct Manager
Top questions by skill
SQLPythonStatisticsMachine LearningA/B TestingSystem DesignGenerative AIProduct SenseMetricsBehavioral
Browse all questions →Try a mock interview
Experiences
Practice
Mock InterviewsTimed interview simulations with feedbackCoaching1:1 coaching with people at your target companiesSuccess PathYour 6-week structured planModulesCurated lessons by topicWebinarsTalks from ex-Big Tech data leadsPlaygroundA free-form scratch editor
Learn
BlogInterview strategy and career adviceTech Job Market ReportHiring trends across data and AI rolesFor UniversitiesDataford for career centersAbout DatafordWho we are and how we build
Pricing
Build my plan
DMA for High-Bandwidth UART
00:00
5 left

DMA for High-Bandwidth UART

HardPython

Problem

Describe how you would configure and use Direct Memory Access (DMA) to handle high-bandwidth UART incoming data without overloading the CPU.

Implement a simulation using a circular DMA buffer. The function receives UART bytes in batches, drains the buffer at CPU polling points, returns delimiter-terminated frames, and counts bytes overwritten before processing.

Input uses data as a list of byte values, buffer_size as the circular buffer capacity, and service_after as batch sizes whose sum equals len(data). Return (frames, dropped_bytes), where each frame is a list of byte values excluding the delimiter.

Constraints

  • 0 <= len(data) <= 1000
  • 1 <= buffer_size <= 1000
  • 0 <= data[i] <= 255
  • service_after contains non-negative integers
  • sum(service_after) == len(data)
  • Byte value 10 is the frame delimiter
  • The final incomplete frame is not returned

Function Signature

def process_uart_dma(data, buffer_size, service_after):
Interviewer

Your question is DMA for High-Bandwidth UART. Start with the requirements in the Question tab.

Run and submit as often as you like. When you're ready, talk me through your approach or go straight to the code.

You need to log in / sign up to run or submit.
CodePython 3
Sign up free to run your codeLog inLn 2
Run your code to see test output here.