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Nor is the 12 years thing particularly good reasoning... By that thought process, it took humans hundreds/thousands/millions of years to develop a compiler, so how can I be expected to develop one over the course of 4 years in college? Or even over the course of my life?

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Not exactly a valid analogy, because his start date isn't "the beginning of human history", rather it's the development of the linked list data structure, which is the first point at which humanity possessed sufficient knowledge and tools to figure out the cycle-detection algorithm.

Given that we didn't have the knowledge or tools necessary to make a compiler hundreds/thousands/millions of years ago, you'd have to bump up your start date considerably.

Sure, I stretched that too far. But hopefully the point is made. Then should we expect no students (or anyone) to be able to build a compiler (or os kernel) in any amount of time given the internet and whatnot? While I may be articulating this poorly, I think my fundamental issue with his point is solid.

Because over the course of 4 years in college you're provided with resources that explicitly teach you how to develop a compiler, a scenario which is entirely different from what happens in an interview.

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