[chris11]

Code should be written for readability, not typing speed.

[victords]

This is not production quality code that is running on some important business. It's competitive programming.

Speed is the goal here.

[gaius]

This is not production quality code that is running on some important business.

Then why is it used in the interview process for the latter?

[thomasahle]

I don't think code shortening is ever used for interview questions?

[thallium205]

But if you're in a competitive environment that requires speed, why would you write for readability?

[saagarjha]

Because you’ll end up debugging the code an hour later when it fails on an edge case?

[kevmo314]

The really good competitors won't make that sort of mistake...

[jack9]

Because you probably have to re-read some, if not most, of the code while working through a solution.