[mstrem]

I feel this is a generalisation. A lot of coding assignments are unrelated to the actual work and have no value to the potential employer besides assessing skills.

[mesaframe]

That still doesn't justify wasting someone's time.

[nwsm]

You think they are intentionally wasting candidates' time in a way that does not benefit them at all?

[mesaframe]

They are being selfish I'd say. Trying to save their time on the basis of projects in the meantime wasting interviewee's time.

[bri3d]

I strongly doubt the take-home assignment is project code - not only would that be a legal minefield, but they couldn't compare across candidates. It's probably a standardized test. I personally vastly prefer these interviews to in-person whiteboard trivia sessions.

[mesaframe]

By project I mean any project. Related to work or not.