[poulsbohemian]

I think we've all seen this scenario you describe... I'm not opposed at all to there being some code in an interview - assuming it is a coding role. Too often though the exercises seem to be designed as a "gotcha" or to show how "smart" the interview is, rather than to augment the discussion. Or, as others have pointed out, actually end up demonstrating incompetence on the part of the interviewer as they don't understand their own question or the possible alternative solutions to their question.

At least twice been invited to interview for roles that were not hands-on-keyboard roles, yet the entire interview process was coding activities. That's the kind of thing that drives me nuts, as it makes it obvious that the company doesn't even know what they want to hire. At least one of the times was a company that shows up on HN as a "darling", which makes me even angrier...