[IshKebab]

This sounds way way way worse than a simple test. I think the critical thing is that your online test shouldn't be difficult.

A simple fizz-buzz level test will narrow 700 candidates down to like 100, no need for arbitrary nonsense like linking to github profiles, contributing to open source or typos.

[LaffertyDev]

Respectfully disagree, especially in a world where simple tests will be solvable by LLMs/code-assist tools remotely.

* How would you proctor the test to know the candidates aren't cheating?

* How would your test actually test capability to program? (Assuming a legitimate test and not just a blind take-home proving you can code a todo-app...)

* What do you do when your test is leaked online?

* How is your test better than requiring an accredited degree from some institution? (which, for the record, I think is also not a great filter.)

The test is switching the filter from you filtering candidates to the candidates filtering you. Why apply to you when I can apply somewhere else? Interestingly, Canonical keeps coming up as a place to _not_ apply for because their entire process is bonkers: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39750181

I think asking candidates to fill out 18 pages of prose before talking to someone is inhumane.

[IshKebab]

Fair point about LLMs, but I'm still not sure it matters. Say 20% of applications cheat - what does it matter? They still aren't going to get the job, it just means your filter is slightly less efficient.

> How would you proctor the test to know the candidates aren't cheating?

I wouldn't. I would just add a note "if you cannot pass this test without cheating then continuing the application will be a waste of your time; we will do more tests in real life" (but nicely worded). I don't think candidates want to waste their own time either.

> How would your test actually test capability to program?

I'd probably use leetcode.com but with very easy questions (no dynamic programming!).

If you mean "how would I test good programming taste & architectural design skill?" then that is really hard. Take home problem is probably the best way, but I'd just make it a short one (1 hour max).

> What do you do when your test is leaked online?

Change it I guess. But it doesn't really matter anyway. We're talking about people who can't do FizzBuzz.

> How is your test better than requiring an accredited degree from some institution?

Because most programmers don't have a degree in programming, or even in CS. Do degrees in programming even exist?