[jjmarr]

These are called take-home interviews. They exist and applicants HATE THEM for being too long/"free work".

[Aurornis]

In my experience most candidates actually love them. They prefer the lower pressure and better relevance to the job.

If you give candidates the choice between a short take home or a 1-hour on-site technical round, almost everyone picks the take home. We’ve tried it.

It’s only online that you get the rants about “free work”, but the people making those complaints usually hate on-site technical interviews equally.

[pelagicAustral]

Well, yeah I know about take-homes, I mean 2 3 hours tops. In-office.