[jeroen]

"I ask them to do part of the job. Usually this means picking some fairly separable piece we need and asking them to write it."

[anatoly]

I have no recollection of reading this paragraph when I first read the submission. Maybe I skipped it somehow. Anyway, this doesn't make it clear whether this is done face-to-face as part of the interview, or offline. I also doubt it's practical.

[tsetse-fly]

Sorry, you're right.

I don't think that paragraph and the proceeding one was there when I originally read the post. Seems it's been edited since it was submitted.

[telemachos]

Both you and Anatoly are right: the paragraphs were added later, based on comments here and to the blog itself.

See this thread in the comments on the blog (from the author): "The comments here and on Hacker News reminded me I left out a step. I’ve added it." (http://www.aaronsw.com/weblog/hiring#c9)

I just didn't want you two thinking you were crazy or somehow accidentally skipped two paragraphs.

[anatoly]

Thanks, much appreciated.