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He mentions in the article that the interviewees DO write code in his process

No, he said that he would ask for a code sample or demo. There doesn't seem to be any programming involved during the interview.

"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."

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.

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.

Thanks, much appreciated.

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.

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