Code Detective

AI writes code fast and confidently. Your job is to know when it's wrong.

• Code that looks right 8 min
• The detective's checklist 6 min

Understand what code does before you trust it, or run it.

• Run it in your head 8 min
• What is it trying to do? 8 min
• Python's traps 8 min

Empty, one, all the same, negative, the biggest: the inputs that expose bugs.

• Empty and one 9 min
• Repeats and order 10 min
• Off by one 10 min
• The biggest inputs 9 min

Decide the right answer first, test on purpose, and let a simple version check a clever one.

• What makes a good test 9 min
• A simple version as referee 12 min
• Bugs that hide 10 min

Read the error, find the line, fix the cause, including bugs with no error at all.

• Read the error 10 min
• Find it fast 10 min
• Bugs with no error 10 min

Spot the hidden loop-inside-a-loop before it times out.

• Hidden loops 10 min
• Race the clock 8 min
• Make it fast 10 min

Real-style AI solutions to interview problems: correct, wrong, and slow.

• Review the answer 12 min
• Correct isn't enough 10 min
• Write it up 6 min

Ask precisely, ask for tests, and know when to trust the answer.

• Ask precisely 8 min
• Trust, verify, or rewrite 7 min