3 min read

What Is a Live Coding Interview?

joseph cole

Updated on September 9, 2025

What Is a Live Coding Interview?

joseph cole

Updated on September 9, 2025

In this post

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Hiring technical talent has never been more competitive. Resumes and multiple-choice tests often fail to reveal whether a candidate can actually code under real-world conditions. That’s why companies are increasingly turning to live coding interview software.

In fact, according to our research, 76% of recruiters say traditional interviews don’t reliably measure coding ability, while 65% of hiring managers prefer live technical assessments because they mirror on-the-job tasks. Live coding sessions bring clarity to the process by showing what candidates can actually do in real time.

Glider AI makes this process smoother with a secure, collaborative IDE, AI proctoring, and integrated reporting. Instead of whiteboard puzzles or theoretical questions, recruiters and hiring managers get to see candidates demonstrate real coding skills in a setting that feels familiar and fair.

What is a Live Coding Interview. Definition.

Purpose of Live Coding Interviews


The primary goal of a live coding interview is to assess how a candidate applies their technical knowledge under real conditions.

  • Evaluate hard skills: Measure proficiency in specific languages, frameworks, and tools.
  • Assess problem-solving: See how candidates debug, test, and explain their code.
  • Simulate real-world work: Mirror the technical challenges of the job itself.
  • Reduce false positives: Go beyond resumes to validate actual ability.
  • Support collaboration: Observe how candidates communicate and pair program.

How Live Coding Interviews Work


Live coding interviews follow a structured process that balances rigor with candidate experience:

  1. Candidates join a secure, cloud-based coding environment.
  2. Interviewers assign coding tasks based on role requirements.
  3. Candidates solve problems in real time, using familiar tools.
  4. Recruiters and engineers observe, provide prompts, and take notes.
  5. Sessions are recorded and scored, with automated insights available instantly.

The result is a fair, transparent process that highlights both technical skill and problem-solving approach.

Key Features of Glider AI Live Coding Interviews


Many coding tests rely on contrived puzzles that don’t reflect actual work. Glider AI was built to replicate real-world technical environments, giving candidates a fair chance to demonstrate their skills and giving hiring teams the insights they need.

Here’s what makes Glider AI Live Coding Interviews different:

Real-World Coding SimulationCandidates code in a secure IDE with compilers, build tools, and package managers.
Broad Language CoverageSupport for over 250 languages, frameworks, and libraries.
Pair Programming ModeReplicates collaboration to assess teamwork and communication.
Replay and CalibrationRecord and replay sessions for training, fairness, and comparison.
Integrated AI ProctoringDetects plagiarism, impersonation, and suspicious activity.
AI Assistant for CandidatesGuides candidates during sessions, clarifies instructions, and reduces confusion without giving away answers.
ATS IntegrationLaunch and manage live coding sessions directly from your ATS.
Candidate-Friendly ExperienceFamiliar tools reduce anxiety and allow candidates to focus on coding.
Data-Backed ReportsAutomated insights highlight problem-solving ability, skill level, and fit for the role.

Benefits of Live Coding Interviews


Live coding interviews aren’t just about screening out unqualified candidates — they’re about building confidence in hiring decisions.

  • Objective results: Replace guesswork with observable skills.
  • Faster hiring: Reduce the number of interview rounds by validating skills early.
  • Fairer assessments: Every candidate is measured against the same tasks.
  • Improved candidate experience: Familiar tools and clear structure reduce stress.
  • Better team alignment: Recorded sessions make it easy to share insights with stakeholders.

FAQs About Live Coding Interviews


What is the purpose of a live coding interview?
To evaluate technical skills, problem-solving ability, and real-world coding performance in real time.

Are live coding interviews stressful for candidates?
They can be, but Glider AI reduces stress by using familiar tools, clear instructions, and candidate-friendly design.

How do live coding interviews prevent cheating?
With AI proctoring, secure environments, and plagiarism detection, integrity is maintained throughout.

Do live coding interviews work for all roles?
Yes. While especially common for developers, they can also be tailored for data scientists, QA engineers, and other technical positions.

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