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Early-stage Startup·Software Engineer·Take-home Assignment·Intermediate

IntermediateRejected
May 2026

Summary

Bombed a practical coding interview where I had to fix bugs in a downloaded repo while keeping all existing tests green. The format was actually kind of cool, just not great for me on the day.

Questions Asked (1)

Q1

Given a repository with a set of known bugs, fix as many as possible with minimal code changes while keeping all existing tests passing. You may use any tools including AI.

Root Cause AnalysisTechnical Trade-offsAdaptability & Ambiguity
Author's notes

The 'minimal and surgical' constraint is what got me.

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AI HintsAI Generated

Suggested Approach

Start by running the test suite to establish a baseline and identify failing tests. Then triage bugs by impact and complexity, fixing the simplest high-impact ones first with minimal changes. After each fix, re-run tests to ensure no regressions, and document your reasoning and trade-offs.

Pro tip: Use AI tools to quickly generate candidate fixes, but always validate them with tests and manual review—AI can introduce subtle bugs. Prioritize fixes that address root causes rather than symptoms, as this often leads to more robust solutions with fewer changes.

1. Baseline and Triage

Run the full test suite to see which tests fail and get a baseline. List all known bugs and categorize them by severity, impact, and estimated effort.

2. Prioritize and Plan

Choose bugs that are high-impact and low-effort to fix first, aiming for quick wins. Plan minimal changes that address root causes without broad refactoring.

3. Implement and Test Incrementally

Fix one bug at a time, making the smallest possible change. After each fix, run the relevant tests and then the full suite to catch regressions early.

4. Leverage Tools Wisely

Use AI or static analysis tools to suggest fixes or identify patterns, but critically evaluate their output. Verify that any suggested change is correct and minimal.

5. Review and Document

After all fixes, review the changes for quality and consistency. Document what was fixed, how, and any trade-offs made, to communicate your process clearly.

Key Points to Mention

  • Root cause analysis: identify underlying issues rather than patching symptoms.
  • Minimal code changes: avoid unnecessary refactoring to reduce risk.
  • Test-driven approach: use existing tests as a safety net and run them frequently.
  • Prioritization: focus on high-impact, low-effort bugs first to maximize value.
  • Trade-offs: balance speed, correctness, and maintainability; explain decisions.
  • Tool usage: leverage AI and debugging tools but validate their suggestions.
  • Adaptability: be prepared to adjust approach based on new information from tests.

AI-generated suggestions, not part of the candidate's original notes. May be inaccurate — verify before relying on them.