I completely agree that having candidates solve trivia, puzzles, riddles, and brainteasers on a whiteboard is an extremely poor method of evaluation. Outstandi

I completely agree that having candidates solve trivia, puzzles, riddles, and brainteasers on a whiteboard is an extremely poor method of evaluation. Outstanding developers can mentally freeze when asked to solve even fairly trivial problems in front of a critical audience. Having candidates use a whiteboard to illustrate and explain details of projects or problems that they have previously worked is far more productive. You then drill them within their familiar context regarding their design choices and present them with what-if scenarios that might have changed their approach. It is more realistic and it helps put candidates at ease so you can better evaluate their thought processes, enthusiasm, and practices. I cannot recall a real-world situation where a developer had to solve a detailed problem in front of a critical audience. In front of a critical audience, you either know the answer or you say when you can have the answer.