I agree there are some very good fake programmers. And I haven't interviewed as many programmers, more like tens of them but I had good luck discussing the issu

I agree there are some very good fake programmers. And I haven't interviewed as many programmers, more like tens of them but I had good luck discussing the issues I was having at work. For example, I might tell them about a bug I am working on or even show code on my laptop. Good programmers actually wanted to solve the issue. Many solved or made useful suggestions. Fake programmers usually had pretty hard time, even had troubles verbalizing questions to ask. And sometime I turn tables and ask them what they are stuck at work and I try to help them. With good programmers, we had good discussion and sometimes actually solved their issues. Bad programmers never had any issues.