true, it is not about programming, but how much programming does a programmer do? this is over a phone interview and I hate asking actual "type this code" in p

true, it is not about programming, but how much programming does a programmer do? this is over a phone interview and I hate asking actual "type this code" in phone interviews. The way I view this question is the way I view, say, a carpenter. A carpenter must know the different types of wood, the milling technique, etc. Of course, they don't need to know it to any great extent, but have a rough idea because in the course of their work they might come across something new to them, and need to rely on the fundamentals.