If they're running your code against actual production data, that crosses the line into questionable territory. I've been given programming tests before, but t

If they're running your code against actual production data, that crosses the line into questionable territory. I've been given programming tests before, but they were always for hypothetical problems that were open-ended. That way, each candidate solved the problem in a different way which was when discussed during the interview process. In your case, it sounds like they wanted you to solve a specific real world problem they are dealing with.