Dev atrophy test
Learning and science
coding quiz
SHOW HN2025
How HN took it
0 positive, 4 neutral or asking, 0 mixed, 12 critical, out of 16 comments about the project. Thread score -0.67.
Execution: 0 for, 7 againstIdea: 0 for, 2 against
The thread, comment by comment
Each row is a top-level comment and its replies, in HN's order. Select a cell to open that comment on HN.
positive neutral or mixed critical about another commenter or something else the maker
What HN said
What people liked
Fun quiz idea
From 1 comment
Always love a fun quiz, but some of the example answers are just incorrect. Eg: `document.example('example')` to select a HTML button element. Others are to rigid to allow the…
hailpixel on HN
Objections
Some example answers are incorrect or too rigid
From 5 comments
Always love a fun quiz, but some of the example answers are just incorrect. Eg: `document.example('example')` to select a HTML button element. Others are to rigid to allow the…
hailpixel on HNHave you even dogfooded your quiz once before publishing to the Web? > JS methods to select an element > YOUR ANSWER > getMethod: "getQuerySelectorAll" > EXAMPLE CORRECT ANSWER >…
bmn__ on HNYour button answer is wrong though because the input tag can't have content. The version using input should be <input type="submit" value="Submit" />.
Stoo on HNHaving said that, I did just get marked down for having filter(num => num % 2 === 0) when the correct answer shouild (apparently) be filter(x => x % 2 === 0) so it's not great.
Stoo on HNsome of the tests and standard answers are strange such as the one with debounced function not considering whether there should only be 1 arg / the dev could use the arguments…
evadne on HN
Questions only cover web development, not software broadly
From 2 comments
Typical of the dark side of HN, thinking that web programming represents software development, instead of being just one kind of information systems, which are a subset of…
pif on HN"Questions cover HTML, CSS, JavaScript, databases, and Node." Ah yes, as if Web development = All coding
justcommenter on HN
Test measures memorization rather than real skill
From 2 comments
being good at software design isn't about memorizing the specific details of a single language or subjects languages are subject to change hire people who are good at finding…
rijoja on HNI don’t see in which context coding without aid is helpful: - at work, nobody cares. They only want shipped features. - at home, I only care about having fun (and that doesn’t…
dakiol on HN
Requests
Fix incorrect example answers and grading
From 2 comments
Have you even dogfooded your quiz once before publishing to the Web? > JS methods to select an element > YOUR ANSWER > getMethod: "getQuerySelectorAll" > EXAMPLE CORRECT ANSWER >…
bmn__ on HNHaving said that, I did just get marked down for having filter(num => num % 2 === 0) when the correct answer shouild (apparently) be filter(x => x % 2 === 0) so it's not great.
Stoo on HN
Broaden topics beyond web development
From 1 comment
"Questions cover HTML, CSS, JavaScript, databases, and Node." Ah yes, as if Web development = All coding
justcommenter on HN
Questions
Is AI causing skill atrophy among developers?
From 1 comment
How do you know it isn't laziness or lack of ability rather than AI?
From 1 comment
> This is almost always a consequence of relying too much on ChatGPT and vibe coding tools. How do you know it's not because they are to put it bluntly stupid or lazy?
rijoja on HN
Alternatives named
Claude Code
From 1 comment
Always love a fun quiz, but some of the example answers are just incorrect. Eg: `document.example('example')` to select a HTML button element. Others are to rigid to allow the…
hailpixel on HN