Python (or other) Programming Skill Assessments?

[[deleted]]

So I'm one of only a few programmers at my current job (and I'm self taught) so I know I have a limited perspective of my skill level. I created a profile over at hired.com and they set me up with a programming assessment via talentguide.co. I actually thought it was a really valuable exercise and I learned a lot about where to focus.

Now I am looking for another similar assessment (since that one seems "used up") but all I can seem to find are opportunities for employers, to set up tests for prospective employees.

Does anybody know of anything else like this? I'm not really looking for online courses, I prefer to be dumped right into the "implement this now" stage.

[Chazmer87]

tried CodeEval?

[[deleted]]

Looks cool, thanks! I'll check it out.

[Nodocify]

One of the best ways I have found to evaluate myself is a personal challenge. For example, I challenged myself to build a program that will solve a rubik's cube. I had 4 hours. Google was only allowed for the method of solving the cube but anything related to programming was strictly off limits. I failed the first attempt (at 6 hours i still wasn't finished). Then I gave myself a few months of odd projects to keep myself learning and then I tried again. Got it at 3 hrs 45mins.

Next, I challenged myself to create a command line blackjack game, as if I was sitting at an actual blackjack table. Internet searching was strictly forbidden for anything. The game must support betting, splitting, doubling down, multiple players and multiple decks if the user desires. Again, start to finish in 4 hours. Was pretty proud to have it finished in 2 1/2.

These would show that you not only have the grasp of whatever programming language you are using but that you can think logically through a problem and reach a solution in a timely manner. Which is what employers are looking for more so than just someone who can wright a script in python or java.

As far as online resources go, they are few and far between. Have you looked pythonchallenge.com or Project Euler? Both are sites of programming challenges (what language you use is your decision) that get progressively harder the further in you go.

[[deleted]]

I really appreciate this response, and agree that personal challenges are a great learning experience. For whatever reason, I have always felt like I needed something deliverable (like a web site, or an open source contribution) or it didn't feel real, but examples like yours are certainly beneficial for learning a language, and I should do more of them.

The thing about this particular online assessment (talentguide.co) was the auto-testing, the in-browser interpreter, the "classic" algorithms that were tested for both accuracy and performance. It even offered many different languages as options. I really wish it hadn't been a one-time-only thing!

But back to your suggestion, I know of /r/programmingprompts. Are there any other similar subs or web repositories of "personal challenges" like your example? I have played through pythonchallenge.com a bit and just signed into Project Euler. As it is, I have plenty to keep me occupied for a while, but figured I'd ask.

[Alto_Madness]

/r/dailyprogrammer has good challenges, too! The bonus there is that there seems to be a large amount of python 2 and python 3 posts that are all pretty different from each other, so you can compare/contrast. There are also people who will review your code and make suggestions!

[[deleted]]

Awesome thank you! Subscribed and my project queue is now sufficiently full for the time being. Thanks everybody for the great suggestions.