A startup in Berlin gave me a code challenge that would take at least 20 hours, I had even to deploy in specific version of the libraries, they give the datasets and etc.
I was very suspicious of being an actual feature development. I've said I would only do that if they would pay me to.
They answered that they feel very sorry for me because a lot of the candidates feel the coding challenge very challenging because they can learn new stuff and they love it
I had a pretty famous startup in Toronto decline a second interview because I flat out refused to do a take home test that probably would've been at least worth a day's exploration.
In comparison, a YC company (who eventually got acquired) actually responded very positively to my suggestion that I get paid to do the test they required, not dissimilar to bringing in a freelance contractor for a day.
I've heard places that actually do that and I believe it's the smaller company (startups) that would actually go about doing such a thing than a large company
I was very suspicious of being an actual feature development. I've said I would only do that if they would pay me to.
They answered that they feel very sorry for me because a lot of the candidates feel the coding challenge very challenging because they can learn new stuff and they love it
go figure