Run mock coding interviews with a shared timer and private notes.
Codepad started as a tool I wanted for myself. Running a mock would mean juggling three browser tabs: the code, a stopwatch, and a Google Doc for notes. So I built one URL that holds all three. The shared countdown lives in the title bar. The private notes panel lives in the side rail. The code editor is, well, the editor.
Coding interviews are timed, your practice should be too. Codepad puts a shared countdown timer in the title bar so both interviewer and candidate watch the same clock. No extra tabs, no phone stopwatch, no “how much time do I have left?”
How to run a mock interview
- Create a pad - one click from the dashboard. Paste your prompt into the first tab.
- Send the link - your candidate opens it in their browser. No signup, no install.
- Pick a duration - 25 minutes for a phone screen, 45 for a technical screen, 60 for an onsite, 90 for a take-home. One click starts the timer for both of you.
- Score while they type - open a private tab (only you can see it) and jot timestamps, check rubric items, and rate trade-offs. Your candidate never sees this tab.
A shared timer - synced to the second
The timer lives in the pad’s title bar. When you start it, your candidate sees the same arc drain in lockstep. Preset durations match standard interview formats:
- 25 minutes - phone screen
- 45 minutes - technical screen
- 60 minutes - onsite round
- 90 minutes - take-home session
Private notes for scoring
Mark any tab as private and it disappears from your candidate’s tab bar entirely - not in the URL, not in presence, not in the share link. Use it for:
- Rubric checklists - check items as the candidate demonstrates skills.
- Timestamped notes - “06:12 - asked about duplicates, good instinct.”
- Follow-up questions - plan your next question while they code.
- Working score - track a running score without switching tabs.
Why Codepad for interviews
- No candidate friction. No accounts, no downloads. They click a link and start coding.
- Real code editor. CodeMirror 6 with syntax highlighting for 40+ languages - not a textarea in disguise.
- Everything in one URL. Code, timer, and private notes all live in the same pad. No juggling tabs.
- Free, no plan upgrades. No seat counts, no per-interview pricing. Run as many mocks as you want.
Frequently asked questions
- How long does it take to set up a mock coding interview?
- Under a minute. Click "+ new pad", paste your prompt into the first tab, send the link to your candidate, and pick a timer duration. There is no onboarding flow, no candidate invite email, and no install on either side.
- What timer durations are available?
- Four presets: 25 minutes for a phone screen, 45 for a technical screen, 60 for an onsite round, and 90 for a take-home session. The countdown lives in the title bar and is synced to the second between interviewer and candidate.
- Can the candidate see my private notes or rubric?
- No. Private tabs and the notes panel are visible only to you. They do not appear in the candidate’s tab bar, presence, or share link. You can score and jot follow-ups freely while they type.
- Do I need an account to run a mock interview?
- No. Pick a display name once and start. Your candidate also does not need an account, just the URL.
- Is Codepad free for mock interviews?
- Yes. Codepad is free with no plan upgrades, no seat counts, and no per-interview pricing. Run as many mocks as you want.
Start a mock interview
Create a pad, paste your prompt, pick a timer - your candidate is one link away from a timed coding session with live cursors and private scoring.