Run mock coding interviews with live editing and private notes.
Codepad started as a tool I wanted for myself. Running a mock would mean juggling two browser tabs: the code in one, a Google Doc for notes in the other, and a lot of copy-paste between them. So I built one URL that holds both. The private notes panel lives in the side rail. The code editor is, well, the editor.
Codepad puts interviewer and candidate in the same buffer, keystroke by keystroke, with live cursors showing who is working where. The interviewer gets a private notes panel alongside it that the candidate never sees. No extra tabs, no screen share, no “can you paste that again?”
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.
- Edit together - live cursors, shared selections, and syntax highlighting for 40+ languages. One click and you are both in the same buffer.
- Score while they type - open the notes panel in the side rail (only you can see it) and jot timestamps, check rubric items, and rate trade-offs. Your candidate never sees it.
Private notes for scoring
The notes panel lives in the side rail, next to the code. It is stored against your own identity rather than in the shared document, so it never travels with the pad: not in the URL, not in presence, not in the share link. Every person on a pad gets their own. 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 leaving the pad.
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, tabs, and private notes all live in the same pad. No juggling browser windows.
- 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, and send the link to your candidate. There is no onboarding flow, no candidate invite email, and no install on either side.
- Can the candidate see my private notes or rubric?
- No. The notes panel is yours alone. Your notes are stored against your own identity, never in the shared document, so they cannot reach the candidate through the pad, presence, or the 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 and paste your prompt - your candidate is one link away from a coding session with live cursors and private scoring.