Hiring Good Coders

"Why the new guy can't code?", a very good article from TechCrunch (no less), got me to thinking about my hiring practices when looking for new programmers.  My favorite and best programmers are those that do it for fun, not as a way to get the bills paid.  The best ones always have a project on the side, because they can't get away from it.  They have cool projects that they can brag about and are eager to share specifics.  During interviews, I look for that.  Those are the guys (and gals) who have the passion to do something right and figure out complex problems.  

As an example, a while ago I hired a new grad out of NC State, here local to RTP.  NC State has a terrific CompSci program, but what convinced me about this fellow was his personal web page and links to applications and algorithmic problems he was working on for fun, on his own.  I hired him, and never regretted him.  That was a job ago, but I still keep in touch for him and would love to have him on my current team, if the opportunity ever presents itself.