Codility now offers session replay for VSCode Native tasks, giving reviewers the ability to watch back a candidate's coding session directly from the candidate report.
Rather than reviewing only the final submitted code, you can observe how the candidate worked through the task over time: including file navigation, code edits, and terminal usage.
Availability
Session Replay for VSCode Tasks in Interview is available for all accounts.
Session Replay for VSCode Tasks in Screen is currently available for selected accounts only. Please contact us if you would like to try this feature.
How It Works
When a candidate works on a VSCode Native task, Codility automatically records their coding session in the background. No action is required from the candidate or the reviewer. The recording is stored securely and made available in the candidate report once the session ends.
Accessing the Replay
Open the candidate report for a completed session that included a VSCode task.
Navigate to the task details for the relevant VSCode task.
Click the Replay tab (next to the Solution tab) to open the session replay.
Use the timeline to navigate through the candidate's session.
What You'll See
The replay shows a visual reconstruction of the candidate's VSCode session as they experienced it. You can:
Watch the candidate's code edits, file navigation, and terminal activity over time.
Use the timeline bar to jump to any point in the session.
Switch between the Solution view (final code) and the Replay view at any time.
Known Limitations
Behavioural signals on timeline: Proctoring signals such as copy/paste and tab-switching are tracked during the session but are not yet displayed on the replay timeline. This is planned for a future update.
Terminal and AI Copilot recording: Terminal output and AI Copilot interactions are recorded in most sessions, but occasional gaps have been observed. This is being investigated.
Missing recordings: In some cases, a recording may not be available. This can happen if the candidate's browser has ad-blocking extensions or privacy tools that interfere with the recording, or if there are network-level restrictions. When a recording is unavailable, the Replay tab will not appear. The candidate's submitted code is always accessible in the Solution view.
Icon rendering: Some VSCode icons may not render correctly in the replay due to font loading. This is cosmetic and does not affect the code replay.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this work for all task types? No. Replay is available only for VSCode Native tasks. Classic single-file tasks have their own existing timeline and code playback.
Why is the Replay tab missing for some candidates? Some browser extensions - particularly ad blockers and privacy tools - can prevent the session from being recorded. This does not affect the candidate's ability to complete the task. If you notice inconsistent replay availability across candidates, this is the most likely cause.
What data does the recording capture? The recording captures screen-level visual activity within the VSCode IDE only. There is no keylogging, credential capture, or access to data outside the assessment environment.
Is the candidate aware their session is being recorded? Candidates are informed that their session activity may be recorded and reviewed as part of the assessment.
Got questions or feedback? Please reach out to your Customer Success Manager or contact us at support@codility.com.