Too much time in T-SQL. My straight answer is "I wouldn't -- it's not a practical tool for that job."
There is a distinct possibility that a question like that is a trick question, a trap for geeks that like to fiddle without regard to practicality. Or maybe they're looking for impractical geek types. Who knows.
Peter Schott (2/7/2014)
Nadrek (2/7/2014)
Knut Boehnert (2/7/2014)
"How would you fill a coffee cup in T-SQL?"Well, I'd probably start off development by using xp_cmdshell to interface with the driver for the stepper motor or motors controlling the cup and the coffeepot. That's a security hole, though, so I'd have to explore other communications options to the stepper driver; perhaps a CLR procedure would work well.
Strangely, that's the same way I was thinking. Too much time around labs with automation software driving their tests, I guess. 🙂