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AMPL+ is a high-level programming language specifically designed for mathematical optimization. Developed in the late 1980s by Robert Fourer, David Gay, and Brian Kernighan at Bell Laboratories, it offers an algebraic modeling language that simplifies the creation and maintenance of large-scale optimization problems. AMPL+'s unique design allows for seamless integration with various solvers and data sources. It is considered a powerful tool in operations research and analytics, widely used in industries ranging from logistics to energy planning. Sources of information on AMPL+ include academic publications, official documentation, and the creators' book "AMPL: A Modeling Language for Mathematical Programming".

Ask the right questions secure the right AMPL+ talent among an increasingly shrinking pool of talent.

First 20 minutes

General AMPL+ app knowledge and experience

The first 20 minutes of the interview should seek to understand the candidate's general background in AMPL+ application development, including their experience with various programming languages, databases, and their approach to designing scalable and maintainable systems.

What are the basic elements of an AMPL+ model?

The basic elements of an AMPL+ model are parameters, variables, objectives, and constraints.

How would you define a variable in AMPL+?

You can define a variable in AMPL+ by using the 'var' keyword followed by the variable name and optionally its bounds.

What is the purpose of the 'set' element in AMPL+?

The 'set' element in AMPL+ is used to define a collection of items, which can be used in parameters, variables, constraints, and objectives.

Describe the difference between a parameter and a variable in AMPL+.

In AMPL+, a parameter is a constant value that does not change during the optimization process, while a variable is a value that the solver can change to optimize the objective function.

How would you define a constraint in AMPL+?

You can define a constraint in AMPL+ by using the 'subject to' keyword followed by the constraint name and its mathematical expression.

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What you’re looking for early on

Does the candidate have a strong understanding of AMPL+?

Has the candidate demonstrated problem-solving skills?

Is the candidate able to communicate effectively?

Does the candidate have relevant experience or projects?

Next 20 minutes

Specific AMPL+ development questions

The next 20 minutes of the interview should focus on the candidate's expertise with specific backend frameworks, their understanding of RESTful APIs, and their experience in handling data storage and retrieval efficiently.

What is the role of the 'solve' statement in AMPL+?

The 'solve' statement in AMPL+ is used to start the optimization process. It instructs the solver to find the optimal values of the variables that minimize or maximize the objective function subject to the constraints.

What are the two types of objective functions in AMPL+?

The two types of objective functions in AMPL+ are 'minimize' and 'maximize'.

How would you specify a data file in AMPL+?

You can specify a data file in AMPL+ by using the 'data' keyword followed by the file name.

Describe the difference between 'in' and 'within' keyword in AMPL+.

'In' keyword is used to specify a set that a parameter or variable belongs to, while 'within' keyword is used to specify the bounds of a variable.

How would you write a multi-objective optimization problem in AMPL+?

AMPL+ does not directly support multi-objective optimization. However, you can write a multi-objective optimization problem by transforming it into a single-objective problem using techniques such as weighted sum method or goal programming.

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At this point, a skilled AMPL+ engineer should demonstrate strong problem-solving abilities, proficiency in AMPL+ programming language, and knowledge of software development methodologies. Red flags include lack of hands-on experience, inability to articulate complex concepts, or unfamiliarity with standard coding practices.

Digging deeper

Code questions

These will help you see the candidate's real-world development capabilities with AMPL+.

What does the following AMPL+ code do?
var x >= 0, <= 10, integer;
This code declares an integer variable 'x' with a lower bound of 0 and an upper bound of 10.
What will be the output of the following AMPL+ code?
param n := 5; set S := 1..n; display S;
The output will be a set S containing the numbers from 1 to 5.
What does the following AMPL+ code do?
param n := 5; set S := 1..n; set T := {i in S | i mod 2 = 0};
This code creates a set T that contains all even numbers from the set S.
What does the following AMPL+ code do?
param n := 5; set S := 1..n; minimize cost: sum {i in S} i;
This code defines an optimization problem that minimizes the sum of the numbers in set S.

Wrap-up questions

Final candidate for AMPL+ Developer role questions

The final few questions should evaluate the candidate's teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills. Additionally, assess their knowledge of microservices architecture, serverless computing, and how they handle AMPL+ application deployments. Inquire about their experience in handling system failures and their approach to debugging and troubleshooting.

What is the purpose of the 'option' statement in AMPL+?

The 'option' statement in AMPL+ is used to set options for the solver, such as the solver name, time limit, and tolerance.

How would you handle uncertainty in parameters in AMPL+?

AMPL+ does not directly support uncertainty in parameters. However, you can handle uncertainty by using techniques such as stochastic programming or robust optimization, which involve defining scenarios or uncertainty sets for the parameters and modifying the model accordingly.

Describe the difference between 'let' and 'param' keyword in AMPL+.

'Let' keyword is used to assign a value to a parameter or variable in the model, while 'param' keyword is used to define a parameter.

AMPL+ application related

Product Perfect's AMPL+ development capabilities

Beyond hiring for your AMPL+ engineering team, you may be in the market for additional help. Product Perfect provides seasoned expertise in AMPL+ projects, and can engage in multiple capacities.

AMPL+ Consultive assessments

AMPL+ Application Conversion Assessment AMPL+ Application Integration Assessment AMPL+ Data & Database Integration Assessment

Custom AMPL+ development projects

Custom AMPL+ App Conversion AMPL+ Custom App Development Process App UI Design for AMPL+ Facelifts

Hiring guide for AMPL+ Engineers

AMPL+ Developer Hiring Guide

What you’re looking for early on

The ideal back-end app developer

What you’re looking to see on the AMPL+ engineer at this point.

AMPL+ Consultive assessments

Custom AMPL+ development projects