Product Perfect

AutoIt is a freeware automation language for Microsoft Windows, originally developed in 1999. It uses a combination of simulated keystrokes, mouse movement and window/control manipulation to automate tasks not possible by Windows batch files. AutoIt was primarily designed to assist in automatically installing software that cannot be directly automated using standard Windows automation. The scripting language in AutoIt 1 and 2 was statement-driven and designed specifically for simulating user interaction. In its third iteration, it became more powerful and started supporting complex expressions, user functions, loops and everything else that veteran scripters or programmers would expect.

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

First 20 minutes

General AutoIt app knowledge and experience

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

How would you declare a variable in AutoIt?

To declare a variable in AutoIt, you use the 'Local' or 'Global' keyword before the variable name. For example, 'Local $variable'.

What are the main types of loops in AutoIt?

The main types of loops in AutoIt are For, While, Do-Until, and ForEach.

How would you handle errors in AutoIt?

AutoIt has an error handling model that uses the '@error' macro to return an error code. You can also use the 'SetError' function to set an error level.

Describe the difference between the functions StringInStr and StringReplace in AutoIt.

StringInStr function is used to find the position of a substring in a string, while StringReplace function is used to replace all occurrences of a substring in a string with another string.

What are the ways to run an external program in AutoIt?

You can use the Run or ShellExecute function to run an external program in AutoIt.

The hiring guide has been successfully sent to your email address.

Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

What you’re looking for early on

Does the candidate have a solid understanding of AutoIt scripting language?

Has the candidate demonstrated problem-solving skills?

Can the candidate communicate effectively about technical concepts?

Does the candidate have experience with automation processes?

Next 20 minutes

Specific AutoIt 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.

How would you read and write to a file in AutoIt?

You can use the FileRead and FileWrite functions to read and write to a file in AutoIt.

What is the purpose of the AutoIt Window Info Tool?

The AutoIt Window Info Tool is a utility that provides information about a window, such as its title, text, size, position, and control information, which can be useful in scripting.

Describe the difference between the functions GUICtrlCreateLabel and GUICtrlCreateInput in AutoIt.

GUICtrlCreateLabel function is used to create a text label on a GUI, while GUICtrlCreateInput function is used to create an input box where the user can enter text.

How would you handle arrays in AutoIt?

You can use the Dim, ReDim, UBound, and _ArrayAdd functions to handle arrays in AutoIt.

What are the main types of variables in AutoIt?

The main types of variables in AutoIt are String, Integer, Float, Boolean, Array, and Object.

The hiring guide has been successfully sent to your email address.

Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

At this point, a skilled AutoIt engineer should demonstrate strong problem-solving abilities, proficiency in AutoIt 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 AutoIt.

What does the following AutoIt code do?
MsgBox(0, 'Test', 'Hello, World!')
This code displays a message box with the title 'Test' and the message 'Hello, World!'
What will be the output of the following AutoIt code?
Local $i = 5
If $i > 3 Then
    ConsoleWrite('Greater than 3')
Else
    ConsoleWrite('Less than or equal to 3')
EndIf
The output will be 'Greater than 3' because the value of $i is 5 which is greater than 3.
What does the following AutoIt code do?
Local $aArray[3] = ['Apple', 'Banana', 'Cherry']
For $i = 0 To UBound($aArray) - 1
    ConsoleWrite($aArray[$i] & @CRLF)
Next
This code declares an array with three elements and then iterates over the array, printing each element to the console.
What does the following AutoIt code do?
Local $i = 0
While $i < 5
    ConsoleWrite($i & @CRLF)
    $i += 1
WEnd
This code prints the numbers 0 through 4 to the console. It uses a while loop to increment the value of $i until it is no longer less than 5.

Wrap-up questions

Final candidate for AutoIt 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 AutoIt application deployments. Inquire about their experience in handling system failures and their approach to debugging and troubleshooting.

How would you create a GUI in AutoIt?

You can use the GUICreate function to create a GUI in AutoIt, and then use other GUI functions to add controls to the GUI.

What is the purpose of the AutoIt Script Editor?

The AutoIt Script Editor, also known as SciTE, is a full-featured text editor that has been customized for editing AutoIt scripts. It provides features such as syntax highlighting, code folding, and auto-completion.

Describe the difference between the functions MsgBox and ConsoleWrite in AutoIt.

MsgBox function is used to display a message box with a specified text and buttons, while ConsoleWrite function is used to write a text to the standard output, which is typically the console or the SciTE output pane.

AutoIt application related

Product Perfect's AutoIt development capabilities

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

AutoIt Consultive assessments

AutoIt Application Conversion Assessment AutoIt Application Integration Assessment AutoIt Data & Database Integration Assessment

Custom AutoIt development projects

Custom AutoIt App Conversion AutoIt Custom App Development Process App UI Design for AutoIt Facelifts

Hiring guide for AutoIt Engineers

AutoIt Developer Hiring Guide

What you’re looking for early on

The ideal back-end app developer

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

AutoIt Consultive assessments

Custom AutoIt development projects