Product Perfect

Averest is a specialized computer software programming language primarily designed for synchronous systems. It was developed by researchers at the University of Saarland, Germany, and Verimag Labs, France in the early 2000s (Averest: Specification, Verification, and Implementation of Reactive Systems). Averest's unique selling point is its focus on formal verification methods to ensure system correctness. The language incorporates high-level synthesis techniques to translate abstract specifications into efficient circuits. Averest continues to be an important tool in the field of hardware design and verification due to its emphasis on accuracy and efficiency.

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

First 20 minutes

General Averest app knowledge and experience

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

How would you describe the main uses of Averest?

Averest is primarily used for formal verification of synchronous systems, synthesis of synchronous software, and teaching synchronous programming and formal methods.

What are the key features of Averest?

Key features of Averest include its ability to handle synchronous reactive systems, its compiler for the synchronous language Quartz, and its integrated model checker.

How would you install Averest on a Linux system?

To install Averest on a Linux system, you would first download the Averest distribution. Then, you would extract the files, navigate to the directory, and run the 'make' command to compile the software.

Describe the difference between synchronous and asynchronous programming.

In synchronous programming, operations block instructions until the task is completed, while in asynchronous programming, operations can execute concurrently and do not wait for other tasks to complete.

What are the main components of the Averest toolkit?

The main components of the Averest toolkit are the Quartz compiler, the model checker, and the synthesis tools.

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What you’re looking for early on

Does the candidate show a strong understanding of Averest language?

Is the candidate capable of problem-solving and critical thinking?

How well does the candidate communicate?

Does the candidate show a willingness to learn and adapt?

Next 20 minutes

Specific Averest 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 use Averest to verify a synchronous system?

To verify a synchronous system using Averest, you would first describe the system in the Quartz language. Then, you would use the Averest toolkit to compile the Quartz code and check the system against a set of properties using the model checker.

Describe the difference between the Quartz language and other synchronous languages.

The Quartz language is specifically designed for the Averest toolkit and includes features for specifying properties and assertions, which are not typically found in other synchronous languages.

What are the steps to synthesize synchronous software using Averest?

To synthesize synchronous software using Averest, you would first describe the desired behavior in the Quartz language. Then, you would use the Averest toolkit to compile the Quartz code and synthesize the software.

How would you handle errors in Averest?

Handling errors in Averest would involve analyzing the error message, debugging the Quartz code, and possibly adjusting the properties or assertions in the code.

Describe the difference between model checking and synthesis in the context of Averest.

Model checking in Averest involves verifying that a system described in Quartz satisfies a set of properties, while synthesis involves generating software that realizes a specified behavior.

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

What does this simple Averest code do?
module HelloWorld;
always
  println("Hello, world!");
end
This code prints the string 'Hello, world!' to the console.
What does this Averest code do?
module Counter;
var x: uint<8>;
initial begin
  x = 0;
end
always begin
  x = x + 1;
end
end
This code defines a module named 'Counter' that contains a 8-bit unsigned integer variable 'x'. The initial block sets 'x' to 0. The always block increments 'x' by 1 in each iteration.
What will be the output of this Averest code?
module ArrayManipulation;
var a: array[uint<8>] of uint<8>;
initial begin
  for(var i = 0; i < 10; i = i + 1) begin
    a[i] = i * 2;
  end
end
always begin
  for(var i = 0; i < 10; i = i + 1) begin
    println(a[i]);
  end
end
end
This code will print the elements of the array 'a'. The array 'a' contains the first 10 even numbers starting from 0.
What does this Averest code do?
module Thread;
var x: uint<8>;
initial begin
  x = 0;
end
always begin
  wait(x == 10);
  println("x reached 10");
end
always begin
  x = x + 1;
end
end
This code defines a module 'Thread' that contains a 8-bit unsigned integer variable 'x'. The initial block sets 'x' to 0. The first always block waits until 'x' equals 10 and then prints 'x reached 10'. The second always block increments 'x' by 1 in each iteration.

Wrap-up questions

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

What are the limitations of using Averest for formal verification?

Limitations of using Averest for formal verification include the complexity of the system being verified, the difficulty of expressing certain properties in Quartz, and the computational resources required for model checking.

How would you optimize the performance of Averest?

Optimizing the performance of Averest could involve refining the Quartz code, adjusting the properties or assertions, or improving the computational resources available for model checking and synthesis.

Describe the difference between Averest and other formal verification tools.

Averest is specifically designed for synchronous systems and includes a compiler for the Quartz language, which sets it apart from other formal verification tools that may not support synchronous programming or have their own dedicated languages.

Averest application related

Product Perfect's Averest development capabilities

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

Averest Consultive assessments

Averest Application Conversion Assessment Averest Application Integration Assessment Averest Data & Database Integration Assessment

Custom Averest development projects

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

Hiring guide for Averest Engineers

Averest Developer Hiring Guide

What you’re looking for early on

The ideal back-end app developer

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

Averest Consultive assessments

Custom Averest development projects