Hiring guide for Concurrent Versions System Engineers

Concurrent Versions System Developer Hiring Guide

The Concurrent Versions System (CVS) is a version control system that allows multiple developers to work on a project simultaneously without overwriting each other's changes. It was developed in the 1980s as a way to manage different versions of source code and keep track of modifications made over time. CVS uses a client-server architecture where developers can check out copies of the source code, make changes locally, and then commit those changes back to the server. This system also supports branching and merging, which enables developers to create separate lines of development and combine them later. Despite its age, CVS remains in use today, although it has largely been superseded by more modern version control systems like Git and Subversion.

Ask the right questions secure the right Concurrent Versions System talent among an increasingly shrinking pool of talent.

First 20 minutes

General Concurrent Versions System app knowledge and experience

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

How would you initialize a CVS repository?
You can initialize a CVS repository by using the 'cvs init' command. This command should be run in the directory where you want the repository to be created.
What are the basic commands used in CVS?
Some of the basic commands used in CVS include 'cvs init', 'cvs checkout', 'cvs add', 'cvs commit', 'cvs update', and 'cvs diff'.
Describe the difference between 'cvs update' and 'cvs commit'.
'cvs update' is used to update your local copy of the repository with any changes that have been made in the central repository. 'cvs commit' is used to commit any changes you have made in your local copy to the central repository.
How would you resolve conflicts in CVS?
Conflicts in CVS can be resolved manually by opening the file in a text editor, finding the lines where the conflict occurred, deciding which version to keep, and then removing the conflict markers. After resolving the conflict, you would use 'cvs commit' to commit the resolved file.
What is a 'watch' in CVS and how would you use it?
A 'watch' in CVS allows a user to monitor a file for any changes. You can set a watch on a file using the 'cvs watch add' command and remove it with the 'cvs watch remove' command. When a watched file is changed, CVS will notify the user who set the watch.
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What you’re looking for early on

Does the candidate have a strong understanding of Concurrent Versions System?
Has the candidate demonstrated problem-solving skills?
Is the candidate familiar with version control concepts and practices?
Can the candidate communicate effectively?

Next 20 minutes

Specific Concurrent Versions System 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 revert changes in CVS?
You can revert changes in CVS by using the 'cvs update -C' command. This command will revert the local copy of the file to the version in the central repository, discarding any local changes.
What is a 'tag' in CVS and how would you use it?
A 'tag' in CVS is a label that can be applied to a set of files at a particular point in time. You can create a tag using the 'cvs tag' command and then later retrieve the state of the repository at the time the tag was created using the 'cvs checkout -r' command.
Describe the difference between a 'branch' and a 'tag' in CVS.
A 'branch' in CVS is a separate line of development, while a 'tag' is a label for a specific point in time on a line of development. Changes made on a branch do not affect the main line of development, whereas a tag does not involve any separate line of development.
How would you merge changes from a branch back into the main line of development in CVS?
You can merge changes from a branch back into the main line of development in CVS by using the 'cvs update -j' command. This command will merge the changes made on the branch into your local copy of the main line of development.
What is a 'sticky tag' in CVS and how would you use it?
A 'sticky tag' in CVS is a tag that stays with your working copy of the file even after you've updated your copy from the repository. You can create a sticky tag using the 'cvs update -r' command and remove it with the 'cvs update -A' command.
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The ideal back-end app developer

What you’re looking to see on the Concurrent Versions System engineer at this point.

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

What does this command do in CVS? cvs -d /usr/local/cvsroot checkout mymodule
cvs -d /usr/local/cvsroot checkout mymodule
This command checks out the 'mymodule' module from the CVS repository located at '/usr/local/cvsroot'.
What does this command do in CVS? cvs -d :pserver:anonymous@cvs.sv.gnu.org:/sources/emacs login
cvs -d :pserver:anonymous@cvs.sv.gnu.org:/sources/emacs login
This command logs into the CVS server at 'cvs.sv.gnu.org' on the '/sources/emacs' repository as the 'anonymous' user.
What does this command do in CVS? cvs -d /usr/local/cvsroot update -Pd
cvs -d /usr/local/cvsroot update -Pd
This command updates the working directory from the repository located at '/usr/local/cvsroot'. The '-Pd' option prunes empty directories and creates any directories that exist in the repository but not in the working directory.
What does this command do in CVS? cvs -d /usr/local/cvsroot commit -m 'Initial commit'
cvs -d /usr/local/cvsroot commit -m 'Initial commit'
This command commits the changes in the working directory to the repository located at '/usr/local/cvsroot'. The '-m' option is used to provide a log message for the commit.

Wrap-up questions

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

How would you handle binary files in CVS?
Binary files can be handled in CVS by using the '-kb' option with the 'cvs add' command. This tells CVS to treat the file as a binary file and not to attempt any line-ending conversions or keyword substitution.
What are 'modules' in CVS and how would you use them?
A 'module' in CVS is a collection of files that are treated as a single entity. You can define a module in the 'modules' file in the CVSROOT directory and then check out the module as a whole using the 'cvs checkout' command.
Describe the difference between 'cvs export' and 'cvs checkout'.
'cvs export' is used to create a clean copy of the files in the repository without any CVS administrative directories or files, while 'cvs checkout' is used to create a working copy of the files with all the CVS administrative information.

Concurrent Versions System application related

Product Perfect's Concurrent Versions System development capabilities

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

Concurrent Versions System Consultive assessments

Custom Concurrent Versions System development projects

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