Product Perfect

DRAKON-Fortran is a programming language that combines the DRAKON visual language and Fortran. The DRAKON component provides an intuitive, graphical approach to program design, making it easier for programmers to visualize their code's flow and logic. On the other hand, Fortran is a high-level programming language primarily used for numerical computations in scientific computing. In this hybrid system, developers can use DRAKON diagrams to outline their programs' structure visually before implementing them in Fortran. This combination aims at improving code readability and maintainability while leveraging Fortran's computational capabilities. The primary target audience of this combined approach includes those working on complex scientific calculations or simulations who also want an easy-to-understand visualization of their program's structure.

Ask the right questions secure the right DRAKON-Fortran talent among an increasingly shrinking pool of talent.

First 20 minutes

General DRAKON-Fortran app knowledge and experience

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

What are the key features of DRAKON language?

DRAKON language has several key features such as a graphical representation for easier understanding, a focus on simplicity and clarity, a strict standard for flowcharts, and an emphasis on reducing cognitive load for the programmer.

How would you create a subroutine in Fortran?

A subroutine in Fortran can be created using the SUBROUTINE keyword followed by the name of the subroutine and any parameters in parentheses. The end of the subroutine is marked by the END SUBROUTINE keyword.

Describe the difference between DRAKON and traditional flowcharts.

DRAKON differs from traditional flowcharts in that it has a strict standard for flowchart construction, with a focus on reducing cognitive load. It also uses a graphical representation for easier understanding.

What are the different data types available in Fortran?

Fortran supports several data types including integer, real, complex, logical, and character.

How would you handle errors in DRAKON-Fortran?

Error handling in DRAKON-Fortran can be done using the IF-THEN-ELSE construct to check for errors and handle them accordingly.

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What you’re looking for early on

Does the candidate demonstrate a strong understanding of DRAKON visual language?

Is the candidate able to explain how they have used Fortran in previous projects?

Can the candidate solve complex problems using DRAKON-Fortran?

Does the candidate show a good understanding of algorithms and data structures?

Next 20 minutes

Specific DRAKON-Fortran 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.

Describe the difference between a function and a subroutine in Fortran.

A function in Fortran returns a value and is used in an expression, while a subroutine does not return a value and is used for performing actions.

What are the advantages of using DRAKON over other visual programming languages?

DRAKON offers several advantages such as a graphical representation for easier understanding, a strict standard for flowchart construction, and a focus on reducing cognitive load for the programmer.

How would you implement recursion in Fortran?

Recursion in Fortran can be implemented by creating a function or subroutine that calls itself. However, care must be taken to ensure that the recursion has a base case to prevent infinite recursion.

Describe the difference between local and global variables in Fortran.

Local variables in Fortran are only accessible within the function or subroutine in which they are declared, while global variables are accessible throughout the program.

What are the principles of DRAKON?

The principles of DRAKON include simplicity, clarity, and reducing cognitive load for the programmer. It also emphasizes a strict standard for flowchart construction.

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

What does this simple Fortran code do?
PROGRAM HelloWorld
  PRINT *, 'Hello, world!'
END PROGRAM HelloWorld
This code prints 'Hello, world!' to the standard output.
What does the following Fortran code do?
SUBROUTINE addNums(a, b, c)
  INTEGER, INTENT(IN) :: a, b
  INTEGER, INTENT(OUT) :: c
  c = a + b
END SUBROUTINE addNums
This code defines a subroutine named 'addNums' that takes two integers as input, adds them, and returns the result as output.
What does the following Fortran code do?
PROGRAM ArraySum
  INTEGER, DIMENSION(1:5) :: array = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
  INTEGER :: sum
  sum = SUM(array)
  PRINT *, 'Sum of array elements: ', sum
END PROGRAM ArraySum
This code declares an array of 5 integers, calculates the sum of its elements, and prints the result.
What does the following Fortran code do?
PROGRAM Concurrency
  INTEGER :: i
  !$OMP PARALLEL DO
  DO i = 1, 10
    PRINT *, 'Thread ', OMP_GET_THREAD_NUM(), ': ', i
  END DO
  !$OMP END PARALLEL DO
END PROGRAM Concurrency
This code uses OpenMP to create a parallel region in which the loop is executed concurrently by multiple threads. Each thread prints its ID and the current loop index.

Wrap-up questions

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

How would you optimize a Fortran program for performance?

Performance optimization in Fortran can be achieved through various techniques such as loop unrolling, efficient use of data types, and taking advantage of built-in functions and libraries.

Describe the difference between static and dynamic memory allocation in Fortran.

Static memory allocation in Fortran is done at compile time and the size is fixed, while dynamic memory allocation is done at runtime and the size can be changed.

What are the challenges of working with DRAKON?

Some challenges of working with DRAKON include the need to adhere to a strict standard for flowchart construction and the learning curve associated with its unique approach to visual programming.

DRAKON-Fortran application related

Product Perfect's DRAKON-Fortran development capabilities

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

DRAKON-Fortran Consultive assessments

DRAKON-Fortran Application Conversion Assessment DRAKON-Fortran Application Integration Assessment DRAKON-Fortran Data & Database Integration Assessment

Custom DRAKON-Fortran development projects

Custom DRAKON-Fortran App Conversion DRAKON-Fortran Custom App Development Process App UI Design for DRAKON-Fortran Facelifts

Hiring guide for DRAKON-Fortran Engineers

DRAKON-Fortran Developer Hiring Guide

What you’re looking for early on

The ideal back-end app developer

What you’re looking to see on the DRAKON-Fortran engineer at this point.

DRAKON-Fortran Consultive assessments

Custom DRAKON-Fortran development projects