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PL/1, or Programming Language One, is a high-level computer programming language developed by IBM in the 1960s for scientific, engineering, and business applications. It combines elements from both imperative and problem-oriented languages like FORTRAN and COBOL. The language was designed to be easy to learn and use, making it accessible for beginners while still offering powerful features for experienced programmers. Despite being over half a century old, PL/1 remains relevant today due to its efficiency in handling complex data structures. Its historical significance lies in its influence on many subsequent languages including C++, Java, and Python (source: IBM Archives).

Ask the right questions secure the right Easy PL/1 talent among an increasingly shrinking pool of talent.

First 20 minutes

General Easy PL/1 app knowledge and experience

The first 20 minutes of the interview should seek to understand the candidate's general background in Easy PL/1 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 Easy PL/1?

Some key features of Easy PL/1 include extensive debugging tools, support for structured programming constructs, automatic storage management, and support for file and database operations.

How would you declare a variable in Easy PL/1?

In Easy PL/1, a variable is declared using the DCL statement. For example, 'DCL 1 MYVAR FIXED DEC (5, 2);' declares a variable named MYVAR as a decimal number with 5 digits, 2 of which are after the decimal point.

Describe the difference between the ON ERROR and ON EXCEPTION commands in Easy PL/1.

ON ERROR and ON EXCEPTION are both error handling mechanisms in Easy PL/1. ON ERROR is used to handle standard runtime errors, while ON EXCEPTION is used to handle exceptions that are raised by the SIGNAL statement.

How would you handle an error in a file I/O operation in Easy PL/1?

In Easy PL/1, errors in file I/O operations can be handled using the ON ERROR statement. This allows the program to continue execution and possibly recover from the error.

What are the different types of loops available in Easy PL/1?

Easy PL/1 supports several types of loops, including DO WHILE, DO UNTIL, and DO FOR loops.

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What you’re looking for early on

Does the candidate have a strong understanding of PL/1 language?

Has the candidate demonstrated problem-solving skills?

Is the candidate able to communicate effectively?

Does the candidate have experience with similar projects or tasks?

Next 20 minutes

Specific Easy PL/1 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 define an array in Easy PL/1?

In Easy PL/1, an array is defined using the DIM attribute in the DCL statement. For example, 'DCL ARRAY(10) FIXED DEC (5, 2);' defines an array of 10 decimal numbers.

Describe the difference between the CALL and SIGNAL statements in Easy PL/1.

CALL is used to invoke a procedure, while SIGNAL is used to transfer control to a specific statement within the same procedure.

How would you use the PUT FILE statement in Easy PL/1?

The PUT FILE statement in Easy PL/1 is used to write data to a file. The file must be opened in output or update mode before data can be written to it.

What are the different types of files that can be accessed using Easy PL/1?

Easy PL/1 can access several types of files, including sequential files, indexed files, and relative files.

How would you implement a subroutine in Easy PL/1?

A subroutine in Easy PL/1 is implemented as a separate procedure that can be invoked using the CALL statement. The procedure can have parameters and a return value.

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At this point, a skilled Easy PL/1 engineer should demonstrate strong problem-solving abilities, proficiency in Easy PL/1 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 Easy PL/1.

What does this simple PL/1 code do?
DECLARE X FIXED DECIMAL(15,2); X = 10.25; PUT SKIP LIST(X);
This code declares a decimal variable X with a precision of 15 and scale of 2, assigns the value 10.25 to X, and then prints the value of X.
What will be the output of this PL/1 code?
DECLARE (A, B, C) FIXED DECIMAL(5); A = 5; B = 10; C = A + B; PUT SKIP LIST(C);
This code declares three decimal variables A, B, and C with a precision of 5. It assigns the values 5 and 10 to A and B respectively, adds A and B and assigns the result to C, and then prints the value of C. The output will be 15.
What does this PL/1 code do with an array?
DECLARE ARRAY1(5) FIXED DECIMAL(5); DO I = 1 TO 5; ARRAY1(I) = I * 10; END; PUT SKIP LIST(ARRAY1);
This code declares an array of decimal numbers with a precision of 5. It then uses a loop to assign each element in the array a value that is 10 times its index. Finally, it prints the entire array.
What does this PL/1 code do with threading?
DECLARE TASK1 TASK; TASK1 = START(HELLO); WAIT(TASK1); HELLO: PROCEDURE OPTIONS(MAIN); PUT SKIP LIST('Hello, world!'); END HELLO;
This code declares a task named TASK1. It starts a new thread executing the HELLO procedure, waits for the task to complete, and then ends. The HELLO procedure simply prints 'Hello, world!'.

Wrap-up questions

Final candidate for Easy PL/1 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 Easy PL/1 application deployments. Inquire about their experience in handling system failures and their approach to debugging and troubleshooting.

Describe the difference between the GET and FETCH statements in Easy PL/1.

GET is used to read data from a file, while FETCH is used to retrieve data from a database.

How would you handle a database exception in Easy PL/1?

Database exceptions in Easy PL/1 can be handled using the ON SQLERROR statement. This allows the program to continue execution and possibly recover from the error.

What are the different types of data structures available in Easy PL/1?

Easy PL/1 supports several types of data structures, including arrays, structures, and unions.

Easy PL/1 application related

Product Perfect's Easy PL/1 development capabilities

Beyond hiring for your Easy PL/1 engineering team, you may be in the market for additional help. Product Perfect provides seasoned expertise in Easy PL/1 projects, and can engage in multiple capacities.

Easy PL/1 Consultive assessments

Easy PL/1 Application Conversion Assessment Easy PL/1 Application Integration Assessment Easy PL/1 Data & Database Integration Assessment

Custom Easy PL/1 development projects

Custom Easy PL/1 App Conversion Easy PL/1 Custom App Development Process App UI Design for Easy PL/1 Facelifts

Hiring guide for Easy PL/1 Engineers

Easy PL/1 Developer Hiring Guide

What you’re looking for early on

The ideal back-end app developer

What you’re looking to see on the Easy PL/1 engineer at this point.

Easy PL/1 Consultive assessments

Custom Easy PL/1 development projects