Hiring guide for Edifact Rule Language (EDRL) Engineers

Edifact Rule Language (EDRL) Developer Hiring Guide

The Edifact Rule Language (EDRL) is a computer programming language specifically designed for the UN/EDIFACT standard for electronic data interchange (EDI). Developed in the late 1980s, EDRL was created to facilitate the exchange of structured data between different applications across various platforms. It is a key component of the United Nations rules for Electronic Data Interchange for Administration, Commerce and Transport (UN/EDIFACT). The language is used to define the syntax rules for structuring data, ensuring accurate and efficient communication between systems. The development and maintenance of EDRL is overseen by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).

Ask the right questions secure the right Edifact Rule Language (EDRL) talent among an increasingly shrinking pool of talent.

First 20 minutes

General Edifact Rule Language (EDRL) app knowledge and experience

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

Can you explain the basic structure of an EDIFACT message?
An EDIFACT message consists of a UNH message header, followed by one or more segments, each containing a segment tag, segment data elements, and a segment terminator. The message ends with a UNT message trailer.
How would you validate an EDIFACT message using EDRL?
To validate an EDIFACT message using EDRL, you would first define the rules in an EDRL file. Then, you would use an EDRL engine to apply these rules to the EDIFACT message.
What are the key components of an EDRL rule?
An EDRL rule consists of a condition and an action. The condition specifies when the rule should be applied, and the action specifies what should be done when the condition is met.
Describe the difference between a simple and a composite data element in EDIFACT.
A simple data element in EDIFACT is a single piece of data, such as a name or a date. A composite data element, on the other hand, is a group of related simple data elements that are treated as a unit.
How would you handle a situation where an EDIFACT message does not conform to the rules defined in an EDRL file?
If an EDIFACT message does not conform to the rules defined in an EDRL file, the EDRL engine would generate an error or a warning, depending on the severity of the violation. The error or warning would provide information about the nature of the violation, which could then be used to correct the message.
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What you’re looking for early on

Has the candidate demonstrated a solid understanding of EDRL?
Does the candidate exhibit good problem-solving skills?
Is the candidate able to explain complex concepts in a simple, understandable way?
How well does the candidate understand related technologies and languages?

Next 20 minutes

Specific Edifact Rule Language (EDRL) 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.

What are the advantages of using EDRL for EDIFACT message validation?
EDRL provides a flexible and powerful way to validate EDIFACT messages. It allows for complex validation rules to be defined and applied to messages, and it provides detailed error and warning information when messages do not conform to the rules.
Describe the difference between a segment group and a segment in an EDIFACT message.
A segment in an EDIFACT message is a single line of data, consisting of a segment tag and one or more data elements. A segment group, on the other hand, is a group of related segments that are treated as a unit.
How would you handle a situation where an EDIFACT message contains a segment that is not defined in the EDRL file?
If an EDIFACT message contains a segment that is not defined in the EDRL file, the EDRL engine would generate an error. The error would provide information about the nature of the problem, which could then be used to correct the message or update the EDRL file.
What are the key steps in the process of creating an EDRL file?
The key steps in creating an EDRL file are defining the rules, testing the rules against sample EDIFACT messages, and refining the rules based on the test results.
Describe the difference between a mandatory and an optional data element in an EDIFACT message.
A mandatory data element in an EDIFACT message is one that must be present for the message to be valid. An optional data element, on the other hand, is one that may be present, but is not required.
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The ideal back-end app developer

What you’re looking to see on the Edifact Rule Language (EDRL) engineer at this point.

At this point, a skilled Edifact Rule Language (EDRL) engineer should demonstrate strong problem-solving abilities, proficiency in Edifact Rule Language (EDRL) 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 Edifact Rule Language (EDRL).

What does this simple EDRL code snippet do?
{ 'RULE': { 'ID': 'R1', 'IF': { 'SEGMENT': 'UNH' }, 'THEN': { 'EXIST': 'S009.0052' } } }
This code defines a rule with ID 'R1' that checks if a segment named 'UNH' exists in the EDI message. If it does, it further checks if the data element 'S009.0052' exists within that segment.
What does this EDRL code snippet do?
{ 'RULE': { 'ID': 'R2', 'IF': { 'SEGMENT': 'UNH' }, 'THEN': { 'EQUAL': { 'S009.0052': 'IFTMBC' } } } }
This code defines a rule with ID 'R2' that checks if a segment named 'UNH' exists in the EDI message. If it does, it further checks if the data element 'S009.0052' equals the string 'IFTMBC'.
What does this EDRL code snippet do?
{ 'RULE': { 'ID': 'R3', 'IF': { 'AND': [ { 'SEGMENT': 'UNH' }, { 'SEGMENT': 'BGM' } ] }, 'THEN': { 'EXIST': 'C002.1001' } } }
This code defines a rule with ID 'R3' that checks if both segments 'UNH' and 'BGM' exist in the EDI message. If they both do, it further checks if the data element 'C002.1001' exists.
What does this EDRL code snippet do?
{ 'RULE': { 'ID': 'R4', 'IF': { 'SEGMENT': 'UNH' }, 'THEN': { 'THREAD': { 'SEGMENT': 'BGM', 'EQUAL': { 'C002.1001': '220' } } } } }
This code defines a rule with ID 'R4' that checks if a segment named 'UNH' exists in the EDI message. If it does, it starts a new thread that checks if the segment 'BGM' exists and if the data element 'C002.1001' equals the string '220'.

Wrap-up questions

Final candidate for Edifact Rule Language (EDRL) 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 Edifact Rule Language (EDRL) application deployments. Inquire about their experience in handling system failures and their approach to debugging and troubleshooting.

How would you handle a situation where an EDIFACT message contains a data element that is not defined in the EDRL file?
If an EDIFACT message contains a data element that is not defined in the EDRL file, the EDRL engine would generate an error. The error would provide information about the nature of the problem, which could then be used to correct the message or update the EDRL file.
What are the challenges of working with EDIFACT messages and how can EDRL help to address these challenges?
Working with EDIFACT messages can be challenging due to their complex structure and the need to ensure that they conform to specific rules. EDRL can help to address these challenges by providing a flexible and powerful way to validate EDIFACT messages.
Describe the difference between a condition and an action in an EDRL rule.
A condition in an EDRL rule specifies when the rule should be applied, while an action specifies what should be done when the condition is met.

Edifact Rule Language (EDRL) application related

Product Perfect's Edifact Rule Language (EDRL) development capabilities

Beyond hiring for your Edifact Rule Language (EDRL) engineering team, you may be in the market for additional help. Product Perfect provides seasoned expertise in Edifact Rule Language (EDRL) projects, and can engage in multiple capacities.

Edifact Rule Language (EDRL) Consultive assessments

Custom Edifact Rule Language (EDRL) development projects

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