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The Falcon programming language is a multi-paradigm scripting language developed by Giancarlo Niccolai in 2003. It is a high-level, interpreted language that is dynamically typed and supports both procedural and object-oriented programming. Falcon aims to provide a simple, fast, and flexible platform for scripting and development tasks, with a syntax designed for readability and expressiveness. The language is noted for its lightweight runtime system and extensive standard library. It is an open-source project, with its source code available on GitHub.

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

First 20 minutes

General Falcon app knowledge and experience

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

How would you install Falcon?

You would typically install Falcon using pip. The command is: pip install falcon

What is the HTTP method used in Falcon to read a resource?

The HTTP method used in Falcon to read a resource is GET.

How would you define a route in Falcon?

You can define a route in Falcon using the add_route() method on an instance of the API class.

What are hooks in Falcon and how are they used?

Hooks in Falcon are functions that get called before or after each request to a resource or a collection of resources. They are used for performing actions like authorization or parameter validation.

How would you handle exceptions in Falcon?

In Falcon, you can handle exceptions by defining an error handler using the add_error_handler() method of the API class.

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What you’re looking for early on

Does the candidate have a strong understanding of Falcon?

Has the candidate demonstrated problem-solving skills?

Is the candidate able to communicate effectively?

Does the candidate have experience with other relevant technologies?

Next 20 minutes

Specific Falcon 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 on_get and on_post methods in Falcon.

on_get is used to handle GET requests and is used to retrieve data. On the other hand, on_post is used to handle POST requests and is typically used to send or create new data.

What are middleware components in Falcon?

Middleware components in Falcon are hooks that get called on every request-response cycle, regardless of the route or resource. They are typically used for tasks like logging, request pre-processing, or response post-processing.

How would you implement CORS in Falcon?

CORS can be implemented in Falcon by using the falcon-cors library or by manually setting the Access-Control-Allow-Origin header in the response.

What is the purpose of the process_response method in Falcon middleware?

The process_response method in Falcon middleware is used to post-process the response before it is sent back to the client.

How would you implement authentication in Falcon?

Authentication in Falcon can be implemented using hooks or middleware. The hook or middleware would check for the presence and validity of authentication credentials in the request.

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

What does this simple Falcon code do?
import falcon

api = application = falcon.API()

class HelloWorld:
    def on_get(self, req, resp):
        resp.body = 'Hello, world!'

api.add_route('/', HelloWorld())
This code creates a basic Falcon application with one route ('/'). When a GET request is made to this route, it will return the string 'Hello, world!'.
What will be the output of this Falcon code snippet?
import falcon

class ThingsResource:
    def on_get(self, req, resp):
        resp.media = {'message': 'Hello, Things!'}

api = falcon.API()
api.add_route('/things', ThingsResource())
This code creates a Falcon application with a route '/things'. When a GET request is made to this route, it will return a JSON response with the key 'message' and the value 'Hello, Things!'.
What does this Falcon code do related to array manipulation?
import falcon

class ItemsResource:
    def on_get(self, req, resp):
        items = ['item1', 'item2', 'item3']
        resp.media = {'items': items}

api = falcon.API()
api.add_route('/items', ItemsResource())
This code creates a Falcon application with a route '/items'. When a GET request is made to this route, it will return a JSON response with the key 'items' and the values as an array of strings ['item1', 'item2', 'item3'].
What does this Falcon code do related to threading?
import falcon
from concurrent.futures import ThreadPoolExecutor

executor = ThreadPoolExecutor(max_workers=2)

class ThreadResource:
    def on_get(self, req, resp):
        future = executor.submit(self.long_running_task)
        resp.media = {'status': 'Task started'}

    def long_running_task(self):
        # Long running task here
        pass

api = falcon.API()
api.add_route('/thread', ThreadResource())
This code creates a Falcon application with a route '/thread'. When a GET request is made to this route, it will start a long running task in a separate thread and immediately return a JSON response with the key 'status' and the value 'Task started'.

Wrap-up questions

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

What is the role of the process_resource method in Falcon middleware?

The process_resource method in Falcon middleware is called after routing but before the resource on_* method is called. It can be used for tasks like request validation or data pre-processing.

How would you handle file uploads in Falcon?

File uploads in Falcon can be handled by reading the file data from the request.stream object inside an on_post method.

Describe the difference between process_request, process_resource, and process_response in Falcon middleware.

process_request is called before routing, process_resource is called after routing but before the resource on_* method, and process_response is called after the response has been generated but before it is sent back to the client.

Falcon application related

Product Perfect's Falcon development capabilities

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

Falcon Consultive assessments

Falcon Application Conversion Assessment Falcon Application Integration Assessment Falcon Data & Database Integration Assessment

Custom Falcon development projects

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

Hiring guide for Falcon Engineers

Falcon Developer Hiring Guide

What you’re looking for early on

The ideal back-end app developer

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

Falcon Consultive assessments

Custom Falcon development projects