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FoxPro is a data-centric procedural programming language developed by Fox Software in the mid-1980s, later acquired by Microsoft in 1992. It is renowned for its database management capabilities, particularly for the DOS and Windows platforms. The language is object-oriented and provides powerful data handling functions, making it ideal for business applications. FoxPro was eventually replaced by Visual FoxPro in 2004, which was then discontinued by Microsoft in 2007. Despite its discontinuation, it remains popular among developers due to its robustness and efficiency in managing large databases.

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

First 20 minutes

General FoxPro app knowledge and experience

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

How would you create a new database in FoxPro?

You can create a new database in FoxPro using the CREATE DATABASE command followed by the name of the database.

What are the data types supported by FoxPro?

FoxPro supports various data types such as Character, Numeric, Float, Date, Logical, Memo, General, and Binary.

Describe the difference between a Form and a Report in FoxPro.

A Form is a graphical interface used for interaction with the user while a Report is a formatted and organized presentation of data.

How would you handle errors in FoxPro?

FoxPro provides ON ERROR command to handle errors. You can specify a command or a procedure that will be executed when an error occurs.

What are the different types of indexes in FoxPro?

FoxPro supports three types of indexes: Regular index, Compound index, and Candidate index.

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What you’re looking for early on

Does the candidate have a strong understanding of FoxPro language?

Has the candidate demonstrated the ability to solve complex problems?

Has the candidate shown experience with database management?

Is the candidate comfortable working in a team environment?

Next 20 minutes

Specific FoxPro 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 Procedure and a Function in FoxPro.

A Procedure is a set of commands that performs a specific task and does not return a value. A Function also performs a specific task but it returns a value.

How would you create a relational database in FoxPro?

You can create a relational database in FoxPro by defining relationships between tables using the SET RELATION command.

What are the key features of FoxPro?

Key features of FoxPro include support for SQL queries, powerful data manipulation capabilities, support for various data types, and a robust programming language.

Describe the difference between a View and a Cursor in FoxPro.

A View is a virtual table based on the result-set of an SQL statement. A Cursor is a temporary work area created in the system memory when a SQL statement is executed.

How would you optimize performance in FoxPro?

Performance in FoxPro can be optimized by using indexes effectively, optimizing SQL queries, and using the SET OPTIMIZE command.

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

What does the following FoxPro command do? USE customers
USE customers
This command opens the 'customers' table in the current database.
What will be the output of the following FoxPro command? ? 'Hello' + ' ' + 'World'
? 'Hello' + ' ' + 'World'
This command will output the string 'Hello World'. The '+' operator is used to concatenate strings in FoxPro.
What does the following FoxPro command do? AADD(aNames, 'John')
AADD(aNames, 'John')
This command adds the string 'John' to the end of the array 'aNames'.
What does the following FoxPro command do? DO WHILE .T.
DO WHILE .T.
This command starts an infinite loop. The '.T.' is a logical true constant in FoxPro, so the loop will continue indefinitely until it is broken by some other command.

Wrap-up questions

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

What are the different types of locks in FoxPro?

FoxPro supports two types of locks: Record lock and File lock.

Describe the difference between a Table and a Database in FoxPro.

A Table is a collection of related data held in a structured format within a database. A Database is an organized collection of data, generally stored and accessed electronically.

How would you handle transactions in FoxPro?

Transactions in FoxPro can be handled using the BEGIN TRANSACTION, END TRANSACTION, and ROLLBACK commands.

FoxPro application related

Product Perfect's FoxPro development capabilities

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

FoxPro Consultive assessments

FoxPro Application Conversion Assessment FoxPro Application Integration Assessment FoxPro Data & Database Integration Assessment

Custom FoxPro development projects

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

Hiring guide for FoxPro Engineers

FoxPro Developer Hiring Guide

What you’re looking for early on

The ideal back-end app developer

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

FoxPro Consultive assessments

Custom FoxPro development projects