Hiring guide for GDScript Engineers

GDScript Developer Hiring Guide

GDScript is a high-level, dynamically typed programming language specifically designed for the Godot game engine. It was developed by Juan Linietsky and Ariel Manzur in 2007 as an integral part of the open-source project, Godot Engine. The syntax of GDScript closely resembles Python, aiming to be lightweight and easy-to-use for game developers. As an object-oriented scripting language, it provides full control over the engine's features while maintaining a simple and clean syntax. Its development continues under the stewardship of Godot Engine community with regular updates enhancing its capabilities.

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

First 20 minutes

General GDScript app knowledge and experience

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

How would you declare a variable in GDScript?
You can declare a variable in GDScript using the 'var' keyword followed by the variable name. For example, 'var myVariable'.
What are the basic data types in GDScript?
The basic data types in GDScript are int, float, string, bool, Vector2, Vector3, Color, Array, and Dictionary.
Describe the difference between a static and dynamic typing in GDScript.
In static typing, the variable type is checked at compile time, whereas in dynamic typing, the type is checked at runtime. GDScript supports both static and dynamic typing.
How would you define a function in GDScript?
In GDScript, a function is defined using the 'func' keyword followed by the function name and parentheses. For example, 'func myFunction()'.
What are the control flow statements in GDScript?
The control flow statements in GDScript are 'if', 'elif', 'else', 'for', 'while', 'match', 'break', 'continue', and 'pass'.
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What you’re looking for early on

Has the candidate displayed a solid understanding of GDScript?
How well does the candidate understand Godot Engine?
Can the candidate demonstrate problem-solving skills?
Does the candidate show familiarity with version control systems?

Next 20 minutes

Specific GDScript 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 an Array and a Dictionary in GDScript.
An Array in GDScript is an ordered collection of elements, whereas a Dictionary is a collection of key-value pairs. Arrays are indexed by numbers, while Dictionaries are indexed by keys.
How would you handle errors in GDScript?
In GDScript, errors can be handled using the 'assert' statement to check for conditions, or by using 'try', 'catch' blocks to catch and handle exceptions.
What are signals in GDScript and how would you use them?
Signals in GDScript are a way to send notification messages from an object that other objects can listen to. You can use the 'signal' keyword to define a signal and the 'emit_signal' method to emit a signal.
Describe the difference between local and global variables in GDScript.
Local variables are declared inside a function and can only be accessed within that function. Global variables are declared outside all functions and can be accessed from any part of the script.
How would you implement inheritance in GDScript?
In GDScript, inheritance is implemented by extending a class using the 'extends' keyword followed by the name of the class to inherit from.
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The ideal back-end app developer

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

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

What does this simple GDScript code do?
var a = 5
var b = 10
print(a + b)
This code declares two variables 'a' and 'b', assigns them the values 5 and 10 respectively, and then prints the sum of 'a' and 'b' which is 15.
What will be the output of the following GDScript code?
var my_string = 'Godot'
print(my_string.length())
This code will output the length of the string 'Godot', which is 5.
What does this GDScript code do with the array?
var arr = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
arr.pop_front()
print(arr)
This code declares an array 'arr' with five elements, removes the first element from the array using the 'pop_front()' function, and then prints the modified array which is [2, 3, 4, 5].
What will happen when the following GDScript code is executed?
var thread = Thread.new()
func _ready():
  thread.start(self, "_my_func")
func _my_func():
  print('Hello, Godot')
This code creates a new thread and starts it with the '_my_func' function. When the thread is started, it will print 'Hello, Godot'.

Wrap-up questions

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

What are the principles of Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) in GDScript?
The principles of OOP in GDScript are encapsulation, inheritance, and polymorphism. Encapsulation is achieved through classes, inheritance is achieved through the 'extends' keyword, and polymorphism is achieved through method overriding and dynamic typing.
Describe the difference between method overloading and method overriding in GDScript.
Method overloading, which is not supported in GDScript, refers to defining multiple methods with the same name but different parameters. Method overriding refers to redefining a method in a subclass that was already defined in the superclass.
How would you optimize a GDScript for better performance?
You can optimize GDScript for better performance by using built-in functions and data types, avoiding unnecessary calculations, using signals instead of polling, and using the profiler to identify bottlenecks.

GDScript application related

Product Perfect's GDScript development capabilities

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