Hiring guide for IBM RPG II. Engineers

IBM RPG II. Developer Hiring Guide

RPG II is a programming language developed by IBM in 1966. It was designed for business applications and is still widely used today. RPG II is a compiled language, which means that it is translated into machine code before it is executed. This makes it faster than interpreted languages, such as Python or JavaScript. RPG II is also a structured language, which means that it follows a set of rules that make it easier to write and maintain code. These features make RPG II a good choice for developing complex business applications. Sources: * [IBM RPG II](https://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/en/SSZ0P_7.3.0/com.ibm.zos.v7r3.isaag.doc/isaag/arpg_intro.htm)

Ask the right questions secure the right IBM RPG II. talent among an increasingly shrinking pool of talent.

First 20 minutes

General IBM RPG II. app knowledge and experience

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

How would you define the purpose of IBM RPG II?
IBM RPG II is a high-level programming language that is primarily used for business applications. It is a procedural language that is used to create, modify, and manage data files in a database.
What are the key features of IBM RPG II?
Some of the key features of IBM RPG II include its support for structured programming, its ability to handle complex business logic, and its support for a wide range of data types.
Describe the difference between RPG and RPG II.
RPG II introduced many enhancements over the original RPG, including support for disk files, interactive programming, and structured programming constructs like IF/ELSE and DO/WHILE.
How would you handle errors in IBM RPG II?
IBM RPG II provides a robust error handling mechanism. You can use the MONITOR and ON-ERROR opcodes to catch and handle exceptions.
What are the different types of data structures in IBM RPG II?
IBM RPG II supports several types of data structures, including simple data structures, data structure arrays, and data structure tables.
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What you’re looking for early on

Does the candidate have a solid understanding of IBM RPG II language?
Has the candidate demonstrated problem-solving skills?
Is the candidate familiar with the latest trends and updates in IBM RPG II?
Does the candidate have experience with similar projects or tasks?

Next 20 minutes

Specific IBM RPG II. 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 data structure and a data structure array in IBM RPG II.
A data structure is a collection of related data items that can be manipulated as a unit. A data structure array is a collection of data structures that can be accessed using an index.
How would you use subfiles in IBM RPG II?
Subfiles in IBM RPG II are used to handle multiple records of data at once. They are typically used in interactive applications to display a list of records to the user.
What are the different types of file operations in IBM RPG II?
IBM RPG II supports a variety of file operations, including read, write, update, delete, and chain.
Describe the difference between the READ and CHAIN operations in IBM RPG II.
The READ operation is used to retrieve records from a file in sequential order, while the CHAIN operation is used to retrieve a specific record based on a key value.
How would you implement a loop in IBM RPG II?
IBM RPG II provides several opcodes for implementing loops, including DO, DOW, and DOU. The DO opcode is used to execute a block of code a specific number of times, while DOW and DOU are used to execute a block of code while a condition is true or until a condition becomes true, respectively.
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The ideal back-end app developer

What you’re looking to see on the IBM RPG II. engineer at this point.

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

What does this simple RPG II code do?
C     NBR1   ADDNBR2   RESULT
C           MOVE 'COMPLETED' MESG
This code adds the values of NBR1 and NBR2 and stores the result in the variable RESULT. After the addition, it moves the string 'COMPLETED' into the variable MESG.
What will be the output of this RPG II code snippet?
C     'HELLO' DSPATR(PC)
C           EXFMT SCREEN
This code will display the string 'HELLO' on the screen with protected attribute (PC) and then it writes and reads (EXFMT) the record format named SCREEN.
What does this RPG II code snippet do with an array?
C           MOVEA     ARRAY1     ARRAY2
This code moves the content of the array ARRAY1 into the array ARRAY2. It copies all elements from ARRAY1 to ARRAY2.
What does this RPG II code do in terms of threading or concurrency?
C     LOCK    FILE1
This code locks the file FILE1. It prevents other jobs from accessing the file until the lock is released, ensuring concurrency control.

Wrap-up questions

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

What are the different types of indicators in IBM RPG II?
IBM RPG II uses indicators to control the flow of the program. There are three types of indicators: result indicators, control level indicators, and general purpose indicators.
Describe the difference between a result indicator and a control level indicator in IBM RPG II.
A result indicator is used to store the result of an operation, while a control level indicator is used to control the processing of groups of records in a file.
How would you handle date and time values in IBM RPG II?
IBM RPG II provides several built-in functions for handling date and time values, including %DATE, %TIME, and %TIMESTAMP. These functions can be used to convert between different date and time formats, perform arithmetic operations on date and time values, and retrieve the current date and time.

IBM RPG II. application related

Product Perfect's IBM RPG II. development capabilities

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