Hiring guide for IPL/360 Engineers

IPL/360 Developer Hiring Guide

IPL/360, an acronym for Information Processing Language/360, is a targeted and result-oriented programming language that was designed and developed by Allen Newell, Herbert A. Simon, and Cliff Shaw in the late 1950s. It was specifically built for the IBM System/360, one of the most influential computer systems of its time. Its primary purpose was to facilitate advanced problem-solving and information processing, particularly in the field of artificial intelligence. Emphasizing practical benefits and outcomes, IPL/360 provided a foundational platform for the development of list processing and artificial intelligence. As one of the earliest high-level programming languages, it was instrumental in the evolution of computer programming, paving the way for the creation of more sophisticated languages. The language was notable for its advanced capabilities such as the manipulation of dynamic data structures, its support for functions as arguments, and the ability to store and retrieve data

Ask the right questions secure the right IPL/360 talent among an increasingly shrinking pool of talent.

First 20 minutes

General IPL/360 app knowledge and experience

The first 20 minutes of the interview should seek to understand the candidate's general background in IPL/360 application development, including their experience with various programming languages, databases, and their approach to designing scalable and maintainable systems.

How would you describe the basic structure of an IPL/360 program?
An IPL/360 program is structured into three main sections: the identification division, the environment division, and the procedure division. The identification division contains the program-ID paragraph that identifies the program. The environment division describes the computer and files used by the program. The procedure division contains the actual code of the program.
What are the main data types used in IPL/360?
The main data types used in IPL/360 are numeric, alphanumeric, and alphanumeric-edited. Numeric data types are used for arithmetic operations, alphanumeric data types are used for storing text, and alphanumeric-edited data types are used for formatting output.
Describe the difference between a sequential file and a random file in IPL/360.
A sequential file is a file where records are accessed in the order they were entered. A random file, on the other hand, is a file where records can be accessed in any order using a key.
How would you handle errors in an IPL/360 program?
Errors in an IPL/360 program can be handled using the ON EXCEPTION clause. This clause allows you to specify a section of code to be executed when an error occurs.
What are the different types of loops in IPL/360 and how are they used?
The main types of loops in IPL/360 are the PERFORM UNTIL, PERFORM VARYING, and PERFORM TIMES loops. The PERFORM UNTIL loop is used to repeat a section of code until a certain condition is met. The PERFORM VARYING loop is used to repeat a section of code a certain number of times, with a control variable changing each time. The PERFORM TIMES loop is used to repeat a section of code a fixed number of times.
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What you’re looking for early on

Has the candidate demonstrated a solid understanding of IPL/360 language?
Does the candidate have experience with large-scale system development?
Has the candidate shown problem-solving skills?
Is the candidate able to communicate effectively?

Next 20 minutes

Specific IPL/360 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 static call and a dynamic call in IPL/360.
A static call is a call where the called program is linked into the calling program at compile time. A dynamic call, on the other hand, is a call where the called program is linked into the calling program at runtime.
How would you use the EVALUATE statement in IPL/360?
The EVALUATE statement in IPL/360 is used as a case or switch statement. It allows you to execute different sections of code based on the value of a variable.
What are the different types of tables in IPL/360 and how are they used?
The main types of tables in IPL/360 are one-dimensional tables and multi-dimensional tables. One-dimensional tables are used to store a list of values, while multi-dimensional tables are used to store a grid of values.
Describe the difference between the MOVE and MOVE CORRESPONDING statements in IPL/360.
The MOVE statement in IPL/360 is used to copy the value of one variable to another. The MOVE CORRESPONDING statement, on the other hand, is used to copy the values of corresponding fields in two group items.
How would you use the STRING and UNSTRING statements in IPL/360?
The STRING statement in IPL/360 is used to concatenate two or more strings into a single string. The UNSTRING statement, on the other hand, is used to split a string into multiple strings based on a delimiter.
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The ideal back-end app developer

What you’re looking to see on the IPL/360 engineer at this point.

At this point, a skilled IPL/360 engineer should demonstrate strong problem-solving abilities, proficiency in IPL/360 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 IPL/360.

What does the following IPL/360 code do?
OPEN (INPUT,FILE='inputfile')
The code opens an existing file named 'inputfile' for reading. The file is assigned to the logical unit INPUT.
What will be the output of the following IPL/360 code?
PRINT (6,*) 'Hello, World!'
The code will print the string 'Hello, World!' to the device associated with unit number 6, usually the console.
What does the following IPL/360 code do?
DIMENSION A(100)
READ (5,*) A
PRINT (6,*) A
The code declares an array 'A' with 100 elements, reads values into the array from the device associated with unit number 5, usually the keyboard, and then prints the array to the device associated with unit number 6, usually the console.
What does the following IPL/360 code do?
CALL SLEEP(5)
The code calls a system routine 'SLEEP' that suspends the execution of the program for 5 seconds.

Wrap-up questions

Final candidate for IPL/360 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 IPL/360 application deployments. Inquire about their experience in handling system failures and their approach to debugging and troubleshooting.

What are the different types of sort operations in IPL/360 and how are they used?
The main types of sort operations in IPL/360 are the SORT and MERGE operations. The SORT operation is used to sort a file or table in ascending or descending order. The MERGE operation is used to combine two or more sorted files or tables into a single sorted file or table.
Describe the difference between the READ and WRITE statements in IPL/360.
The READ statement in IPL/360 is used to read a record from a file, while the WRITE statement is used to write a record to a file.
How would you use the SEARCH and SEARCH ALL statements in IPL/360?
The SEARCH statement in IPL/360 is used to search for a value in a table using a linear search. The SEARCH ALL statement, on the other hand, is used to search for a value in a table using a binary search.

IPL/360 application related

Product Perfect's IPL/360 development capabilities

Beyond hiring for your IPL/360 engineering team, you may be in the market for additional help. Product Perfect provides seasoned expertise in IPL/360 projects, and can engage in multiple capacities.

IPL/360 Consultive assessments

Custom IPL/360 development projects

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