Product Perfect

Jam is a software build automation tool, akin to make, originally designed by Christopher Seiwald of Perforce Software. It was developed in the early 1990s as an improvement over Make and is used primarily for building software but can be used for any batch processing tasks. Jam's language is more flexible and easier to use than Make's, allowing developers to specify dependencies in a more straightforward manner. The language has been adopted and adapted by several large projects including Boost C++ Libraries and the Haiku Operating System. Its most popular version today is FTJam, an open-source variant that added several new features.

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

First 20 minutes

General Jam app knowledge and experience

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

What is the JAMstack architecture?

JAMstack is a modern web development architecture based on client-side JavaScript, reusable APIs, and prebuilt Markup.

How would you explain the 'M' in JAMstack?

The 'M' in JAMstack stands for Markup. It means that the website is pre-rendered during the build process and served directly to the browser.

What are some benefits of using JAMstack?

Some benefits of using JAMstack include better performance, higher security, cheaper scaling, and better developer experience.

Can you name a few popular static site generators used in JAMstack?

Yes, a few popular static site generators used in JAMstack are Jekyll, Hugo, Gatsby, and Next.js.

Describe the difference between traditional web development and JAMstack.

In traditional web development, the server processes the request, fetches data, and generates HTML. In JAMstack, HTML is pre-built and served directly to the browser, and dynamic functionality is added with JavaScript and APIs.

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What you’re looking for early on

Does the candidate have a clear understanding of Jamstack architecture?

What is their proficiency in using JavaScript, APIs, and Markup?

How well does the candidate understand version control systems, especially Git?

Can the candidate demonstrate experience with static site generators like Gatsby, Hugo, or Jekyll?

Next 20 minutes

Specific Jam 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.

How would you handle form submissions in a JAMstack application?

Form submissions in a JAMstack application can be handled using third-party services like Formspree or Netlify forms.

What are some challenges you might face when developing with JAMstack?

Some challenges might include dealing with a lack of server-side functionalities, difficulty in managing large websites, and the need to rely on third-party services for dynamic functionalities.

How would you add dynamic functionality to a JAMstack site?

Dynamic functionality can be added to a JAMstack site using JavaScript and APIs. This can include anything from form submissions to user authentication.

What is the role of APIs in JAMstack?

APIs in JAMstack are used to provide dynamic functionality. They can be third-party services or custom-built and can provide a range of functionalities from data storage to user authentication.

How would you handle user authentication in a JAMstack application?

User authentication in a JAMstack application can be handled using third-party services like Auth0 or Firebase.

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

What does the following code do in JavaScript?
let x = 10;
let y = '10';
console.log(x == y);
This code checks if the value of x is equal to the value of y using loose equality (==). It will return true because it does not check the type of the variables.
What will be the output of the following code?
let x = 10;
let y = '10';
console.log(x === y);
This code checks if the value of x is equal to the value of y using strict equality (===). It will return false because it also checks the type of the variables.
What does the following code do in JavaScript?
let arr = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5];
let sum = arr.reduce((a, b) => a + b, 0);
console.log(sum);
This code calculates the sum of all the numbers in the array. The reduce() method reduces the array to a single value by executing a provided function for each value of the array (from left-to-right).
What does the following code do in JavaScript?
let promise = new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
  setTimeout(() => {
    resolve('resolved');
  }, 2000);
});
promise.then((value) => {
  console.log(value);
});
This code creates a new Promise that resolves after 2 seconds. The then() method is used to specify what to do when the Promise is resolved. It will print 'resolved' to the console.

Wrap-up questions

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

Describe the difference between server-side rendering and pre-rendering in JAMstack.

In server-side rendering, the server generates HTML for each request. In pre-rendering, the HTML is generated at build time and served directly to the browser.

How would you handle SEO in a JAMstack site?

SEO in a JAMstack site can be handled by pre-rendering the site to serve static HTML to search engine crawlers, and using meta tags and structured data for better indexing.

What are some ways to optimize the performance of a JAMstack site?

Performance can be optimized by pre-rendering the site, using a CDN to serve assets, optimizing images, and minifying JavaScript and CSS.

Jam application related

Product Perfect's Jam development capabilities

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

Jam Consultive assessments

Jam Application Conversion Assessment Jam Application Integration Assessment Jam Data & Database Integration Assessment

Custom Jam development projects

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

Hiring guide for Jam Engineers

Jam Developer Hiring Guide

What you’re looking for early on

The ideal back-end app developer

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

Jam Consultive assessments

Custom Jam development projects