Product Perfect

KiXtart is a free-format scripting language developed by Ruud van Velsen of Microsoft Netherlands. It was first released in 1991 and was initially designed for login script creation and administration tasks in a Microsoft Windows environment. KiXtart is known for its flexibility, allowing users to automate administrative tasks using COM (Component Object Model) objects, ADSI (Active Directory Service Interfaces), or WMI (Windows Management Instrumentation). It also supports various data types such as arrays and variants, making it more versatile than batch files or shell scripts. The language can be used to read or write Windows .ini files, modify the Windows registry, control services and processes, interact with network components like drives and printers, and more.

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

First 20 minutes

General KiXtart app knowledge and experience

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

How would you initiate a KiXtart script?

To initiate a KiXtart script, you would use the command 'KIX scriptname.kix'.

What are the key features of KiXtart?

Key features of KiXtart include its ability to manipulate and manage user and computer accounts, read and write to the registry, and its extensive error handling capabilities.

Describe the difference between the 'IF' and 'SELECT' statements in KiXtart.

'IF' statement is used when we want to test if a condition is true or false and execute a block of code accordingly. 'SELECT' statement is used when we want to choose one of many blocks of code to execute.

How would you handle errors in KiXtart?

In KiXtart, errors can be handled using the '@ERROR' function. This function returns the error code of the last executed command.

What are the data types supported by KiXtart?

KiXtart supports several data types including string, integer, boolean, and variant.

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What you’re looking for early on

Does the candidate have a good understanding of KiXtart scripting language?

Has the candidate demonstrated problem-solving skills?

Has the candidate shown experience with other scripting languages?

Is the candidate familiar with Windows operating systems?

Next 20 minutes

Specific KiXtart 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 'AND' and 'OR' operators in KiXtart.

'AND' operator returns true if both the conditions are true. 'OR' operator returns true if any one of the conditions is true.

How would you create a function in KiXtart?

In KiXtart, functions are created using the 'FUNCTION' keyword followed by the function name and its parameters enclosed in parentheses.

What are the looping structures in KiXtart?

KiXtart supports several looping structures including 'DO...UNTIL', 'DO...LOOP', 'FOR...NEXT', and 'FOR EACH...NEXT'.

Describe the difference between 'DO...UNTIL' and 'DO...LOOP' in KiXtart.

'DO...UNTIL' loop continues until the condition becomes true. 'DO...LOOP' continues indefinitely unless explicitly exited with 'EXIT DO'.

How would you read and write to the registry in KiXtart?

In KiXtart, you can read from the registry using the 'READVALUE' function and write to the registry using the 'WRITEVALUE' function.

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

What does this simple KiXtart script do?
IF @WKSTA = 'PC-01' USE X: \\server\share
This script checks if the workstation's name is 'PC-01', and if yes, it maps the X: drive to the shared folder on a server.
What is the output of this KiXtart script?
DIM $value = 5
$value += 2
? $value
The script will output 7. It initially assigns a value of 5 to the variable $value, then increments it by 2.
What does this KiXtart array manipulation script do?
DIM $arr[3]
$arr[0] = 'A'
$arr[1] = 'B'
$arr[2] = 'C'
? JOIN($arr, ', ')
This script creates an array with three elements, assigns values 'A', 'B', 'C' to them, and then joins them into a string separated by a comma and a space. The output will be 'A, B, C'.
What does this KiXtart script do with the RUN command?
RUN 'notepad.exe', 'MAX'
This script executes the Notepad application in a maximized window. The RUN command is used to start a program, and 'MAX' is an option to run it in a maximized window.

Wrap-up questions

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

What are the string manipulation functions in KiXtart?

KiXtart provides several string manipulation functions including 'LEN', 'LEFT', 'RIGHT', 'MID', 'INSTR', 'SUBSTR', and 'TRIM'.

Describe the difference between 'LEN' and 'INSTR' functions in KiXtart.

'LEN' function returns the length of a string. 'INSTR' function returns the position of the first occurrence of a substring in a string.

How would you manage user and computer accounts in KiXtart?

In KiXtart, you can manage user and computer accounts using the 'GETOBJECT' function to access the Active Directory services.

KiXtart application related

Product Perfect's KiXtart development capabilities

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

KiXtart Consultive assessments

KiXtart Application Conversion Assessment KiXtart Application Integration Assessment KiXtart Data & Database Integration Assessment

Custom KiXtart development projects

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

Hiring guide for KiXtart Engineers

KiXtart Developer Hiring Guide

What you’re looking for early on

The ideal back-end app developer

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

KiXtart Consultive assessments

Custom KiXtart development projects