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LINC 4GL is a computer programming language that was developed by Unisys Corporation, a global IT company. Originally created in the 1960s, it was designed as an easy-to-use, high-level language for data processing tasks on UNIVAC and Burroughs mainframes. It has its roots in the LINC (Laboratory Instrument Computer), one of the earliest interactive computers designed at MIT's Lincoln Laboratory in the early 1960s. The '4GL' stands for 'fourth generation language', indicating its evolution from earlier languages. Today, LINC is considered an important part of computer history and legacy systems.

Ask the right questions secure the right LINC 4GL talent among an increasingly shrinking pool of talent.

First 20 minutes

General LINC 4GL app knowledge and experience

The first 20 minutes of the interview should seek to understand the candidate's general background in LINC 4GL application development, including their experience with various programming languages, databases, and their approach to designing scalable and maintainable systems.

What are the main features of LINC 4GL?

LINC 4GL provides features such as data abstraction, strong typing, structured programming, and error handling. It also supports a variety of data types and has powerful built-in functions.

How would you create a new LINC 4GL program?

To create a new LINC 4GL program, you would use the CREATE PROGRAM command followed by the name of the program. You would then define the program's structure, variables, and logic.

Describe the difference between a LINC 4GL function and a procedure.

A function in LINC 4GL is a predefined operation that returns a value, while a procedure is a user-defined set of instructions that may or may not return a value.

What are the basic data types available in LINC 4GL?

The basic data types in LINC 4GL include integer, float, char, date, and boolean.

How would you handle errors in a LINC 4GL program?

LINC 4GL provides a built-in error handling mechanism. You can use the ON ERROR command to specify what action should be taken when an error occurs.

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What you’re looking for early on

Does the candidate have a strong understanding of LINC 4GL development?

Have they demonstrated problem-solving skills?

Are they able to communicate effectively?

Do they have experience with other programming languages?

Next 20 minutes

Specific LINC 4GL 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.

What is the purpose of the LINC 4GL compiler?

The LINC 4GL compiler translates the LINC 4GL source code into machine code that can be executed by the computer.

How would you declare a variable in LINC 4GL?

In LINC 4GL, you declare a variable using the DEFINE command followed by the variable name and data type.

What are the control structures available in LINC 4GL?

LINC 4GL provides control structures such as IF-THEN-ELSE, WHILE-DO, and FOR-TO-DO for conditional and loop operations.

How would you perform file operations in LINC 4GL?

LINC 4GL provides built-in functions for file operations. For example, you can use the OPEN, READ, WRITE, and CLOSE commands to perform operations on files.

Describe the difference between local and global variables in LINC 4GL.

Local variables are defined within a procedure and can only be accessed within that procedure. Global variables are defined outside all procedures and can be accessed by any procedure in the program.

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At this point, a skilled LINC 4GL engineer should demonstrate strong problem-solving abilities, proficiency in LINC 4GL 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 LINC 4GL.

What does this basic LINC 4GL code do?
DISPLAY 'Hello, World!'.
This code simply prints the string 'Hello, World!' to the console.
What is the output of this LINC 4GL code snippet?
DEFINE name STRING.
MOVE 'John' TO name.
DISPLAY name.
The code first declares a string variable 'name'. It then assigns the value 'John' to 'name'. Finally, it prints the value of 'name', which is 'John', to the console.
What does this LINC 4GL code snippet do?
DEFINE numArray ARRAY[10] OF INT.
FOR i = 1 TO 10 DO
MOVE i TO numArray[i].
END-FOR.
DISPLAY numArray.
The code snippet declares an array of integers 'numArray' with a size of 10. It then populates the array with numbers from 1 to 10 using a FOR loop. Finally, it displays the contents of the array on the console.
What is the purpose of this LINC 4GL code snippet?
DEFINE thread1 THREAD OF (DISPLAY 'Hello from thread 1').
DEFINE thread2 THREAD OF (DISPLAY 'Hello from thread 2').
START thread1.
START thread2.
This code snippet defines two threads, 'thread1' and 'thread2'. Each thread, when started, will print a unique message to the console. The 'START' commands start the execution of the threads.

Wrap-up questions

Final candidate for LINC 4GL 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 LINC 4GL application deployments. Inquire about their experience in handling system failures and their approach to debugging and troubleshooting.

How would you implement recursion in a LINC 4GL program?

In LINC 4GL, you can implement recursion by having a procedure call itself. However, you need to be careful to avoid infinite recursion by providing a condition to terminate the recursion.

What are the different types of arrays in LINC 4GL?

LINC 4GL supports one-dimensional and multi-dimensional arrays. You can declare an array using the DEFINE ARRAY command followed by the array name, dimensions, and data type.

How would you connect to a database using LINC 4GL?

You can connect to a database in LINC 4GL using the CONNECT command followed by the database name, username, and password. You can then use the SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE commands to perform operations on the database.

LINC 4GL application related

Product Perfect's LINC 4GL development capabilities

Beyond hiring for your LINC 4GL engineering team, you may be in the market for additional help. Product Perfect provides seasoned expertise in LINC 4GL projects, and can engage in multiple capacities.

LINC 4GL Consultive assessments

LINC 4GL Application Conversion Assessment LINC 4GL Application Integration Assessment LINC 4GL Data & Database Integration Assessment

Custom LINC 4GL development projects

Custom LINC 4GL App Conversion LINC 4GL Custom App Development Process App UI Design for LINC 4GL Facelifts

Hiring guide for LINC 4GL Engineers

LINC 4GL Developer Hiring Guide

What you’re looking for early on

The ideal back-end app developer

What you’re looking to see on the LINC 4GL engineer at this point.

LINC 4GL Consultive assessments

Custom LINC 4GL development projects