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Maxima is a computer algebra system, essentially used for manipulating numerical expressions and symbolic calculations. It is based on the programming language Lisp and was developed from the 1960s MIT project MACSYMA. Maxima provides capabilities for differentiation, integration, solving equations, handling vectors, matrices and tensors among other functionalities. It also supports arbitrary precision arithmetic making it suitable for extremely large number computations. The software can be scripted and programmed to perform automated computations. Maxima includes its own programming language allowing users to define their own symbolic or numerical functions.

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

First 20 minutes

General Maxima app knowledge and experience

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

How would you install Maxima on a Linux system?

You can install Maxima on a Linux system using the package manager. For example, on a Debian-based system, you'd use 'sudo apt-get install maxima'.

What are the basic data types supported in Maxima?

Maxima supports numerous data types including integers, floating point numbers, strings, lists, sets, arrays, matrices, and functions.

Describe the difference between 'diff' and 'deriv' in Maxima.

'diff' is used for differentiation of an expression with respect to a variable, while 'deriv' is used for representing the derivative of a function, without actually differentiating it.

How would you solve a linear equation in Maxima?

You can use the 'solve' function in Maxima to solve a linear equation. For example, 'solve([2*x + 3 = 5], [x])' would solve for x.

What are the uses of the 'integrate' function in Maxima?

The 'integrate' function in Maxima is used to perform symbolic integration of an expression with respect to a variable.

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What you’re looking for early on

Does the candidate have a solid understanding of Maxima?

Has the candidate demonstrated problem-solving skills?

Is the candidate able to communicate effectively?

Does the candidate have experience with similar projects?

Next 20 minutes

Specific Maxima 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 '==' in Maxima.

'=' is used for assignment in Maxima, while '==' is used for testing equality.

How would you define a function in Maxima?

In Maxima, you can define a function using the ':' operator. For example, 'f(x) := x^2;' defines a function f that squares its input.

What are the uses of the 'sum' function in Maxima?

The 'sum' function in Maxima is used to compute the sum of a sequence. It can handle both finite and infinite series.

Describe the difference between 'subst' and 'ev' in Maxima.

'subst' and 'ev' both substitute values into expressions, but 'ev' has additional options and can evaluate the expression as well.

How would you solve a differential equation in Maxima?

You can use the 'ode2' function in Maxima to solve a second order ordinary differential equation. For example, 'ode2('diff(y,x,2) + y = 0, y, x)' would solve the given differential equation.

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

What does the following Maxima code do: 'integrate(x^2, x);'?
integrate(x^2, x);
This code performs the integral of the function x^2 with respect to x. The result will be the antiderivative of x^2, which is (1/3)*x^3.
What will be the output of the following Maxima code: 'solve([x+y=10, x-y=2],[x,y]);'?
solve([x+y=10, x-y=2],[x,y]);
This code solves the system of linear equations x+y=10 and x-y=2. The output will be the solutions for x and y, which are x=6 and y=4.
What does the following Maxima code do: 'makelist(i^2, i, 1, 5);'?
makelist(i^2, i, 1, 5);
This code creates a list of the squares of the numbers from 1 to 5. The output will be the list [1, 4, 9, 16, 25].
What does the following Maxima code do: 'block([x:10], x^2);'?
block([x:10], x^2);
This code creates a block in which the variable x is locally set to 10, and then evaluates x^2. The output will be 100.

Wrap-up questions

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

What are the uses of the 'linsolve' function in Maxima?

The 'linsolve' function in Maxima is used to solve a system of linear equations.

Describe the difference between 'makelist' and 'map' in Maxima.

'makelist' creates a list by evaluating an expression for a range of values, while 'map' applies a function to each element of a list.

How would you implement a recursive function in Maxima?

You can implement a recursive function in Maxima by having the function call itself within its definition. For example, the factorial function can be implemented recursively as 'fact(n) := if n=0 then 1 else n*fact(n-1)$'.

Maxima application related

Product Perfect's Maxima development capabilities

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

Maxima Consultive assessments

Maxima Application Conversion Assessment Maxima Application Integration Assessment Maxima Data & Database Integration Assessment

Custom Maxima development projects

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

Hiring guide for Maxima Engineers

Maxima Developer Hiring Guide

What you’re looking for early on

The ideal back-end app developer

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

Maxima Consultive assessments

Custom Maxima development projects