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Metafont is a programming language used to define vector graphics, specifically for rasterizing fonts. It was developed by Donald Knuth, the same person who created the TeX typesetting system. Metafont uses geometric equations to describe each glyph in a font, which allows for high-quality output at any resolution. The language also supports parameters that can be adjusted to create different styles of fonts from a single design. However, it's not widely used today due to its complexity and the rise of other font technologies like TrueType and OpenType.

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

First 20 minutes

General Metafont app knowledge and experience

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

What are the main components of a Metafont program?

The main components of a Metafont program are the declarations, path definitions, and commands to draw or fill paths.

How would you define a new character in Metafont?

To define a new character in Metafont, you would use the 'beginchar' command, followed by the character code, width, height, and depth, and then define the character's shape using paths and pens.

What is the purpose of the 'pen' in Metafont?

The 'pen' in Metafont is used to trace along a path to create a shape. Different pen shapes can be used to create different effects.

Describe the difference between 'draw' and 'fill' commands in Metafont.

The 'draw' command in Metafont traces a path with a pen, while the 'fill' command fills a closed path with ink.

How would you create a loop in Metafont?

You can create a loop in Metafont using the 'for' command, followed by a variable, an equals sign, a range, and 'do'. The commands inside the loop are enclosed in curly braces.

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What you’re looking for early on

Does the candidate demonstrate a deep understanding of Metafont language?

Has the candidate shown ability to work with other typesetting systems like TeX?

Is the candidate able to solve complex problems and debug in Metafont?

Does the candidate have experience in creating custom fonts and graphics using Metafont?

Next 20 minutes

Specific Metafont 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 'pickup' command in Metafont?

The 'pickup' command in Metafont is used to select a pen for tracing paths.

How would you define a macro in Metafont?

You can define a macro in Metafont using the 'def' command, followed by the macro name, parameters, and definition, and ending with 'enddef'.

What are the different types of paths in Metafont and how are they used?

In Metafont, there are straight paths and curved paths. Straight paths are defined by two points, while curved paths are defined by a sequence of tension and control points.

Describe the difference between 'penpos' and 'penstroke' in Metafont.

'penpos' and 'penstroke' are two different ways of defining a path in Metafont. 'penpos' defines a path by moving a pen from one position to another, while 'penstroke' defines a path by stroking a pen along a path.

How would you use the 'transform' command in Metafont?

The 'transform' command in Metafont is used to apply a linear transformation to a picture or path. It takes four arguments representing the transformation matrix.

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

What does this simple Metafont code do?
beginchar("A", 10pt#, 10pt#, 0); draw (5pt,0)--(0,10pt)--(10pt,10pt)--cycle; endchar;
This code defines a new character 'A' with a size of 10pt by 10pt. It then draws a triangle that represents the character 'A'.
What will be the output of this Metafont code?
vardef circle(expr r) = fullcircle scaled 2r enddef; draw circle(5pt);
This code defines a new function 'circle' that takes a radius 'r' and returns a circle scaled by 2r. It then draws a circle with a radius of 5pt, effectively creating a circle with a diameter of 10pt.
What does this Metafont code do that involves array manipulation?
path p[]; p1:=(0,0)--(1,0); p2:=(0,0)--(0,1); p[1]:=p1; p[2]:=p2; draw p[1]; draw p[2];
This code defines an array of paths 'p'. It then defines two paths 'p1' and 'p2'. These paths are then stored in the array at indices 1 and 2 respectively. Finally, it draws the paths stored in the array.
What does this Metafont code do that involves threading or concurrency?
vardef async(expr a, b) = a--b enddef; draw async((0,0), (1,1));
Metafont does not support threading or concurrency. However, this code defines a function 'async' that takes two points 'a' and 'b' and returns a path from 'a' to 'b'. It then draws this path.

Wrap-up questions

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

What is the purpose of the 'special' command in Metafont?

The 'special' command in Metafont is used to insert arbitrary PostScript code into the output. This can be used to create effects that are not possible with standard Metafont commands.

How would you create a recursive function in Metafont?

You can create a recursive function in Metafont by defining a macro that calls itself. However, you need to be careful to include a base case to prevent infinite recursion.

What are the different types of variables in Metafont and how are they used?

In Metafont, there are numeric variables, pair variables, path variables, and picture variables. Numeric variables hold numbers, pair variables hold pairs of numbers, path variables hold paths, and picture variables hold pictures.

Metafont application related

Product Perfect's Metafont development capabilities

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

Metafont Consultive assessments

Metafont Application Conversion Assessment Metafont Application Integration Assessment Metafont Data & Database Integration Assessment

Custom Metafont development projects

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

Hiring guide for Metafont Engineers

Metafont Developer Hiring Guide

What you’re looking for early on

The ideal back-end app developer

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

Metafont Consultive assessments

Custom Metafont development projects