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MPS (Meta Programming System) is a powerful open-source language workbench developed by JetBrains. It allows developers to design their own domain-specific languages (DSLs). These DSLs can be used to solve specific problems in various domains, making programming more accessible and efficient for non-programmers or those with limited coding knowledge. MPS uses a projectional editor which allows developers to overcome the limitations of language parsers, and build languages that incorporate graphical notations or tables alongside plain code. This makes it easier for users to read, write and maintain code. The MPS platform also supports language inheritance, enabling new languages to extend existing ones. This feature reduces the amount of time spent on creating new languages from scratch. Additionally, MPS provides an integrated debugger and a version control system which further aids in the development process. In summary, MPS is not just a programming tool but an innovative environment that empowers developers with extensive customization options for designing unique DSLs tailored specifically towards solving complex tasks efficiently.

Ask the right questions secure the right MPS (Meta Programming System) talent among an increasingly shrinking pool of talent.

First 20 minutes

General MPS (Meta Programming System) app knowledge and experience

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

How would you describe the purpose of Meta Programming System?

MPS is a powerful tool used to design domain-specific languages (DSLs). It provides a projectional editor which allows developers to work directly with the abstract syntax tree (AST), enabling the creation of DSLs with rich notations and unique features.

What are the main components of MPS?

The main components of MPS are the language definition, the projectional editor, and the generator. The language definition is used to define the structure, editor, and generator aspects of a language. The projectional editor allows developers to work directly with the abstract syntax tree (AST). The generator transforms the AST into executable code.

Describe the difference between textual and projectional editing.

Textual editing involves working with the text representation of code, while projectional editing involves working directly with the abstract syntax tree (AST). This allows for more flexibility in the structure and notation of the code, as well as the ability to create domain-specific languages.

How would you create a new language in MPS?

To create a new language in MPS, you would first define the structure of the language, then define the editor for the language, and finally define the generator to transform the AST into executable code.

What are the benefits of using MPS over traditional programming languages?

MPS allows for the creation of domain-specific languages, which can be tailored to the specific needs of a project. This can lead to more efficient and readable code. Additionally, MPS's projectional editor allows for more flexibility in the structure and notation of the code.

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What you’re looking for early on

Does the candidate demonstrate an understanding of the core concepts of Meta Programming System (MPS)?

Have they worked on any significant projects using MPS?

How proficient is the candidate with Java, since MPS is built on it?

What is the candidate's approach to problem-solving?

Next 20 minutes

Specific MPS (Meta Programming System) 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 version control in MPS?

MPS supports version control systems like Git. You can commit and update changes directly from MPS. It also provides a mechanism for resolving merge conflicts at the model level, which can be more intuitive than resolving text-based merge conflicts.

Describe the difference between structure and editor aspects in MPS.

The structure aspect defines the abstract syntax of the language, including the types of nodes that can appear in the AST and their properties. The editor aspect defines how these nodes are represented in the projectional editor, including their notation and behavior.

What are the steps to define a generator in MPS?

To define a generator in MPS, you would first define the template, which is a model of the target code. Then you would define the reduction rules, which specify how nodes of the source language are transformed into nodes of the target language. Finally, you would define the generation plan, which controls the order in which the reduction rules are applied.

How would you debug a language in MPS?

MPS provides a debugger for languages. You can set breakpoints, step through the code, and inspect the values of variables. Additionally, you can use the MPS console to print debug information.

Describe the difference between reduction rules and pattern rules in MPS.

Reduction rules specify how nodes of the source language are transformed into nodes of the target language. Pattern rules are a type of reduction rule that match a specific pattern in the source code and replace it with a specific pattern in the target code.

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At this point, a skilled MPS (Meta Programming System) engineer should demonstrate strong problem-solving abilities, proficiency in MPS (Meta Programming System) 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 MPS (Meta Programming System).

What does this simple MPS code do?
{
  'concept': 'HelloWorld',
  'properties': {
    'name': 'World'
  }
}
This code defines a simple 'HelloWorld' concept with a property 'name' set to 'World'. It's a basic example of defining a concept in MPS.
What is the purpose of this MPS code snippet?
{
  'concept': 'Person',
  'properties': {
    'name': 'John',
    'age': 30
  },
  'children': {
    'friends': [
      {
        'concept': 'Person',
        'properties': {
          'name': 'Mike',
          'age': 28
        }
      }
    ]
  }
}
This code defines a 'Person' concept with properties 'name' and 'age'. It also has a 'children' field which is an array of 'Person' objects representing the friends of the person. In this case, 'John' has a friend named 'Mike'.
What will be the output of this MPS code?
{
  'concept': 'Array',
  'children': {
    'elements': [
      {
        'concept': 'Number',
        'properties': {
          'value': 1
        }
      },
      {
        'concept': 'Number',
        'properties': {
          'value': 2
        }
      },
      {
        'concept': 'Number',
        'properties': {
          'value': 3
        }
      }
    ]
  }
}
This code defines an 'Array' concept with child elements being 'Number' concepts. The output will be an array of numbers [1, 2, 3].
What does this MPS code do in terms of threading?
{
  'concept': 'Thread',
  'properties': {
    'name': 'WorkerThread'
  },
  'children': {
    'tasks': [
      {
        'concept': 'Task',
        'properties': {
          'name': 'Task1'
        }
      }
    ]
  }
}
This code defines a 'Thread' concept with a property 'name' set to 'WorkerThread'. It also has a 'tasks' field which is an array of 'Task' objects representing the tasks that the thread should execute. In this case, 'WorkerThread' has a task named 'Task1'.

Wrap-up questions

Final candidate for MPS (Meta Programming System) 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 MPS (Meta Programming System) application deployments. Inquire about their experience in handling system failures and their approach to debugging and troubleshooting.

What are the challenges of using MPS and how would you overcome them?

One of the main challenges of using MPS is the learning curve, as it requires a different way of thinking about programming. This can be overcome with thorough documentation and training. Another challenge is the lack of tooling support compared to more mainstream languages, which can be mitigated by using MPS's built-in tools and integrating with external tools where possible.

How would you integrate MPS with other tools and technologies?

MPS can be integrated with other tools and technologies through its API. For example, you can use the MPS API to generate code from an MPS model, or to manipulate an MPS model programmatically. Additionally, MPS can be integrated with build systems like Maven or Gradle, and with version control systems like Git.

Describe the difference between a concept and a node in MPS.

In MPS, a concept is a type of node in the abstract syntax tree. It defines the properties and children that a node of this type can have. A node is an instance of a concept. It has a specific set of values for the properties defined by its concept, and a specific set of child nodes.

MPS (Meta Programming System) application related

Product Perfect's MPS (Meta Programming System) development capabilities

Beyond hiring for your MPS (Meta Programming System) engineering team, you may be in the market for additional help. Product Perfect provides seasoned expertise in MPS (Meta Programming System) projects, and can engage in multiple capacities.

MPS (Meta Programming System) Consultive assessments

MPS (Meta Programming System) Application Conversion Assessment MPS (Meta Programming System) Application Integration Assessment MPS (Meta Programming System) Data & Database Integration Assessment

Custom MPS (Meta Programming System) development projects

Custom MPS (Meta Programming System) App Conversion MPS (Meta Programming System) Custom App Development Process App UI Design for MPS (Meta Programming System) Facelifts

Hiring guide for MPS (Meta Programming System) Engineers

MPS (Meta Programming System) Developer Hiring Guide

What you’re looking for early on

The ideal back-end app developer

What you’re looking to see on the MPS (Meta Programming System) engineer at this point.

MPS (Meta Programming System) Consultive assessments

Custom MPS (Meta Programming System) development projects