Product Perfect

NetLogo is a multi-agent programmable modeling environment that is used for simulating natural and social phenomena. It was developed at the Center for Connected Learning and Computer-Based Modeling, Northwestern University. NetLogo is particularly well-suited for modeling complex systems evolving over time, such as ecosystems, economies, and traffic patterns. It allows users to explore the behavior of such systems under various conditions. The language is highly flexible and can be used to model anything from ant colonies to stock markets. It also includes a user-friendly graphical interface that makes it accessible to non-programmers.

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

First 20 minutes

General NetLogo app knowledge and experience

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

What are the basic components of a NetLogo model?

The basic components of a NetLogo model are the Interface, the Info, and the Code.

How would you create a simple agent-based model in NetLogo?

To create a simple agent-based model in NetLogo, you would first define the agents and their properties, then specify the rules for their behavior and interactions, and finally, implement these in the NetLogo programming language.

What is the purpose of the 'setup' procedure in NetLogo?

The 'setup' procedure in NetLogo is used to initialize the model, setting up the initial state of the world and the agents.

Describe the difference between 'ask' and 'tell' in NetLogo.

'Ask' and 'tell' are both commands used to interact with agents in NetLogo. 'Ask' is used to instruct a set of agents to perform a task, while 'tell' is not a valid command in NetLogo.

How would you use the 'tick' command in NetLogo?

The 'tick' command in NetLogo is used to advance the model's internal clock by one tick. This is typically used at the end of a go procedure to indicate that one time step has been completed.

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What you’re looking for early on

Does the candidate have a strong understanding of NetLogo language?

Has the candidate demonstrated problem-solving skills?

Does the candidate have experience with agent-based modeling?

Has the candidate shown good communication skills?

Next 20 minutes

Specific NetLogo 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 are patches in NetLogo and how are they used?

Patches are the cells that make up the background of the NetLogo world. They can have variables and can be used to represent physical space in a model.

Describe the difference between global and local variables in NetLogo.

Global variables in NetLogo are accessible from all procedures and reporters, while local variables are only accessible within the procedure or reporter in which they are defined.

How would you implement a stochastic process in NetLogo?

A stochastic process in NetLogo can be implemented using the random number generation functions, such as 'random', 'random-float', and 'random-exponential'.

What are breeds in NetLogo and how are they used?

Breeds in NetLogo are used to create different types of agents. Each breed has its own set of agent variables and can have different behaviors.

How would you use the 'plot' command in NetLogo?

The 'plot' command in NetLogo is used to create a plot of a variable or expression over time. It is typically used in combination with the 'tick' command to create time series plots.

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

What does the following NetLogo code do?
to setup
  clear-all
  create-turtles 10
  reset-ticks
end
This code defines a setup procedure that clears the world, creates 10 turtles at random positions, and resets the tick counter to zero.
What will be the output of the following NetLogo code?
to-report sum-of-squares [numbers]
  report reduce [?1 + (?2 * ?2)] numbers
end
This code defines a procedure that calculates the sum of squares of a list of numbers. It uses the 'reduce' primitive to iterate over the list and accumulate the sum.
What does the following NetLogo code do?
to-report find-max [numbers]
  let max numbers
  foreach numbers [if ? > max [set max ?]]
  report max
end
This code defines a procedure that finds the maximum number in a list. It uses the 'foreach' primitive to iterate over the list and updates the 'max' variable whenever a larger number is found.
What does the following NetLogo code do?
to go
  ask turtles [fd 1]
  tick
end
This code defines a go procedure that asks all turtles to move forward by one step and then advances the tick counter by one.

Wrap-up questions

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

Describe the difference between 'observer', 'turtles', 'patches', and 'links' in NetLogo.

'Observer', 'turtles', 'patches', and 'links' are all types of agents in NetLogo. The observer is a special agent that oversees the world and can interact with turtles, patches, and links, but does not exist in the world itself. Turtles are mobile agents, patches are stationary agents that make up the world's grid, and links are agents that connect turtles.

How would you implement a spatially explicit model in NetLogo?

A spatially explicit model in NetLogo can be implemented by using patches to represent space, and using the 'patch' and 'distance' commands to specify spatial relationships between agents.

What are the limitations of NetLogo?

Some limitations of NetLogo include its inability to handle very large models due to memory constraints, the lack of support for multi-threading, and the fact that it is not as fast as some other modeling languages.

NetLogo application related

Product Perfect's NetLogo development capabilities

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

NetLogo Consultive assessments

NetLogo Application Conversion Assessment NetLogo Application Integration Assessment NetLogo Data & Database Integration Assessment

Custom NetLogo development projects

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

Hiring guide for NetLogo Engineers

NetLogo Developer Hiring Guide

What you’re looking for early on

The ideal back-end app developer

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

NetLogo Consultive assessments

Custom NetLogo development projects