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Pro*C is a programming language developed by Oracle Corporation, primarily used for embedding SQL in C code. It was first introduced in the 1980s as part of Oracle's suite of database management tools. Pro*C precompiles the SQL statements into standard Oracle runtime library calls, which allows developers to write programs that interact directly with Oracle databases. This language is highly efficient and reliable, making it a preferred choice for large-scale database applications. Information about Pro*C can be found on Oracle's official documentation and various programming resources online.

Ask the right questions secure the right Pro*C talent among an increasingly shrinking pool of talent.

First 20 minutes

General Pro*C app knowledge and experience

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

How would you define Pro*C?

Pro*C is a programming language that is an extension of the C programming language. It is used to write SQL statements directly in a C program. This is advantageous because it allows you to leverage the power of SQL within a C program, which can lead to more efficient and powerful applications.

What are the advantages of using Pro*C?

Pro*C provides several advantages including the ability to leverage the power of SQL within a C program, improved performance due to the precompilation of SQL statements, and increased productivity due to the ability to use familiar C programming constructs.

Describe the difference between Pro*C and SQL.

Pro*C is an extension of the C programming language that allows for the embedding of SQL statements within a C program. SQL, on the other hand, is a standalone language used for managing and manipulating databases. While SQL is used within Pro*C, the two are not the same.

How would you handle errors in Pro*C?

In Pro*C, errors can be handled using the SQLCODE and SQLERRM variables. SQLCODE returns the error code of the last executed SQL statement, while SQLERRM returns the error message. These variables can be used in conjunction with control structures to handle errors appropriately.

What are the steps to compile a Pro*C program?

First, the Pro*C precompiler is run on the source code to convert the embedded SQL statements into standard C code. Then, the C compiler is used to compile the resulting C code into an executable program.

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What you’re looking for early on

Does the candidate possess a strong understanding of Pro*C?

Has the candidate demonstrated an ability to solve complex problems?

Is the candidate able to communicate effectively?

Does the candidate have experience with other relevant technologies or programming languages?

Next 20 minutes

Specific Pro*C 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 a host variable and an indicator variable in Pro*C.

A host variable is a variable that is declared in the C code and can be used in SQL statements. An indicator variable, on the other hand, is used to provide additional information about a host variable, such as whether its value is null.

How would you declare a cursor in Pro*C?

A cursor in Pro*C can be declared using the DECLARE statement. For example, 'EXEC SQL DECLARE cursor_name CURSOR FOR select_statement;' would declare a cursor.

What are the different types of cursors in Pro*C and how do they differ?

Pro*C supports two types of cursors: implicit cursors and explicit cursors. Implicit cursors are automatically created by Pro*C for SQL statements that return a single row. Explicit cursors, on the other hand, must be declared by the programmer and are used for SQL statements that return multiple rows.

How would you fetch multiple rows with a cursor in Pro*C?

To fetch multiple rows with a cursor in Pro*C, you would use a loop in conjunction with the FETCH statement. The FETCH statement retrieves the next row from the result set, and the loop allows you to retrieve all rows.

Describe the difference between the COMMIT and ROLLBACK statements in Pro*C.

The COMMIT statement is used to save changes made to the database, while the ROLLBACK statement is used to undo changes. If a COMMIT statement is executed, all changes made since the last COMMIT or ROLLBACK are saved. If a ROLLBACK statement is executed, all changes made since the last COMMIT or ROLLBACK are undone.

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

What does this simple Pro*C code do?
EXEC SQL BEGIN DECLARE SECTION;
int emp_number;
char emp_name[20];
EXEC SQL END DECLARE SECTION;
EXEC SQL CONNECT :username IDENTIFIED BY :password;
This code connects to a database using the given username and password. It also declares an integer variable 'emp_number' and a character array 'emp_name' that can be used to store or manipulate data from the database.
What will be the output of this Pro*C code snippet?
EXEC SQL BEGIN DECLARE SECTION;
int emp_number = 100;
char emp_name[20] = 'John Doe';
EXEC SQL END DECLARE SECTION;
EXEC SQL INSERT INTO employees VALUES (:emp_number, :emp_name);
This code will insert a new row into the 'employees' table in the database. The new row will have '100' as the employee number and 'John Doe' as the employee name. There will be no output as such, but the database will be updated.
What does this Pro*C code do?
EXEC SQL DECLARE emp_cursor CURSOR FOR SELECT emp_number, emp_name FROM employees;
EXEC SQL OPEN emp_cursor;
EXEC SQL FETCH emp_cursor INTO :emp_number, :emp_name;
This code declares a cursor 'emp_cursor' to fetch the employee number and name from the 'employees' table. It then opens the cursor and fetches the first row of data into the variables 'emp_number' and 'emp_name'.
What does this Pro*C code do?
EXEC SQL AT db1 BEGIN DECLARE SECTION;
int emp_number;
char emp_name[20];
EXEC SQL AT db1 END DECLARE SECTION;
EXEC SQL AT db1 CONNECT :username IDENTIFIED BY :password;
This code connects to a specific database 'db1' using the given username and password. It also declares an integer variable 'emp_number' and a character array 'emp_name' that can be used to store or manipulate data from the 'db1' database.

Wrap-up questions

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

How would you use the SQLCA structure in Pro*C?

The SQLCA structure is used to hold information about the execution of SQL statements. It contains variables such as SQLCODE and SQLERRM, which can be used to handle errors. To use the SQLCA structure, it must first be included in the program using the 'EXEC SQL INCLUDE SQLCA;' statement.

What are the different modes of operation in Pro*C and how do they differ?

Pro*C supports two modes of operation: Oracle mode and ANSI mode. Oracle mode supports Oracle-specific syntax and features, while ANSI mode adheres to the SQL standard. The mode of operation can be set using the MODE option in the Pro*C precompiler.

How would you handle null values in Pro*C?

Null values in Pro*C can be handled using indicator variables. An indicator variable can be associated with a host variable, and it will contain a negative value if the host variable is null. This allows for the appropriate handling of null values in the program.

Pro*C application related

Product Perfect's Pro*C development capabilities

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

Pro*C Consultive assessments

Pro*C Application Conversion Assessment Pro*C Application Integration Assessment Pro*C Data & Database Integration Assessment

Custom Pro*C development projects

Custom Pro*C App Conversion Pro*C Custom App Development Process App UI Design for Pro*C Facelifts

Hiring guide for Pro*C Engineers

Pro*C Developer Hiring Guide

What you’re looking for early on

The ideal back-end app developer

What you’re looking to see on the Pro*C engineer at this point.

Pro*C Consultive assessments

Custom Pro*C development projects