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The TACL (Tandem Advanced Command Language) is a computer programming language developed by Tandem Computers Inc. in the late 1970s for their NonStop series of systems. It was specifically designed to control, manage, and monitor system processes in fault-tolerant computing environments ("HP NonStop server scripting languages," n.d.). This high-level language allows developers to create complex scripts that automate tasks and handle errors efficiently ("TACL Programming Guide," 2018). Over time, it has evolved with enhancements like command line editing capabilities and improved security features making it an integral part of HP's NonStop platform today.

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

First 20 minutes

General TACL app knowledge and experience

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

How would you define TACL?

TACL, or Tandem Advanced Command Language, is a scripting language used on NonStop servers. It is used for controlling, monitoring, and managing applications on the server.

What are the basic data types in TACL?

The basic data types in TACL are integer, float, string, and boolean.

Describe the difference between a TACL macro and a TACL procedure.

A TACL macro is a sequence of TACL commands that are stored in a file and can be executed as a single command. A TACL procedure, on the other hand, is a sequence of TACL commands that are stored in memory and can be executed as a single command.

How would you create a TACL macro?

To create a TACL macro, you would use the 'MACRO' command followed by the name of the macro and the sequence of commands that make up the macro.

What are the different types of variables in TACL?

In TACL, there are three types of variables: local variables, global variables, and system variables.

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What you’re looking for early on

Does the candidate have a solid understanding of TACL?

Can the candidate solve problems efficiently?

How well does the candidate communicate?

Does the candidate have experience with other programming languages?

Next 20 minutes

Specific TACL 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 local and global variables in TACL.

Local variables are only accessible within the procedure or macro in which they are defined, while global variables are accessible from any procedure or macro.

How would you declare a global variable in TACL?

To declare a global variable in TACL, you would use the 'GLOBAL' command followed by the name of the variable and its value.

What are the different types of control structures in TACL?

The control structures in TACL are 'IF', 'ELSE', 'WHILE', 'FOR', and 'CASE'.

Describe the difference between the 'WHILE' and 'FOR' control structures in TACL.

The 'WHILE' control structure executes a block of code as long as a certain condition is true. The 'FOR' control structure, on the other hand, executes a block of code a certain number of times.

How would you use the 'IF' control structure in TACL?

To use the 'IF' control structure in TACL, you would use the 'IF' command followed by a condition and a block of code to be executed if the condition is true.

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

What does this simple TACL command do?
TACL > VOL $DATA01
This command is used to change the current disk volume to $DATA01.
What does the following TACL syntax do?
TACL > SETVAR MYVAR, 'HELLO'
This command sets a TACL environment variable named MYVAR with the value 'HELLO'.
What does the following TACL command do with the array?
TACL > SETVAR ARRAY (1, 2), 'VAL1', 'VAL2'
This command sets the first and second elements of the ARRAY to 'VAL1' and 'VAL2' respectively.
What does the following TACL code snippet do related to threading?
TACL > BEGINTHREAD (MYTHREAD, 100)
This command begins a new thread named MYTHREAD with a priority of 100.

Wrap-up questions

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

What are the different types of operators in TACL?

The operators in TACL are arithmetic operators, comparison operators, logical operators, and assignment operators.

Describe the difference between the '==' and '!=' operators in TACL.

The '==' operator checks if two values are equal, while the '!=' operator checks if two values are not equal.

How would you use the '==' operator in TACL?

To use the '==' operator in TACL, you would place it between two values or variables to check if they are equal.

TACL application related

Product Perfect's TACL development capabilities

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

TACL Consultive assessments

TACL Application Conversion Assessment TACL Application Integration Assessment TACL Data & Database Integration Assessment

Custom TACL development projects

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

Hiring guide for TACL Engineers

TACL Developer Hiring Guide

What you’re looking for early on

The ideal back-end app developer

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

TACL Consultive assessments

Custom TACL development projects