Hiring guide for Ur/Web Engineers

Ur/Web Developer Hiring Guide

Ur/Web is a statically-typed, functional programming language specifically designed for web development. It supports a robust and secure system by preventing common web vulnerabilities such as cross-site scripting, SQL injection, and cross-site request forgery. Ur/Web achieves this through its strong type system that ensures these errors cannot occur. The language also includes an SQL database abstraction layer which allows developers to write queries within the program itself rather than embedding them as strings. This feature enhances security by preventing potential SQL injections. One of the unique aspects of Ur/Web is its ability to encapsulate all client-side and server-side code into one application source file. The compiler then automatically generates separate JavaScript, HTML/CSS files for client side and ML (Meta Language) files for server side. Moreover, it has built-in support for AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript And XML), WebSockets among other modern web technologies making it easier to create dynamic content on websites without requiring additional libraries or frameworks. Overall, Ur/Web aims at providing high-level abstractions that make web development more efficient while ensuring maximum security with minimum effort from developers' end.

Ask the right questions secure the right Ur/Web talent among an increasingly shrinking pool of talent.

First 20 minutes

General Ur/Web app knowledge and experience

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

How would you install Ur/Web on a Linux system?
You can install Ur/Web on a Linux system by downloading the source code, extracting it, and then compiling it using the 'make' command. You would also need to install any necessary dependencies.
What are the main components of the Ur/Web programming language?
The main components of the Ur/Web programming language are the Ur programming language, which is a statically-typed functional programming language, and the Ur/Web compiler, which compiles Ur code into SQL, JavaScript, and CSS.
How would you create a simple web application in Ur/Web?
To create a simple web application in Ur/Web, you would first define the data model using Ur's type system. Then, you would write the server-side logic in Ur, and the client-side logic in Ur/Web. Finally, you would compile the application using the Ur/Web compiler.
Describe the difference between Ur and Ur/Web.
Ur is a statically-typed functional programming language, while Ur/Web is a framework that extends Ur with special features for web development, such as HTML templating and database access.
What are the advantages of using Ur/Web over other web development frameworks?
Some advantages of using Ur/Web include its strong static typing, which can prevent many common web development errors, and its ability to generate all the necessary SQL, JavaScript, and CSS code from a single source.
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What you’re looking for early on

Does the candidate have a solid understanding of the Ur/Web language?
Can they demonstrate experience with functional programming?
Have they shown the ability to work with SQL databases?
Do they have a good understanding of web technologies?

Next 20 minutes

Specific Ur/Web 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 database transactions in Ur/Web?
In Ur/Web, database transactions are handled using the transaction monad. This allows you to write code that reads from and writes to the database in a safe and consistent manner.
What are the main features of the Ur programming language?
The main features of the Ur programming language include its strong static typing, its functional programming paradigm, and its support for metaprogramming.
How would you use metaprogramming in Ur/Web?
In Ur/Web, you can use metaprogramming to generate code at compile time. This is done using Ur's type system, which allows you to write code that manipulates other code as data.
Describe the difference between static and dynamic typing, and how this applies to Ur/Web.
Static typing means that the type of a variable is checked at compile time, while dynamic typing means that it is checked at runtime. Ur/Web uses static typing, which can help prevent many common errors and improve performance.
What are the limitations of using Ur/Web for web development?
Some limitations of using Ur/Web include its steep learning curve, due to its unique combination of features, and the fact that it is not as widely used or well-known as other web development frameworks.
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The ideal back-end app developer

What you’re looking to see on the Ur/Web engineer at this point.

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

What does the following Ur/Web code do?
fun add x y = x + y
This code defines a function named 'add' that takes two arguments, 'x' and 'y', and returns their sum.
What will be the output of the below Ur/Web code?
val _ = print (Int.toString (3 * 4))
The code will print the string '12'. It multiplies 3 and 4, converts the result to a string, and then prints it.
What does the following Ur/Web code do?
fun length xs = foldl (fn _ => fn n => n + 1) 0 xs
This code defines a function named 'length' that takes a list 'xs' and returns its length. It uses the 'foldl' function to iterate over the list, incrementing a counter for each element.
What does the following Ur/Web code do?
fun spawn f = transaction (fn _ => return (fork f))
This code defines a function named 'spawn' that takes a function 'f' as argument and executes it asynchronously in a new thread, within a transaction.

Wrap-up questions

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

How would you handle error handling in Ur/Web?
In Ur/Web, error handling is done using the exception monad. This allows you to write code that can handle errors in a safe and consistent manner.
What are the main features of the Ur/Web compiler?
The main features of the Ur/Web compiler include its ability to generate SQL, JavaScript, and CSS code from a single source, and its support for metaprogramming.
How would you use the Ur/Web compiler to optimize your web application?
You can use the Ur/Web compiler to optimize your web application by taking advantage of its ability to generate efficient SQL, JavaScript, and CSS code. You can also use its metaprogramming features to generate code that is tailored to your specific needs.

Ur/Web application related

Product Perfect's Ur/Web development capabilities

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

Ur/Web Consultive assessments

Custom Ur/Web development projects

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