Ada 2005 Developer Hiring Guide

Hiring Guide for Ada 2005 Engineers

Ask the right questions to secure the right Ada 2005 talent among an increasingly shrinking pool of talent.

Ada 2005 is a high-level computer programming language, an updated version of Ada 95, primarily used for large and critical systems. It was developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and approved in 2007 as ISO/IEC 8652:1995/Amd.1:2007(E). The language features enhanced object-oriented programming capabilities, improved real-time support, and greater flexibility in its predefined environment to ensure robust software development. Its design principles emphasize software reliability, maintainability and efficiency which makes it suitable for embedded systems or mission-critical applications like avionics or defense programs. The evolution of Ada from its inception has been guided by the Ada Resource Association (ARA) with technical direction provided by experts within the U.S Department Of Defense.

First 20 minutes

General Ada 2005 knowledge and experience

The next 20 minutes of the interview should attempt to focus more specifically on the development questions used, and the level of depth and skill the engineer possesses.

What are the benefits of strong typing in Ada 2005?

Strong typing in Ada 2005 helps catch errors at compile-time rather than at run-time. This can make it easier to debug and maintain large codebases, and can also help prevent certain types of security vulnerabilities.

How would you handle exceptions in Ada 2005?

In Ada 2005, exceptions are handled using the keywords 'begin', 'exception', and 'when'. The 'begin' block contains the code that might raise an exception, the 'exception' block contains handlers for exceptions, and the 'when' keyword is used to specify which exceptions a handler can handle.

Describe the difference between Ada 2005 and other programming languages like C++ or Java.

Ada 2005 is designed for large, long-lived, and real-time systems, with a focus on strong typing, run-time checking, and parallel processing. Unlike C++, Ada 2005 has built-in support for real-time and concurrent programming. Unlike Java, Ada 2005 is not primarily designed for web or mobile applications.

What are the key features of Ada 2005?

Ada 2005 has strong typing, run-time checking, parallel processing, exception handling, and object-oriented programming features. It also has built-in support for real-time and concurrent programming.

How would you define the Ada 2005 programming language?

Ada 2005 is a modern programming language designed for large, long-lived applications – and embedded systems in particular – where reliability and efficiency are essential. It was originally developed in the 1980s for the U.S. Department of Defense.

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What youre looking for early-on

Has the candidate shown an ability to learn new technologies and adapt to changes?

This is important as the tech landscape is constantly evolving and the candidate should be able to keep up with new tools and practices.

Does the candidate have experience with or knowledge of the specific application domain or industry you're working in?

This can be a big plus, as it means they'll be able to understand the specific problems and requirements of your projects more quickly.

Can the candidate articulate their thought process and problem-solving approach clearly?

This is important for team collaboration and ensuring that their code is understandable and maintainable by others.

Has the candidate displayed knowledge of Ada 2005's unique features, such as its strong typing and package system?

This shows that they have a deep understanding of the language and its capabilities, which is important for writing efficient and secure code.

How well has the candidate handled problem-solving questions?

Their ability to solve problems effectively and efficiently is a strong indicator of their programming capabilities.

Does the candidate demonstrate a strong understanding of Ada 2005 syntax and semantics?

This is crucial as it forms the foundation of their ability to develop software in Ada 2005.

Next 20 minutes

Specific Ada 2005 development questions

The next 20 minutes of the interview should attempt to focus more specifically on the development questions used, and the level of depth and skill the engineer possesses.

How would you use generics in Ada 2005?

In Ada 2005, generics are used to write code that can work with different types. A generic is like a template for a package, procedure, or function. It defines a pattern for code, and then specific instances of that code can be created for different types.

Describe the difference between a task and a protected object in Ada 2005.

In Ada 2005, a task is a concurrent unit of execution, while a protected object is a data structure that provides controlled concurrent access. Tasks are used for parallel processing, while protected objects are used for synchronization and communication between tasks.

What are the concurrency features of Ada 2005?

Ada 2005 has built-in support for concurrent programming, including tasks, protected objects, and rendezvous for synchronization. These features make it easier to write code that can run on multiple processors at the same time.

How would you implement object-oriented programming in Ada 2005?

In Ada 2005, object-oriented programming is implemented using packages, types, and methods. A package is similar to a class in other languages, a type is similar to an instance of a class, and a method is similar to a method in other languages.

Describe the difference between a procedure and a function in Ada 2005.

In Ada 2005, a procedure is a subprogram that performs an action, while a function is a subprogram that returns a value. Procedures are called for their side effects, while functions are called for their return values.

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The ideal back-end app developer

What you’re looking to see on the Ada 2005 engineer at this point.

At this point, a skilled Ada 2005 engineer should demonstrate strong problem-solving abilities, a deep understanding of the language's syntax and features, and experience in real-time systems programming. Red flags include lack of detail in responses or inability to explain Ada-specific concepts like tasks and protected objects.

Digging deeper

Code questions

These will help you see the candidate's real-world development capabilities with Ada 2005.

What does this simple Ada code do?

with Ada.Text_IO; use Ada.Text_IO;
procedure Hello is
begin
  Put_Line ("Hello, world!");
end Hello;

This code prints 'Hello, world!' to the standard output.

What will be the output of this Ada code snippet?

with Ada.Text_IO; use Ada.Text_IO;
procedure Display is
  Num : Integer := 10;
begin
  Put_Line (Integer'Image(Num));
end Display;

This code will output '10' to the standard output.

What does this Ada code for array manipulation do?

with Ada.Text_IO; use Ada.Text_IO;
procedure ArrayDemo is
  type Int_Array is array (1 .. 5) of Integer;
  Arr : Int_Array := (1, 2, 3, 4, 5);
begin
  for I in Arr'Range loop
    Put_Line (Integer'Image(Arr(I)));
  end loop;
end ArrayDemo;

This code declares an array of integers and initializes it with values from 1 to 5. It then iterates over the array and prints each element to the standard output.

What does this Ada code related to concurrency do?

with Ada.Text_IO; use Ada.Text_IO;
procedure ConcurrencyDemo is
  task type Worker is
    entry Start;
  end Worker;
  task body Worker is
  begin
    accept Start;
    Put_Line ("Worker started");
  end Worker;
  W : Worker;
begin
  W.Start;
end ConcurrencyDemo;

This code defines a concurrent task named 'Worker'. 'Start' is an entry point for the task. When 'W.Start' is called in the main procedure, it triggers the 'Worker' task to run concurrently and print 'Worker started' to the standard output.

What does this Ada code related to class design do?

with Ada.Text_IO; use Ada.Text_IO;
procedure ClassDemo is
  type Animal is tagged record
    Name : String (1 .. 10);
  end record;
  procedure Speak (A : Animal) is
  begin
    Put_Line (A.Name & " says hello");
  end Speak;
  A : Animal := (Name => "Dog");
begin
  Speak (A);
end ClassDemo;

This code defines a tagged record 'Animal' that acts like a class in object-oriented programming. It has a procedure 'Speak' that prints a message to the standard output. An instance of 'Animal' is created and 'Speak' is called on it, which will print 'Dog says hello' to the standard output.

What does this advanced Ada code do?

with Ada.Text_IO; use Ada.Text_IO;
procedure AdvancedDemo is
  generic
    type Element_Type is private;
  procedure GenericProcedure (Item : in Element_Type);
  procedure GenericProcedure (Item : in Element_Type) is
  begin
    Put_Line (Element_Type'Image(Item));
  end GenericProcedure;
  procedure Demo is
    procedure IntProcedure is new GenericProcedure (Element_Type => Integer);
    N : Integer := 10;
  begin
    IntProcedure (N);
  end Demo;
begin
  Demo;
end AdvancedDemo;

This code demonstrates the use of generics in Ada. It defines a generic procedure 'GenericProcedure' that can work with any type. A specific version of 'GenericProcedure' is instantiated for 'Integer' type in the 'Demo' procedure. It then calls 'IntProcedure' with an integer, which will print '10' to the standard output.

Wrap-up questions

Final candidate for Ada 2005 role questions

The final few interview questions for a Ada 2005 candidate should typically focus on a combination of technical skills, personal goals, growth potential, team dynamics, and company culture.

Describe the difference between Ada 2005 and Ada 2012.

Ada 2012 introduced several new features compared to Ada 2005, including contract-based programming, increased expressiveness for generics, and improved support for multicore and distributed systems. However, the core language and philosophy remained the same.

What are the safety and security features of Ada 2005?

Ada 2005 has several features designed to improve safety and security, including strong typing, run-time checking, exception handling, and support for formal methods. These features can help prevent errors and vulnerabilities in the code.

How would you use the Ravenscar profile in Ada 2005?

The Ravenscar profile in Ada 2005 is a subset of the language designed for high-integrity real-time systems. It restricts certain features of the language to make it easier to analyze and predict the behavior of the system. To use the Ravenscar profile, you would specify it in the pragma profile.

Describe the difference between a real-time task and a regular task in Ada 2005.

In Ada 2005, a real-time task is a task that has a deadline, while a regular task does not. Real-time tasks are used in real-time systems, where tasks must be completed by specific deadlines.

What are the real-time features of Ada 2005?

Ada 2005 has built-in support for real-time programming, including real-time tasks, real-time clocks, and real-time systems. These features make it easier to write code that can meet strict timing requirements.

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Ada 2005 application related

Product Perfect's Ada 2005 development capabilities

Beyond hiring for your Ada 2005 engineering team, you may be in the market for additional help. Product Perfect provides seasoned expertise in Ada 2005 projects, and can engage in multiple capacities.