Averest Developer Hiring Guide

Hiring Guide for Averest Engineers

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

Averest is a specialized computer software programming language primarily designed for synchronous systems. It was developed by researchers at the University of Saarland, Germany, and Verimag Labs, France in the early 2000s (Averest: Specification, Verification, and Implementation of Reactive Systems). Averest's unique selling point is its focus on formal verification methods to ensure system correctness. The language incorporates high-level synthesis techniques to translate abstract specifications into efficient circuits. Averest continues to be an important tool in the field of hardware design and verification due to its emphasis on accuracy and efficiency.

First 20 minutes

General Averest 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 main components of the Averest toolkit?

The main components of the Averest toolkit are the Quartz compiler, the model checker, and the synthesis tools.

Describe the difference between synchronous and asynchronous programming.

In synchronous programming, operations block instructions until the task is completed, while in asynchronous programming, operations can execute concurrently and do not wait for other tasks to complete.

How would you install Averest on a Linux system?

To install Averest on a Linux system, you would first download the Averest distribution. Then, you would extract the files, navigate to the directory, and run the 'make' command to compile the software.

What are the key features of Averest?

Key features of Averest include its ability to handle synchronous reactive systems, its compiler for the synchronous language Quartz, and its integrated model checker.

How would you describe the main uses of Averest?

Averest is primarily used for formal verification of synchronous systems, synthesis of synchronous software, and teaching synchronous programming and formal methods.

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What youre looking for early-on

Does the candidate have relevant experience or projects?

Previous experience or projects can indicate their ability to perform in the role.

Has the candidate demonstrated an understanding of the company's needs and goals?

This shows that they have done their research and are invested in the company's success.

Does the candidate show a willingness to learn and adapt?

The tech field is constantly evolving, so it's important for the candidate to be adaptable and eager to learn new skills.

How well does the candidate communicate?

Good communication skills are necessary for teamwork and to clearly express ideas and solutions.

Is the candidate capable of problem-solving and critical thinking?

These skills are crucial for a developer role to troubleshoot and solve coding issues.

Does the candidate show a strong understanding of Averest language?

Averest is the primary language for the role, so they need to be proficient in it.

Next 20 minutes

Specific Averest 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.

Describe the difference between model checking and synthesis in the context of Averest.

Model checking in Averest involves verifying that a system described in Quartz satisfies a set of properties, while synthesis involves generating software that realizes a specified behavior.

How would you handle errors in Averest?

Handling errors in Averest would involve analyzing the error message, debugging the Quartz code, and possibly adjusting the properties or assertions in the code.

What are the steps to synthesize synchronous software using Averest?

To synthesize synchronous software using Averest, you would first describe the desired behavior in the Quartz language. Then, you would use the Averest toolkit to compile the Quartz code and synthesize the software.

Describe the difference between the Quartz language and other synchronous languages.

The Quartz language is specifically designed for the Averest toolkit and includes features for specifying properties and assertions, which are not typically found in other synchronous languages.

How would you use Averest to verify a synchronous system?

To verify a synchronous system using Averest, you would first describe the system in the Quartz language. Then, you would use the Averest toolkit to compile the Quartz code and check the system against a set of properties using the model checker.

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The ideal back-end app developer

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

At this point, the candidate should have demonstrated strong problem-solving skills, a deep understanding of Averest programming language, and excellent communication abilities. Red flags would include a lack of specifics in their responses or any difficulty explaining complex concepts clearly.

Digging deeper

Code questions

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

What does this simple Averest code do?

module HelloWorld;
always
  println("Hello, world!");
end

This code prints the string 'Hello, world!' to the console.

What does this Averest code do?

module Counter;
var x: uint<8>;
initial begin
  x = 0;
end
always begin
  x = x + 1;
end
end

This code defines a module named 'Counter' that contains a 8-bit unsigned integer variable 'x'. The initial block sets 'x' to 0. The always block increments 'x' by 1 in each iteration.

What will be the output of this Averest code?

module ArrayManipulation;
var a: array[uint<8>] of uint<8>;
initial begin
  for(var i = 0; i < 10; i = i + 1) begin
    a[i] = i * 2;
  end
end
always begin
  for(var i = 0; i < 10; i = i + 1) begin
    println(a[i]);
  end
end
end

This code will print the elements of the array 'a'. The array 'a' contains the first 10 even numbers starting from 0.

What does this Averest code do?

module Thread;
var x: uint<8>;
initial begin
  x = 0;
end
always begin
  wait(x == 10);
  println("x reached 10");
end
always begin
  x = x + 1;
end
end

This code defines a module 'Thread' that contains a 8-bit unsigned integer variable 'x'. The initial block sets 'x' to 0. The first always block waits until 'x' equals 10 and then prints 'x reached 10'. The second always block increments 'x' by 1 in each iteration.

What does this Averest code do?

module ClassDesign;
var x: uint<8>;
initial begin
  x = 0;
end
function uint<8> getX() begin
  return x;
end
end

This code defines a module 'ClassDesign' that contains a 8-bit unsigned integer variable 'x' and a function 'getX'. The initial block sets 'x' to 0. The function 'getX' returns the current value of 'x'.

What will be the output of this Averest code?

module AdvancedCode;
var x: uint<8>;
initial begin
  x = 0;
end
always begin
  x = x + 1;
  if(x == 10) begin
    println("x reached 10");
    break;
  end
end
end

This code will print 'x reached 10' once 'x' equals 10. The variable 'x' is incremented by 1 in each iteration until it reaches 10.

Wrap-up questions

Final candidate for Averest role questions

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

How would you use Averest in a large-scale project?

In a large-scale project, Averest could be used to formally verify critical components of the system, synthesize reliable software, and train team members in synchronous programming and formal methods.

What are the challenges of teaching synchronous programming and formal methods using Averest?

Challenges of teaching synchronous programming and formal methods using Averest include the complexity of the concepts, the need to learn the Quartz language, and the difficulty of setting up and using the Averest toolkit.

Describe the difference between Averest and other formal verification tools.

Averest is specifically designed for synchronous systems and includes a compiler for the Quartz language, which sets it apart from other formal verification tools that may not support synchronous programming or have their own dedicated languages.

How would you optimize the performance of Averest?

Optimizing the performance of Averest could involve refining the Quartz code, adjusting the properties or assertions, or improving the computational resources available for model checking and synthesis.

What are the limitations of using Averest for formal verification?

Limitations of using Averest for formal verification include the complexity of the system being verified, the difficulty of expressing certain properties in Quartz, and the computational resources required for model checking.

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Averest application related

Product Perfect's Averest development capabilities

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