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Ask the right questions to secure the right BCPL talent among an increasingly shrinking pool of talent.
BCPL (Basic Combined Programming Language) is a procedural, imperative, and structured computer programming language. Designed by Martin Richards of the University of Cambridge in 1967, it was originally intended for writing compilers for other languages. BCPL has been influential in the development of other languages like B and C. This software programming language is characterized by its simplicity and portability, making it a popular choice for system software and embedded systems. The detailed history and features of BCPL can be found in the book "BCPL - the language and its compiler" by Martin Richards and Colin Whitby-Strevens.
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.
The 'manifest' keyword in BCPL is used to declare constants. For example, 'manifest constantName = value'.
'valof' and 'resultis' are used in function definitions. 'valof' starts a sequence of statements and 'resultis' is used to specify the value that the function should return.
In BCPL, functions are defined using the 'let' keyword, followed by the function name, parameters in parentheses, and the function body enclosed in brackets. For example, 'let functionName(parameters) = (function body)'.
BCPL is a typeless or untyped language. It only recognizes everything as a 'word', which is a fixed number of bits, typically 16 or 32.
In BCPL, a variable is declared using the 'let' keyword. For example, 'let variableName = value'.
Technology is always evolving, and so the candidate should demonstrate a willingness and ability to keep their skills up-to-date.
Knowing how to work within different development methodologies, like Agile or Scrum, is important for planning, managing tasks, and collaborating with a team.
Software development often involves teamwork. The candidate should demonstrate good communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively with others.
While BCPL is the main requirement, understanding other languages can be beneficial for problem-solving and adapting to potential changes in future.
Being able to use BCPL to solve problems is a key part of the job. They should be able to demonstrate this through examples or during a practical test.
This is crucial as BCPL is the primary language they will be working with. They should be able to demonstrate a deep understanding of its syntax, structure, and functionality.
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.
The 'section' keyword in BCPL is used to divide the program into separate parts or sections.
'lvalue' refers to a value that has a persistent address in memory, while 'rvalue' refers to a value that does not have a persistent memory address.
In BCPL, arrays can be declared using the 'vec' keyword. For example, 'let arrayName = vec numberOfElements'.
BCPL supports 'repeatuntil', 'while', and 'for' looping structures.
Conditional statements in BCPL can be implemented using the 'if', 'unless', 'test' keywords. For example, 'if condition then statement' or 'unless condition do statement'.
At this point, a skilled BCPL engineer should demonstrate deep knowledge of BCPL language, proficiency in problem-solving and debugging skills. They must also exhibit clear communication abilities. Red flags include lack of detail in their responses, inability to explain complex concepts simply, or unfamiliarity with modern development practices.
LET START() = VALOF $( WRITES("Hello, World!") $)LET START() = VALOF
$(
LET X IS 10
LET Y IS 20
X := Y
$)LET START() = VALOF
$(
LET V = VEC 5
FOR I = 1 TO 5 DO V!I := I
$)GLOBAL $( LET X = 10, Y = 20, Z = 30 $)
LET START() = VALOF
$(
WRITES(X)
WRITES(Y)
WRITES(Z)
$)MANIFEST
{
SIZE = 10
}
GLOBAL $(LET X = VEC SIZE$)
LET START() = VALOF
$(
FOR I = 1 TO SIZE DO X!I := I
$)LET START() = VALOF
$(
LET X = 10
LET Y = 20
LET Z = 30
LET MAX = 0
MAX := MAXOF(X, Y, Z)
WRITES(MAX)
$)The final few interview questions for a BCPL candidate should typically focus on a combination of technical skills, personal goals, growth potential, team dynamics, and company culture.
Some challenges of programming in BCPL include its lack of data types, which can lead to errors, its low-level nature, which can make it harder to write and understand code, and its lack of support for object-oriented programming.
Recursion in BCPL can be implemented by having a function call itself within its own definition.
'global' in BCPL is used to declare a variable that is accessible throughout the program, while 'static' is used to declare a variable that retains its value between function calls.
BCPL has arithmetic operators, relational operators, logical operators, bitwise operators, and assignment operators.
Error handling in BCPL is typically done using conditional statements to check for error conditions and then taking appropriate action.
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