BeanShell Developer Hiring Guide

Hiring Guide for BeanShell Engineers

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

BeanShell is a lightweight scripting language for Java, originally developed by Patrick Niemeyer in 2000. It allows traditional Java syntax and extends it with common scripting conveniences, making it a popular tool among developers. BeanShell is fully embeddable, allowing it to be integrated into applications for scripting, configuration, and testing. The language was instrumental in the development of the Java Platform Debugger Architecture (JPDA) and JUnit tests. Information about BeanShell can be found on its official website and in various software development resources.

First 20 minutes

General BeanShell 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 different ways to run a BeanShell script?

You can run a BeanShell script from the command line, from a Java application using the Interpreter class, or from a web browser using the BeanShell servlet.

What does the 'eval' method in BeanShell do?

The 'eval' method in BeanShell interprets and executes a given script, and returns the result of the last statement executed.

How would you use BeanShell in a Java application?

You can use BeanShell in a Java application by creating an Interpreter object, and then invoking the eval method with a script to execute.

What are some basic commands in BeanShell?

BeanShell has many basic commands similar to Java, such as: for, while, if, switch, try/catch/finally, etc. It also has commands like import, source, load, save, run, exec, etc.

How would you install BeanShell?

You can install BeanShell by downloading the latest version from the official website, and then including the .jar file in your classpath.

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What youre looking for early-on

Did the candidate show an understanding of software development processes?

Understanding of software development processes is important to ensure the candidate can fit into the team and work effectively.

Has the candidate demonstrated good communication skills?

Good communication is important for understanding requirements and collaborating with a team.

Does the candidate have experience with scripting languages?

BeanShell is a scripting language, so experience with other scripting languages can be beneficial.

Did the candidate show problem-solving skills during the technical interview?

Problem-solving skills are key in any programming role, including a BeanShell developer.

Has the candidate demonstrated familiarity with BeanShell syntax and features?

Knowledge of BeanShell syntax and features is essential for the position.

Does the candidate have a deep understanding of Java?

BeanShell is a scripting language for Java, so a strong understanding of Java is crucial.

Next 20 minutes

Specific BeanShell 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 a BeanShell script and a Java program.

A BeanShell script is a script written in the BeanShell scripting language, while a Java program is a program written in the Java programming language. BeanShell scripts are more dynamic and flexible than Java programs, and they can be run directly without compilation.

How would you debug a BeanShell script?

You can debug a BeanShell script by using the debug() command to turn on debugging output, and the trace() command to trace method calls.

What are the advantages of using BeanShell over Java?

BeanShell is more flexible and dynamic than Java. It supports scripting features, loose types, and commands that are not available in Java. It is also easier to learn and use for non-programmers.

How would you handle exceptions in BeanShell?

You can handle exceptions in BeanShell using the try/catch/finally commands, similar to Java.

Describe the difference between BeanShell and Java.

BeanShell is a scripting language that has a syntax similar to Java, but it is more dynamic and flexible. It supports scripting features like loose types, commands, and method closures that are not available in Java.

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The ideal back-end app developer

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

A skilled BeanShell engineer should demonstrate a strong understanding of Java syntax and BeanShell scripting, experience with debugging and testing scripts, and good problem-solving abilities. Red flags include lack of knowledge on basic Java principles, inability to explain how BeanShell interacts with Java applications, and poor communication skills.

Digging deeper

Code questions

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

What does this simple BeanShell code do?

int x = 10;
print(x);

This code declares an integer variable 'x', assigns it a value of 10, and then prints the value of 'x' to the console.

What will be the output of this BeanShell code?

String str = 'BeanShell';
print(str.substring(4, 8));

The output will be 'Shell'. The substring() method extracts the characters from a string, between two specified indices, and returns the new sub string.

What does this BeanShell code do with the array?

int[] arr = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5};
for(int i: arr) {
  print(i*2);
}

This code declares an array 'arr' and then iterates over each element in the array. For each element, it multiplies the element by 2 and prints the result.

What does this BeanShell code do related to threading?

thread() {
  print('Hello from thread');
}
thread();

This code defines a thread function that prints 'Hello from thread' when called. It then calls this function, creating a new thread that executes the print statement.

What does this BeanShell code do related to class design?

class MyClass {
  int x = 10;
  void printX() {
    print(x);
  }
}
MyClass obj = new MyClass();
obj.printX();

This code defines a class 'MyClass' with an integer field 'x' and a method 'printX' that prints the value of 'x'. It then creates an object 'obj' of 'MyClass' and calls the method 'printX' on 'obj'.

What will be the output of this advanced BeanShell code?

int factorial(int n) {
  return (n == 1) ? 1 : n * factorial(n - 1);
}
print(factorial(5));

The output will be '120'. This code defines a recursive function 'factorial' that calculates the factorial of a number. It then calls this function with the argument 5 and prints the result.

Wrap-up questions

Final candidate for BeanShell role questions

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

What are some potential challenges when developing with BeanShell and how would you overcome them?

Some potential challenges when developing with BeanShell include: the lack of support for some Java features, the lack of a static type system, and the lack of debugging tools. These challenges can be overcome by using BeanShell in combination with Java, by using strict mode for type safety, and by using the debug and trace commands for debugging.

How would you use method closures in BeanShell?

You can use method closures in BeanShell by defining a method and assigning it to a variable. The variable can then be used as a reference to the method, and it can be passed around and invoked like an object.

Describe the difference between loose types and strict types in BeanShell.

Loose types in BeanShell allow you to declare variables without specifying their types, while strict types require you to specify the type of each variable. In loose mode, BeanShell will attempt to infer the type of a variable based on its value.

What are some advanced features of BeanShell?

Some advanced features of BeanShell include: loose types, method closures, optional object wrappers, dynamic commands, and event scripting.

How would you use BeanShell in a web application?

You can use BeanShell in a web application by using the BeanShell servlet, which allows you to run BeanShell scripts from a web browser.

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BeanShell application related

Product Perfect's BeanShell development capabilities

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