SuperStrict
Print "Hello, World!".webp){kind=logo}
Ask the right questions to secure the right BlitzMax talent among an increasingly shrinking pool of talent.
BlitzMax is a powerful game programming language that follows the BASIC syntax. It was developed by Blitz Research Ltd and first released in 2004. BlitzMax offers various features such as object-oriented design, easy to use graphics, audio commands and more. It supports multiple platforms including Windows, MacOS and Linux. BlitzMax provides a fast development process with its straightforward command set which makes it suitable for beginners while also offering advanced features like pointers, modules, etc., which are appreciated by experienced programmers. The language is specifically designed to handle 2D gaming needs but can be used for other types of applications as well. Moreover, it includes an integrated development environment (IDE), debugger and compiler; allowing developers to manage everything from one place. With its ability to directly access low-level APIs of operating systems or hardware components through its extension system called "modules", the programmer has great flexibility in creating complex programs or games with high performance requirements. However, despite these capabilities offered by BlitzMax compared to traditional BASIC languages or similar game programming tools on the market; this language is no longer actively maintained since 2018 but remains available under zlib license as open source software on GitHub where community members continue improving it unofficially.
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.
A 'Local' variable is one that is declared within a function or a method and can only be accessed within that function or method. A 'Global' variable is one that is declared outside of any function or method and can be accessed from anywhere in the code.
BlitzMax supports several types of loops including 'For-Next' loops, 'While' loops, and 'Repeat-Until' loops.
A function in BlitzMax is created using the 'Function' keyword followed by the function name, parameters, and return type. For example, 'Function AddNumbers(a:Int, b:Int)'.
BlitzMax supports several data types including Int (integer), Float (floating point number), String (text), Byte (single byte), Short (two bytes), Long (four bytes), Double (eight byte floating point), and Object (any object type).
You can declare a variable in BlitzMax by specifying the type of the variable followed by the variable name. For example, 'Local myVariable:Int'.
BlitzMax supports object-oriented programming. Understanding this programming paradigm is important for writing structured and reusable code.
Debugging and optimization are crucial skills for any developer. Experience in these areas will help the candidate maintain and improve code quality.
Communication is key in a development team. The candidate should be able to explain complex technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical team members.
Version control systems are crucial for managing different versions of code, collaborating with other developers, and maintaining a history of changes.
Programming often involves solving complex problems. A candidate with good problem-solving skills will be able to find solutions to programming challenges effectively.
This is important because BlitzMax is the primary language they will be using. A strong understanding of the language will enable them to write efficient and effective code.
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.
In BlitzMax, you can use inheritance by declaring a new type that extends an existing type using the 'Extends' keyword. For example, 'Type MyNewType Extends ExistingType'.
'Strict' mode in BlitzMax enforces type checking and requires all variables to be declared before they are used. 'SuperStrict' mode is similar to 'Strict' mode but also requires all functions to be declared before they are used.
BlitzMax provides the 'ReadFile' and 'WriteFile' functions to read from and write to a file. You can open a file for reading or writing using the 'OpenFile' function.
BlitzMax supports one-dimensional and multi-dimensional arrays. You can declare a one-dimensional array like 'Local myArray:Int[5]', and a multi-dimensional array like 'Local myArray:Int[5][5]'.
BlitzMax handles exceptions using the 'Try-Catch' mechanism. The 'Try' block contains the code that might throw an exception, and the 'Catch' block contains the code to handle the exception.
At this point, a skilled BlitzMax engineer should demonstrate proficiency in object-oriented programming, an understanding of BlitzMax's syntax and modules, and problem-solving skills. Red flags include lack of practical experience, inability to solve basic coding problems or unfamiliarity with BlitzMax-specific concepts like types or commands.
SuperStrict
Print "Hello, World!"SuperStrict
Local myVar:Int = 10
If myVar > 5 Then
Print "Greater than 5"
Else
Print "Less than or equal to 5"
EndIfSuperStrict
Local myArray:Int[] = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
For Local i:Int = EachIn myArray
Print i
NextSuperStrict
Local myThread:TThread = CreateThread(myFunction)
Function myFunction:TThread()
Print "Hello from thread"
End FunctionSuperStrict
Type MyClass
Field myField:Int
Method myMethod()
Print myField
End Method
End TypeSuperStrict
Type MyClass
Field myField:Int
Method myMethod()
myField = myField + 1
Print myField
End Method
End Type
Local myObject:MyClass = New MyClass
myObject.myMethod()
myObject.myMethod()The final few interview questions for a BlitzMax candidate should typically focus on a combination of technical skills, personal goals, growth potential, team dynamics, and company culture.
In BlitzMax, a 'Method' is a function that is associated with a type and can access the type's fields and methods, while a 'Function' is not associated with any type and cannot access any fields or methods of a type.
BlitzMax supports multithreading through the 'Thread' type. You can create a new thread by creating a new instance of the 'Thread' type and then start it using the 'Start' method.
BlitzMax uses garbage collection for memory management. You can also use the 'New' keyword to allocate memory for an object and the 'Delete' keyword to deallocate memory.
In BlitzMax, you can create an interface using the 'Interface' keyword and then define the required methods. To use an interface, a type must implement all the methods defined in the interface.
BlitzMax has two types of modules: 'Module' and 'Super Module'. A 'Module' is a collection of functions, constants, and types, while a 'Super Module' is a module that can be extended by other modules. You can use them by importing them with the 'Import' keyword.
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