set x = 5
if ($x == 5) then
echo 'X is 5'
endif
Ask the right questions to secure the right C Shell talent among an increasingly shrinking pool of talent.
C Shell (csh) is a Unix shell that was created by Bill Joy in the late 1970s. It is a command language interpreter usable both as an interactive login shell and as a script processor. The C Shell incorporates features from the C programming language such as syntax style, making it popular for teaching purposes and with users who have backgrounds in C or similar languages. C Shell supports built-in arithmetic expressions, history mechanism functions, aliasing capabilities and job control while providing robust string manipulation facilities which are quite comparable to scripting languages like Perl or Python. However, due to certain limitations such as lack of functions within scripts (only aliases), inconsistent syntax rules etc., it has been less recommended for scripting purposes compared to other shells like Bourne shell or Bash. Despite this fact, many system administrators find csh useful for its interactive features when used directly from the terminal.
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 'echo' command in C Shell is used to display a line of text or a variable value. It is commonly used in shell scripts and batch files to output status text to the screen or a file.
In C Shell, you can redirect the output of a command using the '>' operator. For example, 'command > file' will redirect the output of 'command' into 'file'. If 'file' already exists, it will be overwritten.
The 'source' command in C Shell is used to read and execute commands from a file in the current shell environment. It allows the script to use the variables, functions, and aliases defined in the file.
The 'set' command is used in C Shell to define a variable and assign a value to it. It can also be used to give values to array variables and to set shell options.
A C Shell script starts with a shebang (#!) followed by the path to the C Shell interpreter. This is followed by script commands. Variables are defined using the set keyword. Control structures include if-else, switch, while and foreach. Script ends when it encounters exit or end of file.
Good communication skills are necessary for understanding requirements, explaining solutions, and working effectively with a team.
Version control systems are commonly used in software development for tracking changes, so familiarity with them is beneficial.
Software development is often a collaborative effort, so good teamwork skills are important.
C Shell is a Unix shell, so understanding Unix/Linux systems is essential.
This is crucial as programming involves solving complex problems and implementing solutions.
This is important because C Shell scripting is the primary skill required for the position.
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 pipe, represented by the '|' symbol, is a form of redirection in C Shell that is used to send the output of one command to another. For example, 'command1 | command2' would take the output of command1 and use it as the input to command2.
A hard link is essentially a mirror of the original file, sharing the same inode and data, while a soft link (or symbolic link) is a separate file that points to the original file. Deleting the original file does not affect hard links but will cause soft links to 'break'.
To handle errors in a C Shell script, you can use the 'if' statement to check the exit status of a command, which is stored in the $? variable. If the command fails, you can then print an error message and exit the script.
C Shell supports several types of loops, including 'while', 'foreach', and 'until'. 'While' loops continue as long as the condition is true, 'foreach' loops iterate over a list of items, and 'until' loops continue until the condition becomes true.
In C Shell, the exit status of the last executed command is stored in the $? variable. So you can check the exit status of a command by checking the value of this variable.
A skilled C Shell engineer should demonstrate strong problem-solving skills, extensive knowledge of Unix/Linux systems, and proficiency in scripting. Red flags would include lack of detail in explaining past projects, inability to troubleshoot common issues, or unfamiliarity with shell scripting basics.
set x = 5
if ($x == 5) then
echo 'X is 5'
endif
set list = (1 2 3 4 5)
@ sum = $list[1] + $list[3]
echo $sum
set arr = (1 2 3 4 5)
@ arr[2] = $arr[2] * 2
echo $arr
set i = 1
while ($i <= 5)
echo $i
@ i++
end
set x = 10
set y = 20
if ($x > $y) then
echo 'X is greater'
else
echo 'Y is greater'
endif
set x = 10
set y = 20
switch ($x)
case 10:
if ($y > $x) then
echo 'Y is greater'
else
echo 'X is greater'
endif
breaksw
default:
echo 'X is not 10'
breaksw
endsw
The final few interview questions for a C Shell candidate should typically focus on a combination of technical skills, personal goals, growth potential, team dynamics, and company culture.
Command-line arguments in C Shell scripts can be accessed using the argv array. For example, 'argv[1]' refers to the first argument, 'argv[2]' to the second, and so on. The script can then use these values as needed.
In a C Shell script, you can use the '-e' file test operator to check if a file exists. For example, 'if (-e filename) then' will check if 'filename' exists.
To run a C Shell script in the background, you can use the '&' symbol at the end of the command. For example, 'script.csh &' will run the script in the background and return control to the user.
C Shell and Bash are both Unix shells, but they have different syntax and features. Some of the differences include how they handle variables, arrays, and string manipulation. For example, C Shell uses the 'set' keyword to define variables, while Bash uses the '=' operator. C Shell supports arrays, but Bash has more powerful array handling capabilities.
You can use the 'find' command in combination with the '-mtime' option. The script would look something like this: 'find /path/to/directory -type f -mtime -7'. This command will find all files in the specified directory and its subdirectories that have been modified in the last 7 days.
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