DASL Developer Hiring Guide

Hiring Guide for DASL Engineers

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

DASL, or Domain Action Specification Language, stands as a testament to the continuous evolution of programming languages and the constant quest for efficiency, specificity, and ease of use within the realm of software development. Born from the minds of developers at Progress Software Corporation in the early 2000s, DASL was conceived as a high-level, domain-specific language, specifically designed to bridge the gap between the abstract concepts of business processes and the concrete details of software implementation. In its essence, DASL is a declarative language, which means it focuses on the "what" rather than the "how" of programming. This approach allows developers to concentrate on the overall logic of their applications, rather than getting entangled in the intricate details of coding. This high-level abstraction is a philosophical shift from traditional programming languages, echoing a deep understanding of the need to streamline the development process and make it more accessible to non-technical stakeholders. DASL's unique trait lies in its focus on "actions"; it allows developers to specify the actions that an application should take in response to various events or conditions. This action-oriented approach is a reflection of the real-world scenarios where software applications are used. It is a thoughtful response to the intricacies of the business world, where actions - and the decisions that lead to them - are the driving force behind progress. Furthermore, DASL is a testament to the power of domain-specific languages. By focusing on a specific domain - in this case, business process modelling - DASL provides a level of expressiveness and efficiency that is hard to achieve with general-purpose languages. This focus on a specific domain is a philosophical statement about the nature of programming and the role of language in shaping our understanding of complex systems. It suggests that the future of programming may lie in a multitude of specialized languages, each tailored to a specific domain, rather than in a few general-purpose languages. In the grand tapestry of programming languages, DASL occupies a unique niche. It is a reflection of a deeper understanding of the nature of software development, a thoughtful response to the complexities of the business world, and a bold statement about the future of programming languages. As we continue to explore new ways to bridge the gap between human thought and machine execution, DASL serves as a reminder of the power of language to shape our understanding and transform our world.

First 20 minutes

General DASL 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 data types supported by DASL?

DASL supports a variety of data types, including integers, floating-point numbers, booleans, strings, and user-defined types. It also supports arrays and lists.

How would you handle errors in DASL?

DASL provides a robust exception handling mechanism. You can use the 'try' and 'catch' keywords to handle errors. In the 'try' block, you write the code that might throw an exception, and in the 'catch' block, you handle the exception.

Describe the difference between DASL and Java.

While both DASL and Java are high-level, strongly typed languages, there are several key differences. DASL is specifically designed for creating network-distributed services, while Java is a general-purpose programming language. Additionally, DASL has a more flexible module system and supports automatic garbage collection.

What are the key features of DASL?

DASL has several key features including strong typing, automatic garbage collection, and a rich set of built-in types and operators. It also supports object-oriented programming and has a flexible module system.

How would you define DASL?

DASL is an acronym for Distributed Application Specification Language. It's a high-level, strongly typed programming language developed by Sun Microsystems for creating network-distributed services.

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What youre looking for early-on

Has the candidate demonstrated their ability to work as part of a team?

Development is often a collaborative process. They should be able to work effectively with others and contribute to a positive team environment.

Has the candidate shown a willingness to learn and adapt?

The tech industry is constantly evolving. A successful developer should be eager to learn new technologies and adapt to changes.

Does the candidate have experience with other programming languages?

While DASL is the primary language for this role, having experience with other languages can be beneficial. It can provide a broader perspective and enhance their problem-solving abilities.

Is the candidate able to communicate technical concepts effectively?

Communication is vital in a development role. They should be able to explain complex technical concepts in a way that is easy for non-technical team members to understand.

Has the candidate demonstrated problem-solving skills?

As a developer, they will often encounter challenges that require creative and effective solutions. Their problem-solving skills will be a key factor in their success in this role.

Does the candidate have a strong understanding of DASL language?

This is critical as DASL is the primary language they will be working with. Their proficiency in it will directly impact their ability to perform their job effectively.

Next 20 minutes

Specific DASL 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.

What are the advantages of using DASL?

DASL offers several advantages, including strong typing, automatic garbage collection, and a rich set of built-in types and operators. It also supports object-oriented programming and has a flexible module system, making it a powerful tool for creating network-distributed services.

How would you implement inheritance in DASL?

In DASL, you can implement inheritance by defining a new type that extends an existing type. The new type inherits all the properties and methods of the existing type.

What are the control structures in DASL?

DASL supports several control structures, including 'if' statements, 'for' loops, 'while' loops, and 'switch' statements. These structures allow you to control the flow of your program.

How would you create a module in DASL?

In DASL, you can create a module using the 'module' keyword followed by the module name. Inside the module, you can define functions, procedures, and types.

Describe the difference between a function and a procedure in DASL.

In DASL, a function is a block of code that returns a value, while a procedure is a block of code that performs a specific task but does not return a value.

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The ideal back-end app developer

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

A highly skilled DASL engineer should demonstrate strong problem-solving skills, advanced knowledge in DASL and related technologies, and excellent communication skills. Red flags would include difficulty explaining complex concepts, lack of experience with key tools or technologies, or a lack of enthusiasm for problem-solving.

Digging deeper

Code questions

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

What does the following DASL code do?

def add(a, b):
  return a + b

This code defines a function named 'add' that takes two parameters, 'a' and 'b'. It returns the sum of 'a' and 'b'.

What will be the output of the following DASL code?

def greet(name):
  return 'Hello, ' + name

greet('World')

This code will output 'Hello, World'. It defines a function named 'greet' that takes one parameter, 'name'. It then calls this function with the argument 'World'.

What does the following DASL code do?

def sum_array(arr):
  return sum(arr)

sum_array([1, 2, 3, 4, 5])

This code calculates and returns the sum of all elements in an array. It defines a function named 'sum_array' that takes one parameter, 'arr'. It then calls this function with an array of numbers as the argument.

What does the following DASL code do?

import threading

def print_numbers():
  for i in range(10):
    print(i)

thread = threading.Thread(target=print_numbers)
thread.start()

This code creates a new thread and runs a function that prints numbers from 0 to 9 in this new thread. It imports the 'threading' module, defines a function named 'print_numbers', creates a new thread with this function as the target, and starts the thread.

What does the following DASL code do?

class Person:
  def __init__(self, name):
    self.name = name

p = Person('John')
print(p.name)

This code defines a class named 'Person' with a constructor that takes one parameter, 'name'. It then creates an instance of this class with the name 'John' and prints the name of this instance.

What will be the output of the following DASL code?

def factorial(n):
  if n == 0:
    return 1
  else:
    return n * factorial(n-1)

print(factorial(5))

This code will output 120. It defines a recursive function named '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 DASL role questions

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

How would you handle concurrency in DASL?

DASL provides several mechanisms for handling concurrency, including threads and locks. Threads allow multiple operations to be performed in parallel, while locks can be used to ensure that only one thread can access a particular resource at a time.

Describe the difference between synchronous and asynchronous programming in DASL.

In DASL, synchronous programming means that operations are performed in a sequential manner, with each operation blocking until it completes. Asynchronous programming, on the other hand, allows operations to be performed in parallel, with operations not blocking when they are waiting for other operations to complete.

What are the disadvantages of using DASL?

While DASL has many advantages, it also has some disadvantages. For example, it's not as widely used as other languages like Java or C++, so there may be fewer resources and tools available. Additionally, because it's designed for network-distributed services, it may not be suitable for all types of applications.

How would you optimize a DASL program?

Optimizing a DASL program involves several strategies, including minimizing the use of global variables, avoiding unnecessary computations, and using efficient data structures and algorithms. It's also important to profile your program to identify bottlenecks.

Describe the difference between strong typing and weak typing in DASL.

In DASL, strong typing means that the type of a variable is checked at compile time, which can help prevent type-related errors. Weak typing, on the other hand, means that type checking is done at runtime, which can lead to unexpected errors.

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DASL application related

Product Perfect's DASL development capabilities

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