HyperTalk Developer Hiring Guide

Hiring Guide for HyperTalk Engineers

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

HyperTalk is a high-level, procedural programming language created by Dan Winkler and used in Apple Computer's HyperCard software, which was released in 1987. It is specifically designed for ease of use, employing an English-like syntax to facilitate programming by non-programmers. The language allows users to script the behavior of "buttons" and other objects in the HyperCard environment, making it instrumental in creating interactive applications. Despite its discontinuation in 2004, HyperTalk's influence can be seen in modern scripting languages like JavaScript and AppleScript. This information is derived from reputable sources including Apple Inc., and various historical software archives.

First 20 minutes

General HyperTalk 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 is the difference between global and local variables in HyperTalk?

In HyperTalk, global variables are accessible from anywhere in the script, while local variables are only accessible within the handler in which they are declared.

How would you handle errors in HyperTalk?

In HyperTalk, you can handle errors by using the 'try' and 'catch' commands. The 'try' command is used to specify a block of code that might cause an error, and the 'catch' command is used to specify what should happen if an error does occur.

What is the role of handlers in HyperTalk?

Handlers in HyperTalk are used to define how an object responds to a specific event or action. They contain the code that is executed when the event or action occurs.

How would you create a button in HyperTalk?

You can create a button in HyperTalk by using the 'button' command. For example, 'create button "MyButton"' would create a new button with the label 'MyButton'.

What is the purpose of HyperTalk?

HyperTalk is a high-level, procedural programming language that is used to script applications in the HyperCard environment. It is designed to be easy to use and understand, even for people who are not professional programmers.

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What youre looking for early-on

Can the candidate work well in a team?

Software development often requires teamwork. A candidate who can work well in a team will be beneficial for the company.

Did the candidate show good communication skills during the interview?

Good communication skills are important for any position, including a HyperTalk developer. The candidate should be able to explain their thoughts and ideas clearly.

How well does the candidate understand and apply object-oriented programming concepts?

HyperTalk is an object-oriented language, so a good understanding and application of these concepts is crucial for a potential candidate.

What kind of experience does the candidate have with HyperCard?

HyperTalk is the scripting language for HyperCard, so experience with HyperCard is a good indicator of the candidate's ability to work with HyperTalk.

Has the candidate demonstrated problem-solving skills?

In the field of development, problem-solving skills are crucial. A qualified candidate should be able to demonstrate their ability to solve complex problems using HyperTalk.

Does the candidate have a strong understanding of HyperTalk?

A good candidate should have a deep understanding of HyperTalk, its syntax, and how to use it to develop applications.

Next 20 minutes

Specific HyperTalk 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.

How would you use the 'send' command in HyperTalk?

The 'send' command in HyperTalk is used to send a message to a specific object. For example, 'send "mouseUp" to button "MyButton"' would simulate a mouseUp event on the button labeled 'MyButton'.

What is the difference between 'pass' and 'exit' commands in HyperTalk?

'Pass' and 'exit' are both used to control the flow of execution in a HyperTalk script. 'Pass' allows the event to be passed on to the next handler in the message hierarchy, while 'exit' stops the execution of the current handler immediately.

How would you create a custom function in HyperTalk?

In HyperTalk, you can create a custom function by using the 'function' command, followed by the name of the function and any parameters it takes. The code for the function is then written within the function block.

What are the different types of data that can be stored in HyperTalk variables?

HyperTalk variables can store various types of data, including numbers, strings, dates, and boolean values.

How would you use the 'repeat' command in HyperTalk?

The 'repeat' command in HyperTalk is used to execute a block of code multiple times. For example, 'repeat 5 times' would execute the following block of code five times.

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The ideal back-end app developer

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

A skilled HyperTalk engineer should demonstrate proficiency in the programming language itself, problem-solving abilities, and good communication skills. Red flags might include inability to explain complex concepts or lacking a solid grasp of HyperTalk's syntax and operations.

Digging deeper

Code questions

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

What does this simple HyperTalk code do?

on mouseUp
  answer "Hello, World!"
end mouseUp

This code displays a dialog box with the message 'Hello, World!' when the mouse button is released.

What does this HyperTalk code do?

on mouseUp
  put "Hello, World!" into field "Greeting"
end mouseUp

This code puts the string 'Hello, World!' into a field named 'Greeting' when the mouse button is released.

What does this HyperTalk code do?

on mouseUp
  put the number of cards of this stack into field "CardCount"
end mouseUp

This code puts the number of cards in the current stack into a field named 'CardCount' when the mouse button is released.

What does this HyperTalk code do?

on mouseUp
  lock screen
  visual effect push left fast
  go to card "NextCard"
  unlock screen with visual effect
end mouseUp

This code locks the screen, applies a visual effect, goes to a card named 'NextCard', and then unlocks the screen with the visual effect when the mouse button is released.

What does this HyperTalk code do?

on mouseUp
  put the short name of this card into field "CardName"
end mouseUp

This code puts the short name of the current card into a field named 'CardName' when the mouse button is released.

What does this advanced HyperTalk code do?

on mouseUp
  repeat with x = 1 to the number of cards
    put the name of card x & return after field "CardList"
  end repeat
end mouseUp

This code puts the names of all the cards in the current stack into a field named 'CardList', separated by line breaks, when the mouse button is released.

Wrap-up questions

Final candidate for HyperTalk role questions

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

Describe how you would use HyperTalk to create a complex, interactive application.

Creating a complex, interactive application in HyperTalk involves designing a user interface with various objects like buttons and fields, scripting the behavior of these objects using handlers and commands, managing data with variables and custom functions, and handling user input and navigation with commands like 'ask', 'answer', 'go', and 'find'.

How would you use the 'find' command in HyperTalk?

The 'find' command in HyperTalk is used to search for a specific string of text in a field or across multiple cards. For example, 'find "Hello" in field "MyField"' would search for the string 'Hello' in the field labeled 'MyField'.

What is the difference between the 'go' and 'visual effect' commands in HyperTalk?

The 'go' command in HyperTalk is used to navigate between cards, while the 'visual effect' command is used to specify a transition effect that should be used when navigating between cards.

How would you use the 'ask' and 'answer' commands in HyperTalk?

The 'ask' command in HyperTalk is used to display a dialog box that prompts the user for input. The 'answer' command is used to display a dialog box that presents the user with a message and one or more buttons.

What is the role of stacks and cards in HyperTalk?

In HyperTalk, stacks are collections of cards, which are individual screens or pages. Each card can contain various objects, such as buttons and fields, and can have its own scripts and behaviors.

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HyperTalk application related

Product Perfect's HyperTalk development capabilities

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