Informix-4GL Developer Hiring Guide

Hiring Guide for Informix-4GL Engineers

Ask the right questions to secure the right Informix-4GL talent among an increasingly shrinking pool of talent.

Informix-4GL is a programming language and procedural runtime environment that was first developed by Informix Corporation in the early 1980s. It was designed for business applications development, offering a simple way to design forms and reports. Unlike other fourth-generation programming languages (4GL), Informix-4GL is not database-independent and works best with Informix's SQL products. Despite its age, it remains in use today due to its robustness, efficiency, and ease of learning. This information can be found on IBM's official website as well as various historical software archives.

First 20 minutes

General Informix-4GL 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 Informix-4GL?

Informix-4GL supports various data types including CHAR, SMALLINT, INTEGER, FLOAT, DECIMAL, DATE, MONEY, and BYTE.

How would you handle errors in Informix-4GL?

Informix-4GL provides an error handling mechanism using the WHENEVER statement. It allows the program to continue, exit, or go to a label when an error or warning occurs.

Describe the difference between Informix-4GL and SQL.

Informix-4GL is a high-level programming language that embeds SQL statements, while SQL is a standard language for managing data held in a relational database.

What are the key features of Informix-4GL?

Some key features include its high-level language, portability, embedded SQL, and its ability to create complex reports.

How would you define Informix-4GL?

Informix-4GL is a 4th generation programming language developed by IBM for database management. It is used for developing database-centric applications.

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What youre looking for early-on

Does the candidate have a good understanding of database concepts?

As Informix-4GL is a 4GL used for database queries, having a strong understanding of database concepts is crucial. This will allow them to write more efficient and effective queries.

Has the candidate shown an ability to work well in a team?

Most development projects require team work. The candidate should be able to demonstrate their ability to work effectively within a team, whether that's through previous work experience or during the interview process.

Does the candidate have experience with other programming languages?

While the role is specifically for Informix-4GL, having experience with other languages can be beneficial as it shows a broader understanding of programming and can be useful for integrating with other systems or technologies.

Is the candidate able to communicate effectively?

Communication is key in any role, but especially in development where they may need to explain complex concepts to non-technical team members or stakeholders.

Has the candidate demonstrated problem-solving skills?

Problem-solving is a key skill for any developer. They should be able to demonstrate their ability to identify, analyze, and solve problems efficiently and effectively.

Does the candidate have a strong understanding of Informix-4GL?

This is crucial as the role is specifically for an Informix-4GL developer. Their knowledge and understanding of this specific 4GL will directly impact their ability to perform in the role.

Next 20 minutes

Specific Informix-4GL 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 different types of cursors in Informix-4GL?

Informix-4GL supports two types of cursors: update cursors and read-only cursors.

How would you implement a loop in Informix-4GL?

You can implement a loop using the FOR, WHILE, or FOREACH statement.

What are the different types of variables in Informix-4GL?

Informix-4GL supports global variables, local variables, and record variables.

Describe the difference between a function and a main procedure in Informix-4GL.

A main procedure is the entry point of a program, while a function is a reusable piece of code that performs a specific task and can be called from anywhere in the program.

How would you create a database in Informix-4GL?

You can create a database using the CREATE DATABASE statement followed by the database name.

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The ideal back-end app developer

What you’re looking to see on the Informix-4GL engineer at this point.

At this point, a skilled Informix-4GL engineer should have demonstrated strong proficiency in using Informix-4GL for database management, adeptness in coding and debugging, and a solid understanding of SQL. Red flags would include inability to discuss past projects or issues with problem-solving skills.

Digging deeper

Code questions

These will help you see the candidate's real-world development capabilities with Informix-4GL.

What does this simple Informix-4GL code do?

MAIN
  DEFINE x INTEGER
  LET x = 10
  DISPLAY 'The value of x is', x
END MAIN

This code defines an integer variable 'x', assigns the value 10 to 'x', and then displays 'The value of x is 10' on the screen.

What will be the output of the following Informix-4GL code?

MAIN
  DEFINE str CHAR(20)
  LET str = 'Informix'
  DISPLAY LENGTH(str)
END MAIN

This code defines a character variable 'str', assigns the string 'Informix' to 'str', and then displays the length of 'str'. So, the output will be '8'.

What does this Informix-4GL code do?

MAIN
  DEFINE arr ARRAY[5] OF INTEGER
  FOR i = 1 TO 5
    LET arr[i] = i * 10
  END FOR
  DISPLAY arr
END MAIN

This code defines an array 'arr' of integers with 5 elements. It then assigns values to the array elements in a loop where each element is 10 times its index. Finally, it displays the array 'arr'.

What does this Informix-4GL code do?

MAIN
  DEFINE i, j INTEGER
  LET i = 1, j = 2
  CALL swap(i, j)
  DISPLAY i, j
END MAIN

FUNCTION swap(a, b)
  DEFINE a, b INTEGER
  DEFINE temp INTEGER
  LET temp = a
  LET a = b
  LET b = temp
END FUNCTION

This code defines two integer variables 'i' and 'j', assigns values to them, and then calls a function 'swap' passing 'i' and 'j' as arguments. The 'swap' function swaps the values of 'a' and 'b'. However, since Informix-4GL passes parameters by value, the original variables 'i' and 'j' are not affected. So, the display statement will still show '1 2'.

What will be the output of the following Informix-4GL code?

MAIN
  DEFINE rec RECORD
    name CHAR(20),
    age INTEGER
  END RECORD
  LET rec.name = 'John', rec.age = 25
  DISPLAY rec.name, rec.age
END MAIN

This code defines a record 'rec' with two fields 'name' and 'age'. It then assigns values to these fields and displays them. So, the output will be 'John 25'.

What does this advanced Informix-4GL code do?

MAIN
  DEFINE arr ARRAY[5] OF INTEGER
  FOR i = 1 TO 5
    LET arr[i] = i * 10
  END FOR
  FOR EACH arr[i]
    IF arr[i] MOD 2 = 0 THEN
      DISPLAY arr[i]
    END IF
  END FOR
END MAIN

This code defines an array 'arr' of integers with 5 elements and assigns values to the array elements in a loop where each element is 10 times its index. It then iterates over the array and displays only the elements which are even.

Wrap-up questions

Final candidate for Informix-4GL role questions

The final few interview questions for a Informix-4GL candidate should typically focus on a combination of technical skills, personal goals, growth potential, team dynamics, and company culture.

Describe the difference between a compiled program and an interpreted program in Informix-4GL.

A compiled program is translated into machine code once and can be executed multiple times, while an interpreted program is translated into machine code every time it is run.

How would you optimize a query in Informix-4GL?

You can optimize a query by using indexes, avoiding full table scans, and using the EXPLAIN statement to understand the query execution plan.

What are the different types of triggers in Informix-4GL?

Informix-4GL supports row triggers, statement triggers, and database triggers.

Describe the difference between a static array and a dynamic array in Informix-4GL.

A static array has a fixed size that is determined at compile time, while a dynamic array can change its size at runtime.

How would you handle transactions in Informix-4GL?

You can handle transactions using the BEGIN WORK, COMMIT WORK, and ROLLBACK WORK statements.

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Informix-4GL application related

Product Perfect's Informix-4GL development capabilities

Beyond hiring for your Informix-4GL engineering team, you may be in the market for additional help. Product Perfect provides seasoned expertise in Informix-4GL projects, and can engage in multiple capacities.