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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.

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

First 20 minutes

General DASL app knowledge and experience

The first 20 minutes of the interview should seek to understand the candidate's general background in DASL application development, including their experience with various programming languages, databases, and their approach to designing scalable and maintainable systems.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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What you’re looking for early on

Does the candidate have a strong understanding of DASL language?

Has the candidate demonstrated problem-solving skills?

Is the candidate able to communicate technical concepts effectively?

Does the candidate have experience with other programming languages?

Next 20 minutes

Specific DASL development questions

The next 20 minutes of the interview should focus on the candidate's expertise with specific backend frameworks, their understanding of RESTful APIs, and their experience in handling data storage and retrieval efficiently.

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.

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.

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 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 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.

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At this point, a skilled DASL engineer should demonstrate strong problem-solving abilities, proficiency in DASL programming language, and knowledge of software development methodologies. Red flags include lack of hands-on experience, inability to articulate complex concepts, or unfamiliarity with standard coding practices.

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.

Wrap-up questions

Final candidate for DASL Developer role questions

The final few questions should evaluate the candidate's teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills. Additionally, assess their knowledge of microservices architecture, serverless computing, and how they handle DASL application deployments. Inquire about their experience in handling system failures and their approach to debugging and troubleshooting.

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.

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.

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.

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.

DASL Consultive assessments

DASL Application Conversion Assessment DASL Application Integration Assessment DASL Data & Database Integration Assessment

Custom DASL development projects

Custom DASL App Conversion DASL Custom App Development Process App UI Design for DASL Facelifts

Hiring guide for DASL Engineers

DASL Developer Hiring Guide

What you’re looking for early on

The ideal back-end app developer

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

DASL Consultive assessments

Custom DASL development projects