Hiring guide for Play! Framework Template Engine(play!) Engineers

Play! Framework Template Engine(play!) Developer Hiring Guide

Play! Framework Template Engine (play!) is a free, open-source, server-side web application framework written in Scala. It was originally developed by Typesafe, now known as Lightbend, and was first released in 2010. Play! Framework is designed to be lightweight and easy to use, and it features a number of features that make it a good choice for developing web applications, including a built-in routing system, a template engine, and a dependency injection framework. Sources: * [Play! Framework website](https://www.playframework.com/) * [Wikipedia article on Play! Framework](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Play!_Framework)

Ask the right questions secure the right Play! Framework Template Engine(play!) talent among an increasingly shrinking pool of talent.

First 20 minutes

General Play! Framework Template Engine(play!) app knowledge and experience

The first 20 minutes of the interview should seek to understand the candidate's general background in Play! Framework Template Engine(play!) application development, including their experience with various programming languages, databases, and their approach to designing scalable and maintainable systems.

Can you describe what a template engine is in the context of Play Framework?
A template engine in the context of Play Framework is a component that generates web pages dynamically by processing and combining raw data with HTML templates. It's essentially a way to separate the presentation logic from the business logic.
How would you use a variable in a Play! Framework template?
To use a variable in a Play! Framework template, we can simply use the '@' symbol followed by the variable name, like '@myVariable'. The variable should be passed from the controller to the view.
What are the main benefits of using Play! Framework Template Engine?
The main benefits of using Play! Framework Template Engine are its simplicity, its support for fast development with hot reload feature, its stateless model which makes it easy to scale, and its strong typing which can prevent many runtime errors.
How would you include static resources like CSS or JavaScript in a Play! Framework template?
Static resources like CSS or JavaScript can be included in a Play! Framework template using the 'routes' function. For example, '@routes.Assets.at('stylesheets/main.css')' would include the main.css file.
How would you create a form in a Play! Framework template?
To create a form in a Play! Framework template, you would use the 'form' helper method. This method takes two arguments: the action to be performed when the form is submitted, and the form content.
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What you’re looking for early on

Does the candidate have a good understanding of the Play! Framework?
Can the candidate demonstrate experience with Java and Scala?
Does the candidate show a good understanding of MVC architecture?
Is the candidate able to solve problems and debug effectively?

Next 20 minutes

Specific Play! Framework Template Engine(play!) 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 Scala template and a Java template in Play! Framework.
In Play! Framework there is no difference between Scala templates and Java templates. Both are compiled to Scala source code, and both provide the same features and syntax. The only difference is the language used in the controller layer.
How would you pass data from a controller to a template in Play! Framework?
To pass data from a controller to a template in Play! Framework, you would define the data as parameters in the template, and then pass the actual data when rendering the template from the controller. For example, 'return ok(index.render(myData))'.
How would you handle errors in a Play! Framework template?
In a Play! Framework template, errors can be handled by checking the 'hasErrors' method of a form. If the method returns true, the errors can be displayed using the 'error' method. For example, '@if(form.hasErrors) { @form.error('fieldName') }'.
What are some ways to optimize the performance of Play! Framework templates?
To optimize the performance of Play! Framework templates, you can minimize the use of complex expressions in the templates, use caching for static content, and avoid unnecessary database queries by passing all required data from the controller.
How would you internationalize a Play! Framework template?
To internationalize a Play! Framework template, you would use the 'Messages' API. You can use the '@Messages('message.key')' function to display localized messages, and define the messages in the conf/messages.xx file, where xx is the language code.
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The ideal back-end app developer

What you’re looking to see on the Play! Framework Template Engine(play!) engineer at this point.

At this point, a skilled Play! Framework Template Engine(play!) engineer should demonstrate strong problem-solving abilities, proficiency in Play! Framework Template Engine(play!) 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 Play! Framework Template Engine(play!).

What does this simple Play! Framework Template code do?
@(message: String)

@message

This code takes a string parameter 'message' and displays it within an HTML h1 tag. The '@' symbol is used for variable substitution in Play! Framework Templates.
What will be the output of this Play! Framework Template code?
@for(i <- 1 to 3) {
  

@i

}
This code will output three paragraph tags each containing a number from 1 to 3. It's a for loop that iterates over the range 1 to 3.
What does this Play! Framework Template code do?
@(items: List[String])

@items.map { item =>
  
  • @item
  • }
    This code takes a list of strings 'items' and maps each item to a list HTML tag
  • . It's a way to dynamically generate a list in HTML based on an input list of strings.
  • What will be the output of this Play! Framework Template code?
    @defining(java.util.concurrent.atomic.AtomicInteger(1)) { counter =>
      @for(i <- 1 to 3) {
        

    @counter.getAndIncrement()

    } }
    This code will output three paragraph tags each containing a number from 1 to 3. It uses an AtomicInteger as a counter that is incremented in each iteration of the loop.

    Wrap-up questions

    Final candidate for Play! Framework Template Engine(play!) 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 Play! Framework Template Engine(play!) application deployments. Inquire about their experience in handling system failures and their approach to debugging and troubleshooting.

    Describe the difference between 'render' and 'ok' methods in Play! Framework.
    'render' and 'ok' methods are both used to send a response from the controller to the client. The difference is that 'render' sends a view (HTML page) as the response, while 'ok' sends a simple text message.
    How would you implement a layout in a Play! Framework template?
    To implement a layout in a Play! Framework template, you would create a main template that includes the common parts of the pages, and then use the '@content' keyword in the main template to include the specific content of each page.
    What are some best practices for Play! Framework templates?
    Some best practices for Play! Framework templates include keeping the templates simple and focused on presentation, avoiding business logic in the templates, reusing common parts of the pages with layouts, and validating user input in the controller, not in the template.

    Play! Framework Template Engine(play!) application related

    Product Perfect's Play! Framework Template Engine(play!) development capabilities

    Beyond hiring for your Play! Framework Template Engine(play!) engineering team, you may be in the market for additional help. Product Perfect provides seasoned expertise in Play! Framework Template Engine(play!) projects, and can engage in multiple capacities.