C Shell Developer Hiring Guide

Hiring Guide for C Shell Engineers

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

C Shell (csh) is a Unix shell that was created by Bill Joy in the late 1970s. It is a command language interpreter usable both as an interactive login shell and as a script processor. The C Shell incorporates features from the C programming language such as syntax style, making it popular for teaching purposes and with users who have backgrounds in C or similar languages. C Shell supports built-in arithmetic expressions, history mechanism functions, aliasing capabilities and job control while providing robust string manipulation facilities which are quite comparable to scripting languages like Perl or Python. However, due to certain limitations such as lack of functions within scripts (only aliases), inconsistent syntax rules etc., it has been less recommended for scripting purposes compared to other shells like Bourne shell or Bash. Despite this fact, many system administrators find csh useful for its interactive features when used directly from the terminal.

First 20 minutes

General C Shell 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 does the 'echo' command do in C Shell?

The 'echo' command in C Shell is used to display a line of text or a variable value. It is commonly used in shell scripts and batch files to output status text to the screen or a file.

How would you redirect the output of a command in C Shell?

In C Shell, you can redirect the output of a command using the '>' operator. For example, 'command > file' will redirect the output of 'command' into 'file'. If 'file' already exists, it will be overwritten.

What is the use of the 'source' command in C Shell?

The 'source' command in C Shell is used to read and execute commands from a file in the current shell environment. It allows the script to use the variables, functions, and aliases defined in the file.

What is the purpose of the 'set' command in C Shell?

The 'set' command is used in C Shell to define a variable and assign a value to it. It can also be used to give values to array variables and to set shell options.

How would you describe the basic structure of a C Shell script?

A C Shell script starts with a shebang (#!) followed by the path to the C Shell interpreter. This is followed by script commands. Variables are defined using the set keyword. Control structures include if-else, switch, while and foreach. Script ends when it encounters exit or end of file.

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What youre looking for early-on

Does the candidate have good communication skills?

Good communication skills are necessary for understanding requirements, explaining solutions, and working effectively with a team.

Is the candidate familiar with version control systems like Git?

Version control systems are commonly used in software development for tracking changes, so familiarity with them is beneficial.

Can the candidate work well in a team?

Software development is often a collaborative effort, so good teamwork skills are important.

Does the candidate have experience with Unix/Linux systems?

C Shell is a Unix shell, so understanding Unix/Linux systems is essential.

Has the candidate demonstrated problem-solving abilities?

This is crucial as programming involves solving complex problems and implementing solutions.

Does the candidate have a solid understanding of C Shell scripting?

This is important because C Shell scripting is the primary skill required for the position.

Next 20 minutes

Specific C Shell 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 is a pipe in C Shell and how is it used?

A pipe, represented by the '|' symbol, is a form of redirection in C Shell that is used to send the output of one command to another. For example, 'command1 | command2' would take the output of command1 and use it as the input to command2.

Describe the difference between a soft link and a hard link in Unix.

A hard link is essentially a mirror of the original file, sharing the same inode and data, while a soft link (or symbolic link) is a separate file that points to the original file. Deleting the original file does not affect hard links but will cause soft links to 'break'.

How would you handle errors in a C Shell script?

To handle errors in a C Shell script, you can use the 'if' statement to check the exit status of a command, which is stored in the $? variable. If the command fails, you can then print an error message and exit the script.

What are the different types of loops available in C Shell?

C Shell supports several types of loops, including 'while', 'foreach', and 'until'. 'While' loops continue as long as the condition is true, 'foreach' loops iterate over a list of items, and 'until' loops continue until the condition becomes true.

How would you check the exit status of a command in C Shell?

In C Shell, the exit status of the last executed command is stored in the $? variable. So you can check the exit status of a command by checking the value of this variable.

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The ideal back-end app developer

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

A skilled C Shell engineer should demonstrate strong problem-solving skills, extensive knowledge of Unix/Linux systems, and proficiency in scripting. Red flags would include lack of detail in explaining past projects, inability to troubleshoot common issues, or unfamiliarity with shell scripting basics.

Digging deeper

Code questions

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

What does this simple C Shell script do?

set x = 5
if ($x == 5) then
  echo 'X is 5'
endif

This script sets the variable 'x' to 5 and then checks if 'x' is equal to 5. If 'x' is 5, it prints 'X is 5' to the console.

What will be the output of this C Shell script?

set list = (1 2 3 4 5)
@ sum = $list[1] + $list[3]
echo $sum

This script creates a list of integers from 1 to 5. It then calculates the sum of the first and third elements of the list (1 and 3) and prints the result, which is 4.

What does this C Shell script do with the array?

set arr = (1 2 3 4 5)
@ arr[2] = $arr[2] * 2
echo $arr

This script creates an array of integers from 1 to 5. It then multiplies the second element of the array by 2. The updated array is then printed to the console.

What does this C Shell script do?

set i = 1
while ($i <= 5)
  echo $i
  @ i++
end

This script initializes a variable 'i' to 1. It then enters a while loop that continues until 'i' is greater than 5. Inside the loop, it prints the value of 'i' and then increments 'i' by 1.

What will be the output of this C Shell script?

set x = 10
set y = 20
if ($x > $y) then
  echo 'X is greater'
else
  echo 'Y is greater'
endif

This script sets 'x' to 10 and 'y' to 20. It then checks if 'x' is greater than 'y'. If 'x' is greater, it prints 'X is greater'. Otherwise, it prints 'Y is greater'. In this case, the output will be 'Y is greater'.

What does this advanced C Shell script do?

set x = 10
set y = 20
switch ($x)
  case 10:
    if ($y > $x) then
      echo 'Y is greater'
    else
      echo 'X is greater'
    endif
    breaksw
default:
  echo 'X is not 10'
  breaksw
endsw

This script sets 'x' to 10 and 'y' to 20. It then enters a switch statement that checks the value of 'x'. If 'x' is 10, it enters an if statement that checks if 'y' is greater than 'x'. If 'y' is greater, it prints 'Y is greater'. Otherwise, it prints 'X is greater'. If 'x' is not 10, it prints 'X is not 10'.

Wrap-up questions

Final candidate for C Shell role questions

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

How would you write a C Shell script that takes command-line arguments?

Command-line arguments in C Shell scripts can be accessed using the argv array. For example, 'argv[1]' refers to the first argument, 'argv[2]' to the second, and so on. The script can then use these values as needed.

How would you check if a file exists in a C Shell script?

In a C Shell script, you can use the '-e' file test operator to check if a file exists. For example, 'if (-e filename) then' will check if 'filename' exists.

How would you run a C Shell script in the background?

To run a C Shell script in the background, you can use the '&' symbol at the end of the command. For example, 'script.csh &' will run the script in the background and return control to the user.

What are the differences between C Shell and Bash?

C Shell and Bash are both Unix shells, but they have different syntax and features. Some of the differences include how they handle variables, arrays, and string manipulation. For example, C Shell uses the 'set' keyword to define variables, while Bash uses the '=' operator. C Shell supports arrays, but Bash has more powerful array handling capabilities.

How would you write a C Shell script to find all files in a directory and its subdirectories that have been modified in the last 7 days?

You can use the 'find' command in combination with the '-mtime' option. The script would look something like this: 'find /path/to/directory -type f -mtime -7'. This command will find all files in the specified directory and its subdirectories that have been modified in the last 7 days.

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C Shell application related

Product Perfect's C Shell development capabilities

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