RE: Offtopic: How to Design Programming Tests

[Brent Fulgham <brent.fulgham@xpsystems.com>]

> 1. what's a context-free grammar and why does this matter for XML? 
>

Describe how you might implement "Parasitic" methods in Java using
a mechanism which compiles to valid Java bytecode capable of running
on a compliant JVM.  Cite references.

Will modifications to the compiler be necessary?

Indicate whether the performance tradeoffs of this approach may or
may not be desirable with respect to the benefits gained.

What are the benefits gained in this approach?  Do any other languages
you can describe have superior behavior in this regard?

Extra Credit:
--------------
How might you attempt to implement a multiple dispatch mechanism in
Java?  Can you think of any other languages where this might be
easier to implement.  Perl is not a valid answer.
(Note:  Mark Guzdial is not permitted to answer this question
-- if he's reading).

Extra Extra Credit:
-------------------
Please write a Java class that implements the Y Combinator.  
(Note:  Matthias is not permitted to answer this question)

==========================================

;-)  Matthias and others probably recognize some of the above
references, but your average job applicant might not.

Can you tell that I find "Employment Tests" of this nature
to be offensive?  Why not just ask prospective employees to forward
some little Java program they have written, then quiz them about
that when they show up?

Asking someone to "Write a complying Binary Tree structure" according
to specification after inviting them over for an interview is
quite rude.

I realize your managers are asking you to do this (so don't
take this personally -- I am not aiming this at you), but aren't
you guys able to tell when someone knows what they are talking about
when you interview them?

-Brent