Hiring the right software developer can be tricky, which is why most interviews can feel overwhelming and intimidating. However, if you have a passion for coding, technology, and computers, you might be willing to pull your boots up and prepare for the seemingly tough interview.
Wondering what kind of questions you might be faced with during a software developing job interview? Read on, and find out the most important questions you should prepare for and how to answer them. Of course, feel free to use your answers instead of merely copying the ones we mention below. It always helps to be as authentic as possible.
So without further ado, let’s get straight to the questions!
1.Describe the process of software development
The process of software development is similar to the life cycle of the software itself. It is comprised of the following steps:
- Requirement analysis
- Specification
- Software architecture
- Implementation
- Testing
- Documentation
- Training and support
- Maintenance
2. What are the essential categories of software?
There are six main categories of software. These are:
- System software
- Embedded software
- Artificial Intelligence software
- Application software
- Web applications
- Scientific software
3. Describe the primary difference between a computer program and computer software.
A computer program is a specific piece of programming code that performs a well-defined task. On the other hand, computer software includes a programming code, a user guide, and documentation.
4. What programming languages do you use or prefer?
While this is a personal preference, the answer will tell the interviewer a lot about your thinking and coding process. The interviewer will typically expect you to be familiar with several programming languages. However, ensure that you are proficient in at least three.
You should be familiar with C++, Java, Python, React, and Node, the most popular ones.
5. What is responsive design?
Responsive website design refers to websites that are developed with media queries. These target breakpoints wrap text scale images or adjust the page’s layout, allowing the website to fit any screen size. It appears in the often ‘shrink to fit.’ This is often used to make a website easily readable on mobiles and desktop screens.
6. Describe the difference between fluid and fixed website design.
Fluid website designs used percentages as a reflexive indicator of the width of the page. Fixed website design relies only on fixed panel widths. Although websites with improved design are faster and more responsive, they often provide a less user-friendly experience when used over multiple devices with different screen sizes.
7. What is the difference between an Array and a Slack?
Arrays don’t rely on any fixed structure for how data can be added or retrieved from them. Stacks, however, use a strict LIFO approach, which refers to Last In First Out.
8. What are web workers in HTML5?
Web workers in HTML5 help web applications run background scripts without blocking any change in the User Interface. They allow multiple scripts to run simultaneously on JavaScript and simulate multi-threading.
This is very important because JavaScript is typically single-threaded. It can be tough to execute simultaneous operations that include functions like setInterval or setTimeout.
9. What is the difference between black-box testing and white box testing?
Both black box testing and white box testing are software testing methods. In black-box testing, the internal design, structure, or implementation of the tested item is unknown to the tester.
In white-box testing, the internal design, structure, or implementation of the tested item is known to the tester.
10. What is the smallest building block of ReactJS?
React.js elements are the smallest building blocks of ReactJS. Comparatively, components, or props are enormous building blocks.
11. What are some of the available SDLC models?
Big-bag Model, Waterfall Model, Spiral Model, V- Model, and Iterative Model are some of the most popular SDLC Models.
12. Describe the difference between verification and validation.
A set of activities that ensure that software implements the desired, specific function is known as Verification. On the other hand, Validation refers to another set of activities that provide that particular software has been developed with the needs and requirements of a client.
13. What does debugging mean during a software process?
Debugging is simply the process of removal of errors. It is one of the most important parts of successfully testing software.
14. Name the different stages of SDLC.
The phases of SDLC are-
- Requirement Gathering
- System Analysis and Design
- Coding
- Testing
- Implementation
However, the phases mostly depend on the model that one chooses to develop specific software.
15. What is software project management?
Software project management refers to managing various software processes, such as cost, time, quality management, etc. It is an essential job of a software project manager.
The software project manager must also take care of other roles and responsibilities like managing risks and resources, ensuring the smooth implementation and development of a project, managing the clients, stakeholders, and developers. Moreover, project management and constant monitoring of the project are also essential software project management processes.
16. How do you derive the size of a software product?
There are two main methods of deriving the size of a software product. They are:
- Count the delivered function points,
- Count the lines of delivered code
17. Describe function points
The numerous features that are provided by a software product are called function points. Typically, it is considered as a unit of measurement for various software sizes.
18. Define project estimation.
Several aspects of a software product must be taken into account to derive the actual cost. Some of the factors that must be considered are the time and effort and skills and resources invested in developing software. Moreover, this estimation of often derived by using experience, using pre-defined formulas, or by hiring an expert to make the project estimation.
Conclusion
These are some of the most popular questions that you may be faced with during a software developer interview. Ensure that you are prepared for a short coding exam, as this is typical in most interviews.
All the best!
