What is Scala?

Scala is a high-level, general-purpose programming language that combines the merits of object-oriented and functional programming. 

These programming paradigms allow Scala to be both intuitive and direct. 

Via object-oriented programming, developers can use object and classes to represent code as entities and manipulate their behavior. 

Similarly, functional programming permits developers to write code as pure functions, eliciting modularity using a declarative style. 

To add, Scala is also statically typed, meaning the language performs type checking at compile time, ultimately preventing runtme errors. 

What’s more, Scala source code can be compiled into Java bytecode and runs on Java virtual machine. 

By this standard, Scala offers language interoperability with Java, increasing the portability of the language and its potential overall. 

What Scala is Used For?

Scala is a play on ‘scalable language’. In other words, Scala is used to build, maintain, and scale high-performance systems. 

Many elements of Scala’s design make it the perfect language for such use cases. For one, Scala excels when it comes to data processing. 

And due to its multitude of programming paradigms and compatibility with Java, its syntactic flexibility is virtually unparalleled. 

In practice, you’ll mostly see Scala used by data engineers who need to accessand manage large, complex databases. 

Tech giants like LinkedIn., Twitter, Netflix, and even AirBnB are no stranger to Scala. 

Scala’s ability to provide easy access to vast ecosystems of libraries promotes fast and flexible programming to any tech company in need.

How to Hire the Right Scala Developer?

Hiring the right Scala developer requires being well-acquainted with the technical skills you need on your team to complete your project and meet business objectives. 

In addition, you want to hire somebody who can collaborate and communicate well with others, from fellow developers to stakeholders. 

As far as soft skills go, you will have the opportunity to evaluate your candidate in-person come interview time. 

But there are a few things you need beforehand — a list of required skills for your job listing, and interview questions to asses your potential hire. 

The following provides an example rubric of what that might look like. 

What Are the Skills Needed for Scala Developers?

At a professional level, Scala developers should be able to:

• Demonstrate a working knowledge of one or more SQL databases such as MySQL or Postgres
• Illustrate experience working with Big Data tolls such as Hadoop, Apache Spark, Kafka, Hive, etc. 
• Show proficiency in using cloud technologies, particularly Amazon Web Services
• Have a firm conceptual and practical understanding of microservices 
• Exhibit strong programming skills with both object-oriented and functional programming paradigms

Top 10 Scala Interview Questions

1. Identify two components of Scala’s syntax that make it stand out from other languages. 
2. Define stream in Scala. 
3. What is lazy evaluation?
4. Describe the main differences between Scala and Java. 
5. Name and explain the three different package types in Scala. 
6. What’s the difference between var and val?
7. In what scenarios would you use a case class versus a regular class?
8. Enumerate and describe the four different identifiers in Scala. 
9. What is a higher-order function?
10. How do you define an auxiliary class constructor in Scala?

Why Hire a Scala Developer With Trio?

Trio Scala developers are pre-vetted, interviewed and then trained further to become true software professionals, capable of adapting to situations that are both within and outside fo the scope of their general expertise. 

At Trio, we hold our developers to a higher standard. Much like how elite special forces units recruit only the best from main branches of the military, we recruit developers who either show amazing potential or demonstrate exceptional skill. We then take their talents and sharpen them even further.

Another benefit of hiring a Trio developer is that you won’t incur the costs of hiring, which can add up to be around 30% of a developer’s salary on average, as well as overhead costs associated with full-time employment. 

By working with Trio, you can enjoy a highly experienced full-time developer for a fraction of the cost, along with the added project management assistance. 

Interested? Tell us about your project so we can get started!