MVSFORUMS.com

[drajasekharreddy]

Hi,

there is one sequential file having 100 records. for reading this file thru cobol program it is taking 5 minits. after 10 years same file and same progarm for reading it is taking more than 5 minits. why it is hapenning like this.

first ofall is this valid question. i think this is not valid question. other wise is there any reason behind that. plz let me know.

Thanx,
Bye,
Raja

[souvik_225]

Is this an interview question??? ...

This depends upon so many factors , it is difficult to pinpoint the exact reason. One very common reason could(is) be that the program is not getting the same CPU%. (And this will/can change in 10 secs rather than 10 yrs.)
_________________
Thanks and Regards,
Souvik Upadhyay

[Brian]

First of all how do you know that the same program performed better 10 years ago ?

[Mike Chantrey]

What are the actual figures? From the minimal info you have given if could be taking 5mins exactly 'before' and 5:00.0001 minutes afterwards.

Also, in a program that runs for 5mins approx elapsed, the time taken to read a 100 record file would typically be insignificant (unless it was a tape mount delay possibly).
What else does this program do?

[mfjin]

I am sure this is an interview question. I have been hearing of similar questions being asked in interviews. Dont understand what can be the motive of interviewers in asking such meaningless, vague questions that can never have a specific answer.

[Bill Dennis]

Interviewers might ask questions such as this because users will ask this same thing of you on the job! "My job ran 3 hours last night...what did you guys do?"

As a programmer, do you have a grasp on the various things that can affect elapsed time? Could you explain this to a user?

The interviewer may either be insane.... or a genius!

Regards,
Bill