Top 150+ Software Architecture, Design Patterns, and SDLC Interview Questions

 

Table of Contents

1. Beginner-Level Questions

   • Software Architecture

   • Design Patterns

   • SDLC

2. Intermediate-Level Questions

   • Software Architecture

   • Design Patterns

   • SDLC

3. Expert-Level Questions

   • Software Architecture

   • Design Patterns

   • SDLC

4. Conclusion

---

Beginner-Level Questions

These questions cover foundational concepts, basic principles, and core ideas for entry-level candidates.

Software Architecture (Beginner)

1. What is software architecture, and why is it important?

   • Type: Basic Understanding

   • Expected Answer: Software architecture defines a system’s structure, components, and interactions to ensure scalability and maintainability.

   • Example: A web app with a client, server, and database layers.

2. What is the difference between monolithic and microservices architecture?

   • Type: Conceptual

   • Expected Answer: Monolithic is a single-unit application, while microservices are modular, independent services.

3. What is a layered architecture?

   • Type: Conceptual

   • Expected Answer: Layered architecture organizes code into layers (e.g., presentation, business, data) for separation of concerns.

   • Example: MVC architecture in web applications.

4. What is the role of an API in software architecture?

   • Type: Basic Understanding

   • Expected Answer: APIs enable communication between system components or external systems.

   • Example: REST API for a mobile app backend.

5. What is a client-server architecture?

   • Type: Conceptual

   • Expected Answer: Client-server divides tasks between clients (requestors) and servers (providers).

   • Example: A browser requesting data from a web server.

6. What is scalability in software architecture?

   • Type: Basic Understanding

   • Expected Answer: Scalability is a system’s ability to handle increased load without performance degradation.

7. What is the difference between horizontal and vertical scaling?

   • Type: Conceptual

   • Expected Answer: Horizontal scaling adds more machines, while vertical scaling increases a machine’s resources.

8. What is a component in software architecture?

   • Type: Conceptual

   • Expected Answer: A component is a modular unit with defined interfaces performing a specific function.

9. What is the purpose of a UML diagram in architecture?

   • Type: Basic Understanding

   • Expected Answer: UML diagrams visualize system structure and behavior, like class or sequence diagrams.

10. What is the role of modularity in software architecture?

    • Type: Conceptual

    • Expected Answer: Modularity divides a system into independent, reusable units for maintainability.

Design Patterns (Beginner)

11. What is a design pattern, and why is it used?

    • Type: Basic Understanding

    • Expected Answer: Design patterns are reusable solutions to common software problems, improving code quality.

    • Example: Singleton pattern for single-instance classes.

12. What is the Singleton pattern, and when is it used?

    • Type: Conceptual

    • Expected Answer: Singleton ensures one instance of a class, used for shared resources.

    • Example:

      class Singleton:
          _instance = None
          def __new__(cls):
              if cls._instance is None:
                  cls._instance = super().__new__(cls)
              return cls._instance

13. What is the Factory pattern?

    • Type: Conceptual

    • Expected Answer: Factory creates objects without specifying the exact class.

    • Example:

      class AnimalFactory:
          def create_animal(self, type):
              if type == "Dog": return Dog()
              return Cat()

14. What is the Observer pattern?

    • Type: Conceptual

    • Expected Answer: Observer notifies dependent objects of state changes.

    • Example:

      class Subject:
          def __init__(self):
              self._observers = []
          def attach(self, observer):
              self._observers.append(observer)
          def notify(self):
              for observer in self._observers:
                  observer.update()

15. What is the difference between creational and structural patterns?

    • Type: Conceptual

    • Expected Answer: Creational patterns deal with object creation, while structural focus on composition.

16. What is the MVC pattern?

    • Type: Basic Understanding

    • Expected Answer: MVC separates Model (data), View (UI), and Controller (logic) for modularity.

    • Example: Django’s MTV framework.

17. What is the Adapter pattern?

    • Type: Conceptual

    • Expected Answer: Adapter allows incompatible interfaces to work together.

    • Example:

      class Adapter:
          def __init__(self, adaptee):
              self.adaptee = adaptee
          def request(self):
              return self.adaptee.specific_request()

18. What is the purpose of the Strategy pattern?

    • Type: Conceptual

    • Expected Answer: Strategy defines interchangeable algorithms for flexibility.

    • Example:

      class Strategy:
          def execute(self, data):
              pass
      class ConcreteStrategyA(Strategy):
          def execute(self, data):
              return sorted(data)

19. What is the Decorator pattern?

    • Type: Conceptual

    • Expected Answer: Decorator adds behavior to objects dynamically.

    • Example:

      class Coffee:
          def cost(self):
              return 5
      class MilkDecorator(Coffee):
          def __init__(self, coffee):
              self._coffee = coffee
          def cost(self):
              return self._coffee.cost() + 2

20. What is the Command pattern?

    • Type: Conceptual

    • Expected Answer: Command encapsulates a request as an object for undoable operations.

    • Example:

      class Command:
          def execute(self):
              pass
      class LightOnCommand(Command):
          def execute(self):
              print("Light is ON")

SDLC (Beginner)

21. What is the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)?

    • Type: Basic Understanding

    • Expected Answer: SDLC is a process for planning, developing, testing, and deploying software.

22. What are the phases of the SDLC?

    • Type: Conceptual

    • Expected Answer: Phases include Planning, Analysis, Design, Implementation, Testing, Deployment, and Maintenance.

23. What is the Waterfall model in SDLC?

    • Type: Conceptual

    • Expected Answer: Waterfall is a linear SDLC model where each phase completes before the next begins.

24. What is Agile methodology?

    • Type: Basic Understanding

    • Expected Answer: Agile is an iterative SDLC approach emphasizing collaboration and flexibility.

    • Example: Scrum with sprints.

25. What is the role of a requirements analysis in SDLC?

    • Type: Conceptual

    • Expected Answer: Requirements analysis gathers and documents user needs for development.

26. What is the difference between Agile and Waterfall?

    • Type: Conceptual

    • Expected Answer: Agile is iterative and adaptive, while Waterfall is sequential and rigid.

27. What is a use case in SDLC?

    • Type: Basic Understanding

    • Expected Answer: A use case describes how a user interacts with a system to achieve a goal.

28. What is the purpose of testing in SDLC?

    • Type: Conceptual

    • Expected Answer: Testing ensures software meets requirements and is bug-free.

29. What is the role of version control in SDLC?

    • Type: Basic Understanding

    • Expected Answer: Version control tracks code changes for collaboration and history.

    • Example: Git with branches.

30. What is a sprint in Agile?

    • Type: Conceptual

    • Expected Answer: A sprint is a time-boxed iteration in Agile for delivering features.

    • Example: A 2-week sprint in Scrum.

---

Intermediate-Level Questions

These questions target candidates with 2–5 years of experience, focusing on practical scenarios, optimization, and advanced concepts.

Software Architecture (Intermediate)

31. How do you design a system for scalability?

    • Type: Scenario-Based

    • Expected Answer: Use load balancing, microservices, and caching.

    • Example: AWS ELB with Redis caching.

32. What is the difference between SOA and microservices?

    • Type: Conceptual

    • Expected Answer: SOA focuses on service reuse, while microservices emphasize independence and decentralization.

33. How do you ensure fault tolerance in a system?

    • Type: Scenario-Based

    • Expected Answer: Implement redundancy, failover mechanisms, and circuit breakers.

    • Example: Netflix Hystrix for circuit breaking.

34. What is the role of a load balancer in architecture?

    • Type: Conceptual

    • Expected Answer: Distributes traffic across servers for scalability and reliability.

    • Example: Nginx load balancer.

35. How do you design a RESTful API?

    • Type: Practical

    • Expected Answer: Use HTTP methods, statelessness, and proper resource naming.

    • Example:

      GET /api/users/{id}

36. What is eventual consistency in distributed systems?

    • Type: Conceptual

    • Expected Answer: Eventual consistency ensures data alignment across nodes over time.

37. How do you handle data consistency in a microservices architecture?

    • Type: Scenario-Based

    • Expected Answer: Use eventual consistency or distributed transactions.

    • Example: Saga pattern for transactions.

38. What is the role of a message queue in architecture?

    • Type: Conceptual

    • Expected Answer: Message queues decouple components and handle asynchronous tasks.

    • Example: RabbitMQ for task queues.

39. What is the difference between synchronous and asynchronous communication?

    • Type: Conceptual

    • Expected Answer: Synchronous requires immediate response, while asynchronous does not.

40. How do you design a system for high availability?

    • Type: Scenario-Based

    • Expected Answer: Use replication, failover, and monitoring.

    • Example: Multi-region deployment in AWS.

Design Patterns (Intermediate)

41. How do you implement the Builder pattern?

    • Type: Coding Challenge

    • Expected Answer:

      class Builder:
          def __init__(self):
              self.product = Product()
          def set_part_a(self, value):
              self.product.part_a = value
              return self
      class Product:
          pass

42. What is the Chain of Responsibility pattern?

    • Type: Conceptual

    • Expected Answer: Passes a request along a chain of handlers.

    • Example:

      class Handler:
          def __init__(self, successor=None):
              self._successor = successor
          def handle(self, request):
              if self._successor:
                  self._successor.handle(request)

43. How do you use the Template Method pattern?

    • Type: Practical

    • Expected Answer: Defines a skeleton for an algorithm, allowing subclasses to customize steps.

    • Example:

      class AbstractClass:
          def template_method(self):
              self.step1()
              self.step2()
          def step1(self): pass
          def step2(self): pass

44. What is the difference between Proxy and Decorator patterns?

    • Type: Conceptual

    • Expected Answer: Proxy controls access, while Decorator adds behavior.

45. How do you implement the Facade pattern?

    • Type: Coding Challenge

    • Expected Answer:

      class Facade:
          def __init__(self):
              self.subsystem1 = Subsystem1()
          def operation(self):
              return self.subsystem1.operation()
      class Subsystem1:
          def operation(self):
              return "Subsystem1 operation"

46. What is the Mediator pattern?

    • Type: Conceptual

    • Expected Answer: Mediator centralizes communication between objects.

    • Example: Chat room mediator for user messages.

47. How do you apply the Composite pattern?

    • Type: Practical

    • Expected Answer: Treats individual and composite objects uniformly.

    • Example:

      class Component:
          def operation(self):
              pass
      class Composite(Component):
          def __init__(self):
              self._children = []
          def add(self, child):
              self._children.append(child)

48. What is the Flyweight pattern, and when is it used?

    • Type: Conceptual

    • Expected Answer: Shares objects to reduce memory usage for similar objects.

    • Example: Font rendering in text editors.

49. How do you implement the State pattern?

    • Type: Coding Challenge

    • Expected Answer:

      class State:
          def handle(self, context):
              pass
      class ConcreteStateA(State):
          def handle(self, context):
              context.state = ConcreteStateB()

50. What is the difference between Strategy and State patterns?

    • Type: Conceptual

    • Expected Answer: Strategy defines interchangeable algorithms, while State changes behavior based on state.

SDLC (Intermediate)

51. How do you gather requirements in the SDLC?

    • Type: Scenario-Based

    • Expected Answer: Use interviews, surveys, and workshops to elicit user needs.

52. What is the role of a product backlog in Agile?

    • Type: Conceptual

    • Expected Answer: The product backlog prioritizes features and tasks for development.

    • Example: Jira backlog with user stories.

53. How do you handle scope creep in a project?

    • Type: Scenario-Based

    • Expected Answer: Use change management and prioritize requirements.

    • Example: Review change requests in sprint planning.

54. What is the purpose of a sprint retrospective?

    • Type: Conceptual

    • Expected Answer: Retrospective reviews what went well and areas for improvement in Agile.

55. How do you ensure quality in the SDLC?

    • Type: Practical

    • Expected Answer: Implement unit testing, code reviews, and CI/CD pipelines.

    • Example:

      name: CI
      on: [push]
      jobs:
        build:
          runs-on: ubuntu-latest
          steps:
            - uses: actions/checkout@v2
            - run: npm test

56. What is the difference between Scrum and Kanban?

    • Type: Conceptual

    • Expected Answer: Scrum uses time-boxed sprints, while Kanban focuses on continuous flow.

57. How do you manage technical debt in SDLC?

    • Type: Scenario-Based

    • Expected Answer: Prioritize refactoring and allocate time in sprints.

58. What is the role of CI/CD in SDLC?

    • Type: Conceptual

    • Expected Answer: CI/CD automates testing and deployment for faster delivery.

    • Example: Jenkins pipeline for deployment.

59. How do you perform risk management in SDLC?

    • Type: Practical

    • Expected Answer: Identify risks, assess impact, and create mitigation plans.

60. What is the purpose of a user story in Agile?

    • Type: Conceptual

    • Expected Answer: A user story defines a feature from the user’s perspective.

    • Example: "As a user, I want to log in so I can access my account."

---

Expert-Level Questions

These questions challenge senior professionals with complex scenarios, advanced patterns, and strategic SDLC tasks.

Software Architecture (Expert)

61. How do you design a microservices-based e-commerce system?

    • Type: Scenario-Based

    • Expected Answer: Use domain-driven design, API gateways, and event-driven architecture.

    • Example: Separate services for orders, payments, and inventory.

62. What is the CAP theorem, and how does it impact system design?

    • Type: Conceptual

    • Expected Answer: CAP theorem states a system can only guarantee two of Consistency, Availability, and Partition Tolerance.

63. How do you implement a circuit breaker in a distributed system?

    • Type: Practical

    • Expected Answer: Use libraries like Hystrix or Resilience4j to handle failures.

    • Example:

      @CircuitBreaker(name = "serviceA")
      public String callServiceA() { ... }

64. What is the role of an API gateway in microservices?

    • Type: Conceptual

    • Expected Answer: API gateway routes requests, handles authentication, and aggregates responses.

    • Example: AWS API Gateway.

65. How do you design a system for real-time data processing?

    • Type: Scenario-Based

    • Expected Answer: Use stream processing with Kafka and Spark.

    • Example:

      from kafka import KafkaConsumer
      consumer = KafkaConsumer('topic')

66. What is the difference between event-driven and message-driven architecture?

    • Type: Conceptual

    • Expected Answer: Event-driven focuses on state changes, while message-driven emphasizes communication.

67. How do you handle distributed transactions in microservices?

    • Type: Scenario-Based

    • Expected Answer: Use Saga pattern or two-phase commit.

    • Example: Choreographed Saga with event sourcing.

68. What is the role of Domain-Driven Design (DDD) in architecture?

    • Type: Conceptual

    • Expected Answer: DDD aligns system design with business domains for clarity.

69. How do you ensure security in a distributed system?

    • Type: Scenario-Based

    • Expected Answer: Implement OAuth, encryption, and network segmentation.

    • Example:

      {
        "access_token": "xyz",
        "expires_in": 3600
      }

70. What is the role of CQRS in system architecture?

    • Type: Conceptual

    • Expected Answer: CQRS separates read and write operations for scalability.

    • Example: Separate read and write databases.

Design Patterns (Expert)

71. How do you implement the Saga pattern in a distributed system?

    • Type: Coding Challenge

    • Expected Answer:

      class SagaOrchestrator:
          def execute(self, steps):
              for step in steps:
                  try:
                      step.execute()
                  except:
                      step.rollback()

72. What is the difference between Bridge and Adapter patterns?

    • Type: Conceptual

    • Expected Answer: Bridge decouples abstraction from implementation, while Adapter converts interfaces.

73. How do you use the Visitor pattern?

    • Type: Practical

    • Expected Answer: Visitor separates operations from object structures.

    • Example:

      class Element:
          def accept(self, visitor):
              visitor.visit(self)
      class Visitor:
          def visit(self, element):
              pass

74. What is the Memento pattern, and when is it used?

    • Type: Conceptual

    • Expected Answer: Memento saves and restores object state for undo functionality.

75. How do you implement the Event Sourcing pattern?

    • Type: Coding Challenge

    • Expected Answer:

      class EventStore:
          def __init__(self):
              self.events = []
          def save(self, event):
              self.events.append(event)
          def replay(self):
              for event in self.events:
                  event.apply()

76. What is the difference between Factory Method and Abstract Factory?

    • Type: Conceptual

    • Expected Answer: Factory Method creates one object type, while Abstract Factory creates families of objects.

77. How do you apply the Interpreter pattern?

    • Type: Practical

    • Expected Answer: Defines a grammar for interpreting expressions.

    • Example:

      class Expression:
          def interpret(self, context):
              pass

78. What is the role of the Iterator pattern?

    • Type: Conceptual

    • Expected Answer: Iterator provides sequential access to collection elements.

    • Example:

      class Iterator:
          def __init__(self, collection):
              self._collection = collection
              self._index = 0
          def next(self):
              if self._index < len(self._collection):
                  return self._collection[self._index]

79. How do you implement the Prototype pattern?

    • Type: Coding Challenge

    • Expected Answer:

      import copy
      class Prototype:
          def clone(self):
              return copy.deepcopy(self)

80. What is the difference between Mediator and Facade patterns?

    • Type: Conceptual

    • Expected Answer: Mediator manages object interactions, while Facade simplifies subsystem access.

SDLC (Expert)

81. How do you implement DevOps in the SDLC?

    • Type: Scenario-Based

    • Expected Answer: Use CI/CD, infrastructure as code, and monitoring.

    • Example:

      terraform {
        backend "s3" {}
      }

82. What is the role of a Definition of Done (DoD) in Agile?

    • Type: Conceptual

    • Expected Answer: DoD defines criteria for completing a task or story.

83. How do you handle cross-team dependencies in Agile?

    • Type: Scenario-Based

    • Expected Answer: Use Scrum of Scrums or dependency boards.

    • Example: Jira dependency tracking.

84. What is the role of SAFe in large-scale Agile projects?

    • Type: Conceptual

    • Expected Answer: SAFe scales Agile across teams with frameworks like ARTs.

85. How do you implement automated testing in SDLC?

    • Type: Practical

    • Expected Answer: Use tools like Selenium or JUnit for automated tests.

    • Example:

      import unittest
      class TestApp(unittest.TestCase):
          def test_add(self):
              self.assertEqual(1 + 1, 2)

86. What is the difference between Lean and Agile methodologies?

    • Type: Conceptual

    • Expected Answer: Lean focuses on waste reduction, while Agile emphasizes iterative delivery.

87. How do you manage a project with distributed teams?

    • Type: Scenario-Based

    • Expected Answer: Use collaboration tools and time-zone-aware planning.

    • Example: Slack and Jira for communication.

88. What is the role of a burndown chart in Agile?

    • Type: Conceptual

    • Expected Answer: Tracks progress by showing remaining work in a sprint.

89. How do you ensure compliance in SDLC?

    • Type: Scenario-Based

    • Expected Answer: Implement audits, security testing, and documentation.

    • Example: SOC 2 compliance checks.

90. What is the role of a release train in SAFe?

    • Type: Conceptual

    • Expected Answer: Release train aligns teams for synchronized delivery.

91. How do you handle performance testing in SDLC?

    • Type: Practical

    • Expected Answer: Use tools like JMeter to simulate load.

    • Example:

      <testPlan name="LoadTest">
        <ThreadGroup>
          <elementProp name="Users" />
        </ThreadGroup>
      </testPlan>

92. What is the difference between V-Model and Agile?

    • Type: Conceptual

    • Expected Answer: V-Model pairs development and testing phases, while Agile is iterative.

93. How do you implement feature toggles in SDLC?

    • Type: Scenario-Based

    • Expected Answer: Use feature flags to enable/disable features dynamically.

    • Example:

      if feature_flags['new_feature']:
          enable_new_feature()

94. What is the role of a product owner in Agile?

    • Type: Conceptual

    • Expected Answer: The product owner prioritizes the backlog and defines requirements.

95. How do you manage technical debt in large projects?

    • Type: Scenario-Based

    • Expected Answer: Prioritize refactoring and track debt in the backlog.

96. What is the role of Kanban boards in SDLC?

    • Type: Conceptual

    • Expected Answer: Visualizes workflow and tracks task progress.

    • Example: Trello boards.

97. How do you implement security testing in SDLC?

    • Type: Practical

    • Expected Answer: Use tools like OWASP ZAP for vulnerability scanning.

    • Example:

      zap-cli quick-scan http://example.com

98. What is the difference between iterative and incremental development?

    • Type: Conceptual

    • Expected Answer: Iterative refines prototypes, while incremental builds in parts.

99. How do you handle stakeholder feedback in SDLC?

    • Type: Scenario-Based

    • Expected Answer: Incorporate feedback in sprint reviews and backlog grooming.

100. What is the role of a test-driven development (TDD) in SDLC?

     • Type: Conceptual

     • Expected Answer: TDD writes tests before code to ensure quality.

     • Example:

       def test_add():
           assert add(2, 3) == 5

Software Architecture (Expert, Continued)

101. How do you design a system for GDPR compliance?

     • Type: Scenario-Based

     • Expected Answer: Implement data encryption, anonymization, and audit logs.

     • Example: AES encryption for sensitive data.

102. What is the role of sharding in distributed systems?

     • Type: Conceptual

     • Expected Answer: Sharding splits data across nodes for scalability.

103. How do you implement event sourcing in a microservices architecture?

     • Type: Practical

     • Expected Answer: Store events in a log and rebuild state as needed.

     • Example:

       class Event:
           def __init__(self, data):
               self.data = data

104. What is the difference between monolithic and serverless architecture?

     • Type: Conceptual

     • Expected Answer: Monolithic is a single unit, while serverless delegates infrastructure management.

105. How do you design a system for high-frequency trading?

     • Type: Scenario-Based

     • Expected Answer: Use low-latency queues and in-memory databases.

     • Example: Redis for real-time data.

106. What is the role of a service mesh in microservices?

     • Type: Conceptual

     • Expected Answer: Service mesh manages service-to-service communication.

     • Example: Istio for traffic management.

107. How do you handle rate limiting in a system?

     • Type: Practical

     • Expected Answer: Use token bucket or leaky bucket algorithms.

     • Example:

       from ratelimit import limits
       @limits(calls=100, period=60)
       def api_call():
           pass

108. What is the difference between REST and GraphQL?

     • Type: Conceptual

     • Expected Answer: REST uses fixed endpoints, while GraphQL allows flexible queries.

109. How do you design a system for real-time analytics?

     • Type: Scenario-Based

     • Expected Answer: Use stream processing and in-memory stores.

     • Example: Apache Flink for analytics.

110. What is the role of a reverse proxy in architecture?

     • Type: Conceptual

     • Expected Answer: Reverse proxy routes requests to backend servers.

     • Example: Nginx reverse proxy.

Design Patterns (Expert, Continued)

111. How do you implement the Circuit Breaker pattern?

     • Type: Coding Challenge

     • Expected Answer:

       class CircuitBreaker:
           def __init__(self, threshold):
               self.failures = 0
               self.threshold = threshold
           def call(self, func):
               if self.failures >= self.threshold:
                   raise Exception("Circuit open")
               try:
                   return func()
               except:
                   self.failures += 1

112. What is the role of the Specification pattern?

     • Type: Conceptual

     • Expected Answer: Defines business rules as reusable objects.

     • Example:

       class Specification:
           def is_satisfied_by(self, candidate):
               pass

113. How do you use the Command Query Separation (CQS) pattern?

     • Type: Practical

     • Expected Answer: Separate commands (writes) from queries (reads).

114. What is the difference between Observer and Pub/Sub patterns?

     • Type: Conceptual

     • Expected Answer: Observer is tightly coupled, while Pub/Sub is decoupled via a broker.

115. How do you implement the Unit of Work pattern?

     • Type: Coding Challenge

     • Expected Answer:

       class UnitOfWork:
           def __init__(self):
               self.changes = []
           def commit(self):
               for change in self.changes:
                   change.apply()

116. What is the role of the Repository pattern?

     • Type: Conceptual

     • Expected Answer: Abstracts data access logic from business logic.

     • Example:

       class Repository:
           def get_by_id(self, id):
               pass

117. How do you apply the Dependency Injection pattern?

     • Type: Practical

     • Expected Answer: Inject dependencies to promote loose coupling.

     • Example:

       class Service:
           def __init__(self, dependency):
               self.dependency = dependency

118. What is the difference between Facade and Gateway patterns?

     • Type: Conceptual

     • Expected Answer: Facade simplifies subsystems, while Gateway encapsulates external system access.

119. How do you implement the Null Object pattern?

     • Type: Coding Challenge

     • Expected Answer:

       class NullObject:
           def operation(self):
               pass

120. What is the role of the Chain of Responsibility pattern in distributed systems?

     • Type: Conceptual

     • Expected Answer: Distributes tasks across services for fault tolerance.

SDLC (Expert, Continued)

121. How do you implement a zero-downtime deployment in SDLC?

     • Type: Scenario-Based

     • Expected Answer: Use blue-green deployment or canary releases.

     • Example:

       apiVersion: apps/v1
       kind: Deployment
       metadata:
         name: my-app

122. What is the role of a value stream map in Lean SDLC?

     • Type: Conceptual

     • Expected Answer: Identifies bottlenecks and optimizes flow.

123. How do you handle technical debt in a scaled Agile framework?

     • Type: Scenario-Based

     • Expected Answer: Prioritize debt in PI planning and allocate capacity.

124. What is the role of DORA metrics in SDLC?

     • Type: Conceptual

     • Expected Answer: Measures deployment frequency, lead time, and failure rate.

125. How do you implement chaos engineering in SDLC?

     • Type: Practical

     • Expected Answer: Introduce controlled failures to test resilience.

     • Example:

       chaosmonkey --kill-random-pod

126. What is the difference between SAFe and LeSS?

     • Type: Conceptual

     • Expected Answer: SAFe is prescriptive, while LeSS is simpler for large-scale Agile.

127. How do you manage technical risks in SDLC?

     • Type: Scenario-Based

     • Expected Answer: Use risk matrices and mitigation plans.

128. What is the role of a PI planning event in SAFe?

     • Type: Conceptual

     • Expected Answer: Aligns teams on objectives for the next increment.

129. How do you implement A/B testing in SDLC?

     • Type: Practical

     • Expected Answer: Deploy variants and measure user behavior.

     • Example:

       if (ab_test('variant_a')) { showFeatureA(); }

130. What is the difference between DevOps and SRE?

     • Type: Conceptual

     • Expected Answer: DevOps focuses on collaboration, while SRE emphasizes reliability.

131. How do you handle multi-region deployments in SDLC?

     • Type: Scenario-Based

     • Expected Answer: Use geo-replication and latency-based routing.

     • Example: AWS Route 53.

132. What is the role of a spike in Agile?

     • Type: Conceptual

     • Expected Answer: A spike is a time-boxed investigation to reduce uncertainty.

133. How do you implement automated compliance checks in SDLC?

     • Type: Practical

     • Expected Answer: Use tools like Checkmarx for security scans.

     • Example:

       checkmarx scan src/

134. What is the difference between a sprint and a release?

     • Type: Conceptual

     • Expected Answer: A sprint delivers increments, while a release delivers to production.

135. How do you manage stakeholder conflicts in SDLC?

     • Type: Scenario-Based

     • Expected Answer: Facilitate workshops and prioritize based on business value.

136. What is the role of a test pyramid in SDLC?

     • Type: Conceptual

     • Expected Answer: Emphasizes more unit tests and fewer UI tests for efficiency.

137. How do you implement infrastructure as code in SDLC?

     • Type: Practical

     • Expected Answer: Use tools like Terraform for provisioning.

     • Example:

       resource "aws_instance" "app" {
         ami           = "ami-123456"
         instance_type = "t2.micro"
       }

138. What is the difference between Scrum and XP?

     • Type: Conceptual

     • Expected Answer: Scrum focuses on process, while XP emphasizes engineering practices.

139. How do you handle performance bottlenecks in SDLC?

     • Type: Scenario-Based

     • Expected Answer: Profile applications and optimize critical paths.

     • Example: New Relic for profiling.

140. What is the role of a product increment in Agile?

     • Type: Conceptual

     • Expected Answer: A product increment is a usable piece of software delivered per sprint.

141. How do you implement feature-driven development (FDD)?

     • Type: Practical

     • Expected Answer: Focus on feature-based iterations and modeling.

     • Example: Feature list in Jira.

142. What is the difference between a monolithic and modular SDLC?

     • Type: Conceptual

     • Expected Answer: Monolithic SDLC is linear, while modular allows parallel development.

143. How do you handle legacy system integration in SDLC?

     • Type: Scenario-Based

     • Expected Answer: Use APIs and gradual refactoring.

     • Example:

       requests.get('http://legacy-system/api')

144. What is the role of a Kanban WIP limit?

     • Type: Conceptual

     • Expected Answer: WIP limits control work in progress to prevent bottlenecks.

145. How do you implement a blue-green deployment?

     • Type: Practical

     • Expected Answer: Deploy to a parallel environment and switch traffic.

     • Example:

       apiVersion: networking.k8s.io/v1
       kind: Ingress

146. What is the difference between a sprint review and retrospective?

     • Type: Conceptual

     • Expected Answer: Review demos deliverables, while retrospective improves processes.

147. How do you manage technical dependencies in SDLC?

     • Type: Scenario-Based

     • Expected Answer: Use dependency graphs and automated builds.

148. What is the role of a story point in Agile?

     • Type: Conceptual

     • Expected Answer: Story points estimate effort and complexity for tasks.

149. How do you implement observability in SDLC?

     • Type: Practical

     • Expected Answer: Use logging, metrics, and tracing.

     • Example:

       import logging
       logging.info("Application started")

150. What is the difference between a feature and an epic in Agile?

     • Type: Conceptual

     • Expected Answer: A feature is a single functionality, while an epic is a group of related features.

151. How do you handle scalability testing in SDLC?

     • Type: Scenario-Based

     • Expected Answer: Use load testing tools to simulate high traffic.

     • Example:

       locust -f locustfile.py

152. What is the role of a DevSecOps pipeline?

     • Type: Conceptual

     • Expected Answer: Integrates security practices into CI/CD.

153. How do you implement a canary release in SDLC?

     • Type: Practical

     • Expected Answer: Deploy to a small user group before full rollout.

     • Example:

       apiVersion: argoproj.io/v1alpha1
       kind: Rollout

154. What is the difference between a backlog and a roadmap?

     • Type: Conceptual

     • Expected Answer: Backlog lists tasks, while roadmap outlines strategic goals.

155. How do you ensure traceability in SDLC?

     • Type: Scenario-Based

     • Expected Answer: Link requirements to tests and code using tools like Jira.

📘Free Job Preparation Zone 🎯 Visit Free Learning Zone