Beta Testers Needed for our Upcoming InterSystems ObjectScript Specialist Certification Exam

1.1 Uses classes

1. Identifies use cases for persistent and registered object classes
2. Creates and saves a persistent object
3. Deletes objects
4. Interprets storage definitions
5. Implements multiple inheritance
6. Documents classes

1.2 Creates properties, indexes, and other class members

1. Sets max length for string properties
2. Uses stream properties for large data sets (over 32k)
3. Creates properties that calculate values dynamically or are auto-updated (e.g., a timestamp for last updated)
4. Creates and validates class member parameters and attributes
5. Selects appropriate index type based on data distribution
6. Uses unique index methods
7. Recalls how foreign keys enforce referential integrity

1.3 Creates ObjectScript methods

1. Differentiates between instance and class methods
2. Uses class parameters inside methods
3. Specifies method arguments and return type
4. Passes objects to methods
5. Passes variables by reference
6. Passes multidimensional variables by reference
7. Uses and overrides inherited methods
8. Determines when to use ##super for calling superclass methods

1.4 Uses complex structures 

1. Creates dynamic objects/arrays (JSON) 
2. Uses stream objects of the appropriate type

2.1 Ensures data integrity

1. Manages transactions
2. Manages rollbacks
3. Describes how LOCKs enforce concurrency
4. Describes lock escalation threshold and effect on row locks versus table locks
5. Differentiates between pessimistic and optimistic concurrency controls
6. Uses transactions and applies concurrency controls in SQL scripts

2.2 Tracks application data

1. Locates and accesses application globals
2. Uses logging to track application data
3. Adds and tracks metrics for performance monitoring

2.3 Implements security features when writing code

1. Ensures appropriate variable and global use to avoid security leaks
2. Checks roles for permission control
3. Prevents SQL injection attacks
4. Implements embedded SQL permission checks

3.1 Differentiates between different storage media in InterSystems IRIS

1. Differentiates between PPGs, variables, temporary globals, and globals

3.2 Leverages InterSystems ObjectScript and SQL features

1. Identifies ObjectScript as a weakly typed language and contrasts its usage with strongly typed languages
2. Uses system macros and include files
3. Describes how object structures are projected to SQL tables
4. Differentiates between Embedded and Dynamic SQL
5. Differentiates between runtime and select modes, and enforces the correct mode
6. Uses SQL variables such as ROWID and SQLCODE

3.3 Handles nulls

1. Manages $C(0) in SQL and ObjectScript

3.4 Handles schema evolution

1. Adds indexes to existing properties
2. Describes the impact of changing the name and datatype of a property with existing data
3. Describes consequences of purging cached queries after schema changes

3.5 Ensures scalability and performance

1. Uses TUNE TABLE to optimize performance
2. Interprets basic query plans
3. Tests code correctness and performance in non-functional tests

4.1 Traverses and sorts arrays

1. Describes how subscripts are sorted within an array
2. Traverses subset of a subscript using $ORDER
3. Traverse multi-level variables using $ORDER
4. Checks the existence of array nodes with $DATA

4.2 Manipulates and processes lists

1. Uses $LIST to insert/update/delete elements in a list
2. Retrieves and iterates through elements in a list using $LISTGET and $LISTNEXT
3. Converts between lists and strings

4.3 Manipulates strings

1. Uses $PIECE to extract and manipulate delimited strings
2. Uses $EXTRACT to retrieve substrings
3. Uses $REPLACE, $TRANSLATE, and $ZSTRIP to manipulate strings
4. Interpolates strings
5. Uses regular expressions to search and replace patterns in strings
6. Uses $ZCONVERT to escape and encode strings
7. Recalls how to escape special characters within strings

4.4 Performs mathematical, logical, date, and time operations

1. Uses mathematical operators 
2. Uses logical operators
3. Formats dates and times (e.g., uses $ZDATE, $ZTIME, and $HOROLOG)
4. Performs arithmetic operations on date/time values

4.5 Uses decision and control structures

1. Uses post-conditionals to control which commands are executed
2. Distinguishes between the quit and return commands
3. Identifies how expressions are evaluated in Boolean contexts

4.6 Executes and queries methods and objects

1. Executes methods with $METHOD and $CLASSMETHOD
2. Uses %IsA and %ClassName to obtain information about existing objects
3. Uses %Dictionary to inspect class definitions

4.7 Uses APIs for common operations

1. Reads and writes files with %Stream package
2. Uses %Net to make HTTP requests, transfer files securely, and send emails

5.1 Uses InterSystems IRIS supported troubleshooting tools

1. Uses tools provided in InterSystems IRIS for monitoring code performance
2. Interprets class compilation errors 

5.2 Handles and logs runtime errors

1. Uses TRY-CATCH to handle runtime errors
2. Throws and handles exceptions in ObjectScript
3. Reviews application error log for runtime failures
4. Uses $STACK to analyze and trace runtime errors
5. Converts error status codes to readable messages
6. Differentiates between statuses and exceptions when troubleshooting

5.3 Diagnoses and debugs common runtime errors

1. Diagnoses and debugs <SUBSCRIPT> errors
2. Diagnoses and debugs <PROTECT> errors
3. Diagnoses and debugs <FRAMESTACK> errors 
4. Diagnoses and debugs <UNDEFINED> errors