20 Google App Engine Interview Questions and Answers

Google App Engine is a cloud platform for developing and hosting web applications. As a developer, you can use App Engine to build and deploy web applications written in various programming languages. If you’re applying for a position that involves working with Google App Engine, you should expect to be asked questions about your experience and knowledge during the interview process. This article discusses some of the most common questions you may be asked about Google App Engine, as well as how to answer them.

Google App Engine Interview Questions and Answers

Here are 20 commonly asked Google App Engine interview questions and answers to prepare you for your interview:

1. What is Google App Engine?

Google App Engine is a platform as a service (PaaS) that allows developers to build and run web applications on Google’s infrastructure. App Engine provides automatic scaling, load balancing, and a web server environment for your application.

2. What are the main components of Google App Engine?

The main components of Google App Engine are the App Engine SDK, the App Engine API, and the App Engine datastore.

3. What’s the difference between a traditional web app and an application running on GAE?

The biggest difference is that GAE apps are designed to run in a scalable, distributed environment, whereas traditional web apps are typically designed to run on a single server. This means that GAE apps need to be designed to take advantage of features like automatic scaling and load balancing, which can make them more complex to develop.

4. Can you explain what static files are in the context of GAE? How do they differ from dynamic files?

Static files are files that are not processed by the App Engine server. This means that they will be served as-is to the client. This is in contrast to dynamic files, which are processed by the server before being served to the client. Static files are typically used for things like images, CSS, and JavaScript, while dynamic files are used for things like PHP, Ruby, and Python.

5. What do you understand by request handlers?

Request handlers are the components of your App Engine application that process incoming HTTP requests and generate responses. Each request handler is associated with a particular URL path, and your app can have as many request handlers as you need to support the functionality of your app.

6. Can you explain how to create cron jobs with GAE?

You can create cron jobs in Google App Engine by using the Cron service. The Cron service allows you to schedule tasks to be run at specific times or intervals. To create a cron job, you will need to create a file called cron.yaml and specify the schedule and the task to be run.

7. What are some common issues that can occur when using GAE?

There are a few common issues that can occur when using GAE. One is that your app can run out of memory if it is not configured properly. Another is that your app can experience high latency if it is not using the proper caching techniques. Finally, your app can also be subject to down time if it is not using the proper scaling techniques.

8. What is cloud computing?

Cloud computing is a type of computing where resources, such as applications and data, are provided over the internet. Cloud computing is a way to make IT resources, such as servers and storage, available on demand, so that businesses can scale their operations as needed.

9. What do you think about PaaS vs IaaS? Which one is better? Why?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the best solution depends on the specific needs of the project. However, in general, PaaS can be seen as a more complete solution that includes everything you need to get your project up and running quickly, while IaaS provides more flexibility and control over the underlying infrastructure.

10. Is it possible to use custom domain names with applications hosted on GAE? If yes, then how?

Yes, it is possible to use custom domain names with applications hosted on GAE. You will need to set up a CNAME record with your DNS provider that points your custom domain name to the GAE application.

11. How can you enable secure connections (SSL) for your GAE hosted website?

You can enable secure connections for your GAE hosted website by using a custom domain name and configuring SSL for that domain.

12. What are some alternatives to GAE if we want to host our own software?

There are a few different options available if you want to host your own software instead of using Google App Engine. One option is to use a traditional web hosting service, which will give you more control over your server and allow you to customize your setup more. However, this can be more expensive and require more maintenance than using a service like GAE.

Another option is to use a cloud hosting service like Amazon Web Services or Microsoft Azure. These services can be more flexible and offer more features than GAE, but they can also be more expensive.

Finally, you could always host your software on your own server. This requires the most work and expertise, but it also gives you the most control.

13. What are Cloud Endpoints?

Cloud Endpoints are a set of tools and services that allow developers to easily create, deploy, and manage APIs for their web applications. With Cloud Endpoints, developers can take advantage of Google’s infrastructure and services to build APIs that are scalable, reliable, and easy to use.

14. What are some advantages of using GAE over other similar solutions like AWS Lambda or Microsoft Azure Functions?

Google App Engine is a great solution for developers who want to deploy their applications quickly and easily without having to worry about managing infrastructure. GAE also offers a variety of features and services that can be used to build scalable and reliable applications. Additionally, GAE is backed by Google, so developers can be confident that their applications will be well-supported.

15. What does “index” mean in the context of Google App Engine Datastore?

An index is a way of organizing data in a Datastore to make queries more efficient. When you create an index, you specify the kind of data you want to index and the order in which you want to index it.

16. What types of indexes are supported by Google App Engine Datastore?

There are four types of indexes supported by Google App Engine Datastore: single property, composite, multiple property, and extended. Single property indexes are the most basic, and are used to index a single property of an entity. Composite indexes are used to index multiple properties of an entity, and are useful for querying on multiple properties at once. Multiple property indexes are used to index multiple entities with the same property values, and are useful for querying on multiple entities at once. Extended indexes are used to index entities with multiple properties, and are useful for querying on multiple properties at once.

17. How can you delete data from GAE datastore?

You can delete data from GAE datastore by using the delete() method on the entity you want to delete.

18. Are there any limitations to using GAE in comparison to other platforms like AWS or Azure?

Yes, there are some limitations to using GAE. One such limitation is that GAE does not support all programming languages like AWS or Azure. Additionally, GAE is not as scalable as some of the other options out there.

19. What is scalability?

Scalability is the ability of a system to handle increased load by adding additional resources. Google App Engine is designed to be scalable, so that it can handle increased traffic by adding more servers as needed.

20. What is High Replication Datastore?

High Replication Datastore is a storage option for Google App Engine applications that offers increased availability and durability by replicating data across multiple servers. This option is best suited for applications that require high availability or that need to store large amounts of data.