Encoding and Evolution - Questions

Easy Question

1. Which of the following is a common format for encoding data in distributed systems?

A. FTP

B. CSV

C. SSH

D. TLS

Correct Answer: B
Medium Question

2. How does schema evolution typically help in data-intensive applications?

A. It guarantees no data model changes are required

B. It allows backward/forward compatibility as data formats change over time

C. It enforces immediate updates to all clients

D. It removes the need for versioning data at all

Correct Answer: B
Hard Question

3. Which of these is a primary benefit of using binary encoding formats like Protocol Buffers or Avro?

A. They are human-readable without any tooling

B. They produce smaller message sizes and can enforce schemas

C. They cannot be used across different programming languages

D. They remove the need for robust parsing logic

Correct Answer: B
Very Hard Question

4. In a large, evolving system, how might you safely introduce a new field into an existing data schema?

A. Immediately remove the old schema so no one can use it

B. Add the new field in a backward-compatible manner and allow clients to upgrade gradually

C. Convert all old data to the new schema in one massive migration before any new code is deployed

D. Force every service to read both old and new fields forever without versioning

Correct Answer: B