x += x++ * x++ * x++;

Now that's a little annoying. You'd shoot a developer who worked that into a program, but it's they type of thing you'd see on a certification exam. Maybe it's a little too difficult for the OCAJP, the Associate exam from Oracle, but it's probably pretty good fodder for the new OCPJP exam for Java 7.

Do you know the answer? Is it easy as PI, or does it push the boundaries a little bit. It should give you something to think about. If it doesn't, you're a better man than most.

Mock Exam Question for the Oracle Certified Professional Java SE Programmer Exam

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Learning Resources for the Java and Java 7 Certification

OCP Java SE 6 Programmer Practice Exams (Exam 310-065) (Certification Press)
OCP Java SE 7 Programmer Study Guide (Certification Press)
SCJP Sun Certified Programmer for Java 6 Exam 310-065
A Programmer's Guide to Java SCJP Certification: A Comprehensive Primer (3rd Edition)
SCJA Sun Certified Java Associate Study Guide for Test CX-310-019, 2nd Edition

Check out these other tutorials from TheServerSide's Sal Pece and Cameron McKenzie covering the new Java 7 features:

New Java 7 Features: Binary Notation and Literal Variable Initialization
New Java 7 Features: Numeric Underscores with Literals Tutorial
New Java 7 Features: Using String in the Switch Statement Tutorial
New Java 7 Features: The Try-with-resources Language Enhancement Tutorial 
New Java 7 Features: Automatic Resource Management (ARM) and the AutoCloseable Interfact Tutorial
New Java 7 Features: Suppressed Exceptions and Try-with-resources Tutorial
Java 7 Mock Certification Exam: A Tricky OCPJP Question about ARM and Try-with-Resources
OCAJP Exam to Debuts in March 2010. OCPJP Released in June?
OCPJP & OCAJP Java 7 Exams: Oracle Drops the Training Requirement
OCAJP and OCPJP Changes for Java 7:  New Objectives, a Format Change and a Price Hike

Is this THE way how real Java programmers should be selected? Using riddles?

Apparently Java 7 doesn't require variables to be declared anymore.

The article referenced defines the variable.

Sadly, it seems many companies think that "stump the developer" and riddles are the way to filter out talent. Even (and especially?) some big name ones (aka 800 lb gorillas).

x+=x++ * x++ * x++

//this problem resolves to x+(x+2 * x+1* x)

This is operator precedence problem

My boss would fire me if i could answer this question.

I get paid for designing and writing Java Applications. Not for reading Brainfuck code.

Wow that is mind boggling, Java has never been my first choice though.

Lee

Lake Erie Fishing Charters

It is entirely possible that one might have to maintain such a cryptic code base. However, one might have to do several other things as well while maintaining a code base. Does that mean they should all be on the test?

I feel that in the limited time and number of questions that a candidate has to be tested within, it believe it is better to focus on basic programming and language skills than on deciphering cryptic code.

-Paul
Enthuware Support

This really turned me upside down. I was confused as what this stuff all about. Whew!

FXDD