What is Elixir? Why do we need it?

Changing your development stack is always a nerve-wracking process especially when it comes to adding a newer language like Elixir.

Elixir is a functional programming language that has gained popularity in recent years for its scalability, reliability, and concurrency support. Developed by José Valim in 2011, Elixir is built on top of the Erlang virtual machine, which has been used for decades in telecom and messaging systems.

One of the key benefits of Elixir is its ability to handle large numbers of concurrent connections with ease. This makes it well-suited for building scalable, high-performance systems such as real-time messaging apps, chatbots, and online games.Elixir is known for its simplicity and expressiveness, with a syntax that is easy to read and write. It has a strong emphasis on functional programming principles, which can help developers write code that is more predictable and easier to debug.

Another advantage of Elixir is its robust ecosystem, which includes a wide range of libraries, frameworks, and tools. For example, the Phoenix framework is a popular choice for building web applications in Elixir, providing a high-level API and a powerful set of tools for web development. Overall, Elixir is a powerful and flexible language that is well-suited for building scalable, reliable systems. If you're looking to get into functional programming or simply want to try something new, Elixir is definitely worth considering

If you're interested in learning Elixir development, there are many resources available to help you get started. There are online tutorials, books, and community groups including a very active slack group where you can find support and advice. Please be aware however if you are interested in Elixir as more than just a hobby and wish to implement it in your business’s tech stack since it’s a newer technology it can be hard to find the right talent. Don’t assume all of your developers will be happy about being asked to learn a new language. It’s best to support your transition with a few stakeholders who are passionate about the language. If you are considering adding Elixir and would like to discuss the challenges of hiring don’t hesitate to reach out I would be happy to chat about hiring harder-to-find developers.