Why Learn Elixir
This Programming Language is Useful for Many Modern Programming Challenges
Immutable
Variables are immutable in Elixir. Like other functional languages, I have written about a functional language that has at its base immutable data types. This means when the data is passed through the app. This is a very basic understanding of dynamic and static typing. Basically, the benefit is that immutable variables make it easier to hunt down bugs in your code.
Works with IoT
The Nerves framework allows Elixir to be utilized in embedded IoT firmware. Elixir is a higher-level language that allows you to develop high-quality code faster.
Fullstack Development, faster than Ruby
With Elixir, developers can create full-stack web applications. Elixir is able to handle everything from the backend database to the front-end framework. There is an entire article on this by Elvio Vicosa here. So I won’t cover that again.
Parallelism vs. Concurrency
Because a single task requires a lot of computational resources, parallel systems can have latency and responsiveness concerns. The process scheduler in Elixir, on the other hand, will shift control to a separate process ahead of time. Even when your application is heavily loaded, a single slow process will not cause the entire system to fail.
As a result, Elixir assures your application’s minimal latency. This is critical for modern online apps that must deliver a consistent experience to all users.
When a service starts to scale, single-threaded code built-in languages like Java that aren’t designed to handle high loads will need to be changed. You’ll need to make a few tweaks here and there in Elixir, but they’ll be minor compared to other programming languages.
The Phoenix framework is a web framework created in Elixir for Elixir developers. Each request is given its own Phoenix process, which is highly quick and has a small memory footprint. This allows you to swiftly build thousands of processes without worrying about their performance impact.
Fault-Tolerant
For example, unlike many other programming languages, Elixir is highly fault-tolerant: if your software is written in Elixir, a single bug will not cause the entire system to fail. Using other programming languages, however, a single flaw can cause the entire system to crash. Elixir prevents network, bug, and other hosting concerns from disrupting software operations because it uses several concurrent nodes.
Elixir can meet modern demands
We all heard of the digital transformation, right? As populations grow, and more services move online there is increased pressure on systems to be able to handle huge spikes with billions of concurrent users.
Elixir runs on the BEAM VM. A system built for concurrency. As a result, it can handle these user spikes with ease. For those interested in concurrency and how it works, we have a blog comparing the JVM and BEAM VM, which explains it well.
Pinterest and Bleacher Report are just two of the widely popular and big companies that moved to Elixir to help solve issues of scalability. In the case of Bleacher Report, one of our clients, they were able to move from 150 servers, down to 5 servers. Not only did they reduce their physical infrastructure requirements they were also able to handle more traffic at faster times. A language that can be relied upon for scalable, fault-tolerant will always be sought out by high-profile companies.
Learning Elixir can make you a better programmer
There are stories, from people who come from object-oriented languages, who found that the process of learning Elixir made them a better programmers in their language of choice. Learning a new purely functional programming paradigm forces you to examine the way you approach programming. Doing so can help you identify habits that can be improved and introduce you to new ways of thinking about problems. This fresh perspective is invaluable for all future development you do, regardless of what language you are working with. This is particularly true for our friends using Ruby, as the Elixir syntax will be familiar to you, allowing you an easy transition into functional, concurrent programming.
Learning a new entirely functional programming paradigm has a significant impact on your programming approach. While doing so can assist you in improving your problem-solving talents and thinking skills. This fresh perspective is highly valuable for all of your future projects, regardless of which programming language you use.
Everyone will have different motivations and considerations for what programming language to choose. But these are the reasons I would recommend you learn Elixir in 2020, for the years ahead.
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