QFM038: Elixir Reading List October 2024
Everything that I found interesting last month about the Elixir ecosystem.
Tags: qfm, elixir, reading, list, october, 2024
Source: Photo by Etienne Girardet on Unsplash
In October’s Elixir Reading List, the focus is on Elixir’s capacity to tackle the full modern stack from complex back-end systems through to modern mobile native app development. We open with DockYard’s release of LiveView Native, an approach to building fully native interfaces that simplifies state management and delivers a high-performance native UI/UX experience. This full-stack capability is demonstrated further in Simplifying Apple Wallet Pass Generation with Elixir, where Stephen Njau introduces a tool for creating Apple Wallet passes that streamlines the process with robust validation features.
On the back-end, Elixir’s strengths in distributed systems are explored through the Distributed PubSub in Elixir, which discusses setting up a distributed PubSub system (using Phoenix PubSub) to handle efficient inter-process communication. Expanding on Elixir’s capabilities for managing data complexity, Putting a full power search engine in Ecto offers insights into using ParadeDB for advanced search functionalities, integrated within the Ecto framework to handle large-scale queries without external dependencies.
For developers managing intricate workflows and transactions, The Saga Pattern in Elixir introduces a method for handling complex multi-step operations, enabling transaction reliability with either full execution or rollback. Meanwhile, Tests as Documentation in Elixir examines the dual role of tests as both validation tools and a source of documentation, advocating for a more descriptive testing approach to improve code comprehension and maintainability.
Finally, in a forward-looking talk, Using LLMs and AI Agents to Supercharge Your Phoenix Apps - Byron Saltysiak | Code BEAM America 2024, Byron Saltysiak presents how AI integration within Phoenix applications can significantly boost functionality and user engagement, underscoring the evolving potential for Elixir in AI tasks.
As always, the Quantum Fax Machine Propellor Hat Key will guide your browsing. Enjoy!
LiveView Native Is Here!: DockYard has announced the release of LiveView Native v0.3, a framework designed to build 100% native UI across multiple devices. Unlike a WebView, LiveView Native delivers first-class native UI experiences without dependence on HTML/CSS, leveraging the native UI frameworks of Apple and Google. Key benefits include simplified state management by using a single LiveView codebase, faster time-to-market, reduced costs, and the capacity for immediate app updates within app store guidelines. LiveView Native supports all Apple devices, including the Apple Vision Pro, by wrapping Apple’s UI frameworks, providing extensive cross-platform capabilities that could surpass frameworks like Flutter and React Native.
#LiveViewNative #TechInnovation #UIFramework #NativeApps #DockYard
Getting Started with Ash Framework in Elixir: This article explores the Ash framework, a declarative, resource-based framework designed to streamline the development of Elixir applications. It highlights Ash’s ability to simplify the setup of complex data-driven applications through a clean codebase with features like pagination and seamless integration with Phoenix. The author provides a detailed guide on installing the Ash framework and explores its core features such as resources, built-in pagination, notifiers, and integration with Phoenix LiveView. Overall, Ash is presented as an excellent tool for developing scalable and maintainable Elixir applications.
#Elixir #Programming #AshFramework #WebDevelopment #LiveView
Simplifying Apple Wallet Pass Generation with Elixir: Stephen Njau shares his journey of developing ex_pass, an Elixir library designed to streamline the process of generating Apple Wallet passes. Faced with the constraints of Apple’s iOS 18 specifications and tight deadlines, the tool addresses the limitations of existing solutions in the Elixir ecosystem, offering enhancements like runtime validation and error handling. By breaking the project into phases, from generation to post-deployment management, ex_pass promises a comprehensive solution for developers, contributing to the Elixir community with robust documentation and testing metrics.
#AppleWallet #Elixir #iOS18 #OpenSource #TechInnovation
Distributed PubSub in Elixir: This article explores the development of a distributed PubSub system using Elixir. Initially, it discusses building a local PubSub where a process can broadcast messages to all local subscribers. The article then explains how to adapt this system for a distributed environment, drawing inspiration from the Phoenix PubSub. It delves into concepts like registries, process groups, clusters, and the use of the ‘pg’ module in Erlang, illustrating how these can be used to manage distributed system communications effectively.
#Elixir #PubSub #Erlang #DistributedSystems #PhoenixFramework
Putting a full power search engine in Ecto: The article discusses the integration of ParadeDB, a powerful set of extensions that enhance Postgres with advanced search and analytics capabilities, into the Ecto query system. It compares existing search solutions like basic string matching, Postgres Full Text Search, and dedicated search engines such as Elasticsearch and Meilisearch, highlighting their strengths and limitations. The author explores the practicality and benefits of using ParadeDB in Ecto, showcasing its efficient handling of search queries, ACID compliance, and seamless integration without the need for synchronization or ETL processes. The post concludes with a look at its current state, next steps for development, and an invitation for community collaboration to further this integration.
#Ecto #ParadeDB #SearchEngine #Postgres #Elixir
The Saga Pattern in Elixir: The article introduces and explains the Saga Pattern in Elixir, addressing challenges in handling multi-step processes in software development. These processes require each step to succeed to ensure overall completion, or roll back completely if any step fails. The Saga Pattern provides a structured blueprint to manage these transactions using a sequence of steps or compensations in both choreography-based and orchestration-based approaches. It also highlights the tools and techniques in Elixir, such as the Ecto.Multi and Sage library, to implement Sagas effectively and efficiently.
#Elixir #SagaPattern #SoftwareArchitecture #Microservices #AtomicTransactions
Tests as Documentation in Elixir: The article explores how tests can function as documentation in the Elixir programming language. Using the ‘mix test’ command by itself may not provide detailed documentation, but adding specific flags such as ‘–trace’ and ‘–seed 0’ can help in visualizing the tests’ descriptions clearly. This approach enhances understanding by showing what the tests are meant to validate, thus serving as effective documentation.
#Elixir #Programming #Testing #Documentation #TechTips
Using LLMs and AI Agents to Supercharge Your Phoenix Apps - Byron Saltysiak | Code BEAM America 2024: Byron Saltysiak’s talk at Code BEAM America 2024 explores how integrating AI and Large Language Models (LLMs) can significantly enhance Phoenix applications. The session emphasizes the transformative potential of AI in improving app functionalities and user experience, making it a crucial resource for developers aiming to harness advanced technology in their applications.
#CodeBEAM #PhoenixFramework #AI #LLM #TechTalks
Regards,
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Originally published on quantumfaxmachine.com and cross-posted on Medium.