Elixir Wizards is an interview-format podcast, focused on engineers who use the Elixir programming language. Initially launched in early 2019, each season focuses on a specific topic or topics, with each interview focusing on the guest's experience and opinions on the topic. Elixir Wizards is hosted by Eric Oestrich and Sundi Myint of SmartLogic, a dev shop that’s been building custom software since 2005 and running Elixir applications in production since 2015. Learn more about how SmartLogic uses Phoenix and Elixir. (https://smartlogic.io/phoenix-and-elixir?utm_source=podcast)
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"The Past is Your Teacher" with Alicia Brindisi and Bri LaVorgna
It’s the season finale of Elixir Wizards Office Hours! SmartLogic’s Project Manager Alicia Brindisi and VP of Delivery Bri LaVorgna join host Dan to delve into the agile ceremony of retrospectives. They explore the vital role of retrospectives in Agile project management and unveil practical strategies for enhancing their effectiveness. Alicia and Bri break down the elements of a successful retrospective. They cover everything from meticulous preparation to facilitation techniques, and how to choose the best format for fostering open dialogue and actionable results. Learn how to navigate common obstacles and guide discussions toward productive, solution-focused outcomes. Throughout the episode, they emphasize the transformative potential of retrospectives within the Agile framework, portraying them not just as a procedural activity, but as a catalyst for continuous team growth and project success. Key topics discussed in this episode: Mastering the full potential of retrospectives in Agile environments Best practices for effective preparation and facilitation Choosing the right format to suit your team's dynamics Strategies for overcoming typical challenges during retrospectives Techniques for addressing and resolving interpersonal conflicts constructively The critical importance of valuing each team member’s perspective Practical advice on applying insights from retrospectives to enact organizational changes Tailoring and refining retrospectives to meet your team’s unique requirements Links mentioned: SmartLogic https://smartlogic.io/ SmartLogic LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/smartlogic-io Contact Bri Bri@smartlogic.io Retrium Retrospectives for Scrum & Agile Teams https://www.retrium.com/ 4Ls Retrospective Template https://www.retrium.com/retrospective-techniques/4ls Start Stop Continue Retrospective https://www.retrium.com/retrospective-techniques/start-stop-continue Sailboat Retrospective https://www.retrium.com/retrospective-techniques/sailboat Starfish Retrospective https://www.retrium.com/retrospective-techniques/starfish ClickUp Project Management Platform https://clickup.com/teams/project-management Asana Task Manager http://www.asana.com Jira Project Management Tool https://www.atlassian.com/software/jira Special Guests: Alicia Brindisi and Bri LaVorgna.
"So You've Been Hired" with Emma Whamond and Micaela Cunha
In Office Hours Episode 10, SmartLogic’s newest developers, Emma Whamond and Micaela Cunha, join Elixir Wizard Owen Bickford to discuss their onboarding experiences, joining a new engineering team, and navigating an unfamiliar codebase. They share tips and challenges on learning new programming languages like Ruby and Elixir while ramping up for active client projects. Emma and Micaela emphasize the value of starting with tests and seeking guidance from teammates when diving into unfamiliar projects. Our guests provide valuable guidance for anyone navigating the transition into a new software development team, highlighting the importance of collaboration, continuous learning, and community support in the tech industry. Key topics discussed in this episode: What to expect when joining a new engineering team Navigating existing codebases as a new hire in Elixir and Ruby Applying previous work experience to software development The importance of tests and team communication in unfamiliar projects Learning Ruby as a C++ and JavaScript developer Differences between dynamic and static typing Building team camaraderie and intentionality in remote work environments The steep learning curve of the onboarding process, including documentation, codebases, and client meetings Relying on teammates for guidance and overcoming the fear of asking too many questions Updating documentation within project repositories Learning team dynamics and identifying domain experts for targeted assistance Domain-specific knowledge: being a senior developer in one language vs. another Building friendships and connections within local tech communities The welcoming and supportive nature of the tech industry for newcomers Links mentioned: Elixir Programming Language https://elixir-lang.org/ Ruby on Rails https://www.ruby-lang.org/en/ Ruby Koans - Learn Ruby language, syntax, structure https://www.rubykoans.com/ Elixir Language Learning Exercises (Elixir Koans) https://github.com/elixirkoans/elixir-koans The PETAL Stack in Elixir https://thinkingelixir.com/petal-stack-in-elixir/ Alpine JS Lightweight JavaScript Framework https://alpinejs.dev/ Phoenix LiveView https://hexdocs.pm/phoenixliveview/Phoenix.LiveView.html WebAuthn Components passwordless authentication to LiveView applications https://github.com/liveshowy/webauthn_components Gleam functional language for building type-safe, scalable systems https://gleam.run/ The Future of Types in Elixir with José Valim, Guillaume Duboc, and Giuseppe Castagna https://smartlogic.io/podcast/elixir-wizards/s10-e12-jose-guillaume-giuseppe-types-elixir/ Git-Blame https://git-scm.com/docs/git-blame nix store https://nixos.org/manual/nix/stable/command-ref/nix-store Code and Coffee https://codeandcoffee.org/ Special Guests: Emma Whamond and Micaela Cunha.
"From Inspiration to Execution" with Camber Griffin
In Episode 9 of Elixir Wizards Office Hours, we dive into task writing and backlog grooming, transforming ideas from the discovery phase into actionable tickets. Join SmartLogic Developer Camber Griffin and hosts Dan Ivovich and Owen Bickford as they explore the intricacies of task writing, ticket grooming, estimation, and backlog management in the software development lifecycle. They emphasize crafting clear, detailed tickets that act as comprehensive guides for development teams. A well-written ticket does more than outline what needs to be built—it facilitates collaboration by including entry points, linking to essential documentation, defining acceptance criteria, detailing QA steps, and identifying potential risks and future hurdles. Key topics discussed in this episode: Crafting actionable development tickets from inspiration Achieving the optimal level of detail in tickets Tailoring ticket content for developers, QA, and stakeholders Standardizing ticket format with templates Structurally breaking down tasks into manageable sections Ensuring flexibility in implementation while maintaining clear specifications Proactively discussing architectural and design approaches Incorporating related documentation within tickets Clarifying acceptance criteria and QA procedures Accurately estimating task effort and complexity Collaboratively grooming tasks with cross-functional teams Adjusting tickets to evolving requirements Strategically planning for uncertainties and out-of-scope concerns Managing and versioning ongoing documentation Keeping the backlog clean, prioritized, and relevant Mapping dependencies among interconnected tasks Links mentioned: Jira Work Management https://www.atlassian.com/software/jira ClickUp Project Management Platform https://clickup.com/teams/project-management GitHub Projects https://docs.github.com/en/issues/planning-and-tracking-with-projects Zube Agile Project Management https://zube.io/ Pivotal Tracker Agile Project Management Tool https://www.pivotaltracker.com/ Trak Portfolio Management System https://pd-trak.com/ ClearCase Software Configuration Mgmt www.ibm.com/products/devops-code-clearcase Oban Job Processing in Elixir https://github.com/sorentwo/oban Special Guest: Camber Griffin.
"DevOps: From Code to Cloud" with Dan Ivovich
In Elixir Wizards Office Hours Episode 8, hosts Sundi Myint and Owen Bickford lead an engaging Q&A session with co-host Dan Ivovich, diving deep into the nuances of DevOps. Drawing from his extensive experience, Dan navigates topics from the early days before Docker to managing diverse polyglot environments and optimizing observability. This episode offers insights for developers of all levels looking to sharpen their DevOps skills. Explore the realms of Docker, containerization, DevOps workflows, and the deployment intricacies of Elixir applications. Key topics discussed in this episode: Understanding DevOps and starting points for beginners Best practices for deploying applications to the cloud Using Docker for containerization Managing multiple programming environments with microservices Strategies for geographic distribution and ensuring redundancy Localization considerations involving latency and device specs Using Prometheus and OpenTelemetry for observability Adjusting scaling based on application metrics Approaching failure scenarios, including database migrations and managing dependencies Tackling challenges in monitoring setups and alert configurations Implementing incremental, zero-downtime deployment strategies The intricacies of hot code upgrades and effective state management Recommended learning paths, including Linux and CI/CD workflows Tools for visualizing system health and monitoring Identifying actionable metrics and setting effective alerts Links mentioned: Ansible open source IT automation engine https://www.ansible.com/ Wikimedia engine https://doc.wikimedia.org/ Drupal content management software https://www.drupal.org/ Capistrano remote server automation and deployment https://capistranorb.com/ Docker https://www.docker.com/ Circle CI CI/CD Tool https://circleci.com/ DNS Cluster https://hex.pm/packages/dnscluster ElixirConf 2023 Chris McCord Phoenix Field Notes https://youtu.be/Ckgl9KO4E4M Nerves https://nerves-project.org/ Oban job processing in Elixir https://getoban.pro/ Sidekiq background jobs for Ruby https://sidekiq.org/ Prometheus https://prometheus.io/ PromEx https://hexdocs.pm/promex/PromEx.html GitHub Actions - Setup BEAM: https://github.com/erlef/setup-beam Jenkins open source automation server https://www.jenkins.io/ DataDog Cloud Monitoring https://www.datadoghq.com/
"Printing is Ugly" with Joel Meador and Charles Suggs
In Episode 7 of Elixir Wizards Office Hours, SmartLogic Engineers Joel Meador and Charles Suggs join host Owen Bickford to tackle the often tricky task of adding print functionality to web applications. They discuss their recent experiences with browser-based printing and the hurdles of cross-browser compatibility, consistent styling, and dynamic content generation, such as headers and footers. The trio delves into the limitations of current printing capabilities in browsers, the potential of server-side PDF generation, and the necessity of juggling separate templates for web and print. They also consider accessibility for printed content and the demands of delivering high-fidelity, pixel-perfect prints. Throughout the episode, Joel, Charles, and Owen offer up practical advice for developers grappling with similar issues, emphasizing the need for thorough research, proactive problem-solving, and the exploration of both in-browser and external PDF generation solutions. Key topics discussed in this episode: Real-world experiences with software project printing Navigating the limitations of browser-based printing Ensuring cross-browser compatibility and consistent layout Generating dynamic content for print versions Exploring server-side PDF generation and its advantages Balancing design consistency across web and print formats Addressing accessibility in printed outputs Overcoming the unique challenges of high-accuracy printing requirements Practical tips for researching and implementing printing solutions Handling complex data presentations like tables in print Evaluating the pros and cons of different printing APIs Understanding the distinction between web viewing and printing needs Innovating with mixed content in PDF generation Learning from past printing challenges and planning for future improvements Links mentioned: CSS3 https://css3.com/ WeasyPrint https://github.com/Kozea/WeasyPrint WebKit https://webkit.org/ Pdf.js https://github.com/mozilla/pdf.js YesLogic Prince 15 https://www.princexml.com/ PrintXML https://gist.github.com/craiga/2934093 PDF/A https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PDF/A The PDF/A Family of Archiving Standards https://www.pdflib.com/pdf-knowledge-base/pdfa/the-pdfa-standards/ PDF/X https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PDF/X Microsoft Encarta https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Encarta Special Guests: Charles Suggs and Joel Meador.
"Keeping it Fresh" with Bilal Hankins and Anna Dorigo
In Office Hours Episode 6, SmartLogic Developers Anna Dorigo and Bilal Hankins join Elixir Wizards Sundi and Dan to discuss their experiences maintaining a decade-old Ruby on Rails codebase. They delve into the critical importance of deeply understanding the codebase, keeping dependencies current, and adapting to the original application's evolving priorities and design choices. The conversation spans a range of topics, including accessibility, testing, monitoring, and the challenges of deploying database migrations in production environments. The guests share effective strategies for sustaining and enhancing older codebases, such as employing automated tools, performing code audits, and adhering to clean coding principles. Key topics discussed in this episode: Grasping the legacy codebase and its historical context Overcoming accessibility issues in older applications Safe dependency management and upgrades The effects of application scaling on database performance The critical role of comprehensive test suites in legacy systems Using tools like Sentry for error tracking and performance monitoring The benefits of automated security and dependency scans Juggling client needs with budget constraints Local simulation techniques for large datasets The value of iterative code reviews and maintaining clean code Utilizing git history for contextual understanding Onboarding strategies for legacy projects Removing obsolete code and avoiding "magic numbers" Importance of descriptive naming for better code clarity Leveraging a rich repository of example code for learning and reference Proactive code audits to anticipate issues Managing pull request sizes for smoother reviews Communicating effectively about upgrades and potential impacts Strategies for handling large databases efficiently Ensuring thorough test coverage Keeping open lines of communication with clients regarding ongoing maintenance Links mentioned: COBOL programming language https://developer.ibm.com/languages/cobol/ Ruby on Rails https://rubyonrails.org/ ARIA Rules (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) https://www.w3.org/TR/using-aria/ Shawn Vo on Elixir as a Competitive Advantage https://smartlogic.io/podcast/elixir-wizards/s5e5-vo/ Bundler Audit Ruby Gem https://rubygems.org/gems/bundler-audit/ Sentry application monitoring and error tracking software https://sentry.io/ Dependabot Github automated dependency updates Mix hex.audit https://hexdocs.pm/hex/Mx.Tasks.Hex.Audit.html Git Blame https://git-scm.com/docs/git-blame Cow hoof trimming videos - The Hoof GP on YouTube (TW graphic imagery) Special Guests: Anna Dorigo and Bilal Hankins.
"Saga of a Gnarly Report" with Owen and Dan
In today's episode, Elixir Wizards Owen and Dan delve into the complexities of building advanced reporting features within software applications. They share personal insights and challenges encountered while developing reporting solutions for user-generated data, leveraging both Elixir/Phoenix and Ruby on Rails. The discussion zeroes in on crucial data modeling and architectural decisions that enhance reporting efficiency and flexibility. Owen and Dan explore tactics like materialized views, event sourcing, and database triggers to optimize data handling while being mindful of UX elements like progress indicators and background job management. They share insights on leveraging the Elixir/Beam ecosystem’s strengths—like concurrency and streamlined deployment—to tackle common reporting, caching, and integration challenges. The episode highlights the impact of reporting features across all aspects of a software application’s design and architecture. Key topics discussed in this episode: Reporting on assessment data, survey results, and user metrics Differences between reporting and performance/error monitoring Implementing reporting in Elixir/Phoenix vs. Ruby on Rails Displaying reports in web, printable, PDF, SVG, and CSV formats Challenges of generating PDFs for large data sets Streaming CSV data directly to the client Handling long-running report generation tasks Providing progress indicators and user notifications Strategies for canceling or abandoning incomplete reports Tradeoffs of pre-calculating report data vs. real-time generation Materializing views and denormalizing data for reporting Exploring event sourcing patterns for reporting needs Using database triggers and stored procedures for reporting Balancing data structure optimization for reports vs. day-to-day usage Caching report data for faster retrieval and rendering Charting and visualization integration in reporting systems Links mentioned: Prometheus monitoring system & time series database https://prometheus.io/ Thinking Elixir "FLAME with Chris McCord" https://podcast.thinkingelixir.com/181 Phoenix LiveView Uploads https://hexdocs.pm/phoenix/fileuploads.html https://hexdocs.pm/phoenixlive_view/Phoenix.LiveView.UploadWriter.html Postgrex PostgreSQL driver for Elixir https://hexdocs.pm/postgrex/Postgrex.html Ecto https://hexdocs.pm/ecto/Ecto.html Heroku cloud application platform https://www.heroku.com/ Elixir Wizards S9E12 Marcelo Dominguez on Command and Query Responsibility Segregation https://smartlogic.io/podcast/elixir-wizards/s9-e12-marcelo-dominguez-cqrs/ Commanded Elixir CQRS/ES applications https://github.com/commanded/commanded Tailwind CSS Framework https://github.com/tailwindlabs Memcached https://memcached.org/ Redis https://redis.io/ Oban https://hexdocs.pm/oban/Oban.html ETS https://hexdocs.pm/ets/ETS.html Capistrano remote server automation and deployment tool https://capistranorb.com/
"Whose Tailwind is it Anyway?" with Ava Slivkoff
In Elixir Wizards Office Hours Episode 4, SmartLogic Product Designer Ava Slivkoff joins hosts Sundi Myint and Owen Bickford to discuss the product designer's role in software development. Ava shares her experience navigating client expectations, software design principles, and technical constraints. They explore the integration of design and development workflows and how designers and engineers can collaborate to meet a project's specific needs. The conversation emphasizes the value of cross-functional teams and the synergy that can arise when all team members work in harmony to bring a product to life. Key concepts discussed in the episode: The broad scope of the designer role in web app development The value of an MVP in the iterative software design process Challenges of aligning client expectations with design best practices Pros and cons of leveraging pre-built Tailwind CSS styled components Trends and evolution in web design aesthetics and patterns Leveraging open-source design systems like Tailwind UI Balancing technical constraints with design aspirations Communication and trust-building between designers and engineers Workflows for design handoffs and feedback loops Importance of user flows and mapping the product experience Challenges around the implementation of complex UI elements Benefits of regular design review meetings and syncs Fostering empathy and collaboration across disciplines Links mentioned Figma Dev Mode https://www.figma.com/dev-mode/ Tailwind CSS utility-first CSS framework https://tailwindcss.com/ Tailwind UI https://tailwindui.com/ https://devinai.ai/ Special Guest: Ava Slivkoff.
"You've Got a Job to Do" with Joel Meador
Today on Elixir Wizards Office Hours, SmartLogic Engineer Joel Meador joins Dan Ivovich to discuss all things background jobs. The behind-the-scenes heroes of app performance and scalability, background jobs take center stage as we dissect their role in optimizing user experience and managing heavy-lifting tasks away from the main application flow. From syncing with external systems to processing large datasets, background jobs are pivotal to successful application management. Dan and Joel share their perspectives on monitoring, debugging, and securing background jobs, emphasizing the need for a strategic approach to these hidden workflows. Key topics discussed in this episode: The vital role of background jobs in app performance Optimizing user experience through background processing Common pitfalls: resource starvation and latency issues Strategies for effective monitoring and debugging of task runners and job schedulers Data integrity and system security in open source software Background job tools like Oban, Sidekiq, Resque, Cron jobs, Redis pub sub CPU utilization and processing speed Best practices for implementing background jobs Keeping jobs small, focused, and well-monitored Navigating job uniqueness, locking, and deployment orchestration Leveraging asynctask for asynchronous operations The art of continuous improvement in background job management Links mentioned in this episode: https://redis.io/ Oban job processing library https://hexdocs.pm/oban/Oban.html Resque Ruby library for background jobs https://github.com/resque Sidekiq background processing for Ruby https://github.com/sidekiq Delayed Job priority queue system https://github.com/collectiveidea/delayed_job RabbitMQ messaging and streaming broker https://www.rabbitmq.com/ Mnesia distributed telecommunications DBMS https://www.erlang.org/doc/man/mnesia.html Task for Elixir https://hexdocs.pm/elixir/1.12/Task.html ETS in-memory store for Elixir and Erlang objects https://hexdocs.pm/ets/ETS.html Cron - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cron Donate to Miami Indians of Indiana https://www.miamiindians.org/take-action Joel Meador on Tumblr https://joelmeador.tumblr.com/ Special Guest: Joel Meador.
"Discovery Discoveries" with Alicia Brindisi and Bri LaVorgna
In Elixir Wizards Office Hours Episode 2, "Discovery Discoveries," SmartLogic's Project Manager Alicia Brindisi and VP of Delivery Bri LaVorgna join Elixir Wizards Sundi Myint and Owen Bickford on an exploratory journey through the discovery phase of the software development lifecycle. This episode highlights how collaboration and communication transform the client-project team dynamic into a customized expedition. The goal of discovery is to reveal clear business goals, understand the end user, pinpoint key project objectives, and meticulously document the path forward in a Product Requirements Document (PRD). The discussion emphasizes the importance of fostering transparency, trust, and open communication. Through a mutual exchange of ideas, we are able to create the most tailored, efficient solutions that meet the client's current goals and their vision for the future. Key topics discussed in this episode: Mastering the art of tailored, collaborative discovery Navigating business landscapes and user experiences with empathy Sculpting project objectives and architectural blueprints Continuously capturing discoveries and refining documentation Striking the perfect balance between flexibility and structured processes Steering clear of scope creep while managing expectations Tapping into collective wisdom for ongoing discovery Building and sustaining a foundation of trust and transparency Links mentioned in this episode: https://smartlogic.io/ Follow SmartLogic on social media: https://twitter.com/smartlogic Contact Bri: bri@smartlogic.io What is a PRD? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Productrequirementsdocument Special Guests: Alicia Brindisi and Bri LaVorgna.
"Testing 1, 2, 3" with Joel Meador and Charles Suggs
The Elixir Wizards Podcast is back with Season 12 Office Hours, where we talk with the internal SmartLogic team about the stages of the software development lifecycle. For the season premiere, "Testing 1, 2, 3," Joel Meador and Charles Suggs join us to discuss the nuances of software testing. In this episode, we discuss everything from testing philosophies to test driven development (TDD), integration, and end-user testing. Our guests share real-world experiences that highlight the benefits of thorough testing, challenges like test maintenance, and problem-solving for complex production environments. Key topics discussed in this episode: How to find a balance that's cost-effective and practical while testing Balancing test coverage and development speed The importance of clear test plans and goals So many tests: Unit testing, integration testing, acceptance testing, penetration testing, automated vs. manual testing Agile vs. Waterfall methodologies Writing readable and maintainable tests Testing edge cases and unexpected scenarios Testing as a form of documentation and communication Advice for developers looking to improve testing practices Continuous integration and deployment Links mentioned: https://smartlogic.io/ Watch this episode on YouTube! youtu.be/unx5AIvSdc Bob Martin “Clean Code” videos - “Uncle Bob”: http://cleancoder.com/ JUnit 5 Testing for Java and the JVM https://junit.org/junit5/ ExUnit Testing for Elixir https://hexdocs.pm/exunit/ExUnit.html Code-Level Testing of Smalltalk Applications https://www.cs.ubc.ca/~murphy/stworkshop/28-7.html Agile Manifesto https://agilemanifesto.org/ Old Man Yells at Cloud https://i.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/original/000/019/304/old.jpg TDD: Test Driven Development https://www.agilealliance.org/glossary/tdd/ Perl Programming Language https://www.perl.org/ Protractor Test Framework for Angular and AngularJS protractortest.org/#/ Waterfall Project Management https://business.adobe.com/blog/basics/waterfall CodeSync Leveling up at Bleacher Report A cautionary tale - PETER HASTIE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4SzZCwB8B4 Mix ecto.dump https://hexdocs.pm/ectosql/Mix.Tasks.Ecto.Dump.html Apache JMeter Load Testing in Java https://jmeter.apache.org/ Pentest Tools Collection - Penetration Testing https://github.com/arch3rPro/PentestTools The Road to 2 Million Websocket Connections in Phoenix https://www.phoenixframework.org/blog/the-road-to-2-million-websocket-connections Donate to Miami Indians of Indiana https://www.miamiindians.org/take-action Joel Meador on Tumblr https://joelmeador.tumblr.com/ Special Guests: Charles Suggs and Joel Meador.
Creating a Language: Elixir vs. Roc with José Valim and Richard Feldman (Elixir Wizards X Software Unscripted Podcast)
For the final episode of Elixir Wizards’ Season 11 “Branching Out from Elixir,” we’re featuring a recent discussion from the Software Unscripted podcast. In this conversation, José Valim, creator of Elixir, interviews Richard Feldman, creator of Roc. They compare notes on the process and considerations for creating a language. This episode covers the origins of creating a language, its influences, and how goals shape the tradeoffs in programming language design. José and Richard share anecdotes from their experiences guiding the evolution of Elixir and Roc. The discussion provides an insightful look at the experimentation and learning involved in crafting new languages. Topics discussed in this episode What inspires the creation of a new programming language Goals and use cases for a programming language Influences from Elm, Rust, Haskell, Go, OCaml, and more Tradeoffs involved in expressiveness of type systems Opportunistic mutation for performance gains in a functional language Minimum version selection for dependency resolution Build time considerations with type checking and monomorphization Design experiments and rolling back features that don’t work out History from the first simple interpreter to today's real programming language Design considerations around package management and versioning Participation in Advent of Code to gain new users and feedback Providing performance optimization tools to users in the future Tradeoffs involved in picking integer types and arithmetic Comparing floats and equality checks on dictionaries Using abilities to customize equality for custom types Ensuring availability of multiple package versions for incremental upgrades Treating major version bumps as separate artifacts Roc's focus on single-threaded performance Links mentioned in this episode Software Unscripted Podcast https://feeds.resonaterecordings.com/software-unscripted Roc Programming Language https://www.roc-lang.org/ Roc Lang on Github https://github.com/roc-lang/roc Elm Programming Language https://elm-lang.org/ Elm in Action by Richard Feldman https://www.manning.com/books/elm-in-action Richard Feldman on Github https://github.com/rtfeldman Lua Programming Language https://www.lua.org/ Vimscript Guide https://google.github.io/styleguide/vimscriptfull.xml OCaml Programming Language https://ocaml.org/ Advent of Code https://adventofcode.com/ Roc Language on Twitter https://twitter.com/roclang Richard Feldman on Twitter https://twitter.com/rtfeldman Roc Zulip Chat https://roc.zulipchat.com Clojure Programming Language https://clojure.org/ Talk: Persistent Data Structures and Managed References by Rich Hickey https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toD45DtVCFM Koka Programming Language https://koka-lang.github.io/koka/doc/index.html Flix Programming Language https://flix.dev/ Clojure Transients https://clojure.org/reference/transients Haskell Software Transactional Memory https://wiki.haskell.org/Softwaretransactional_memory Rust Traits https://doc.rust-lang.org/book/ch10-02-traits.html CoffeeScript https://coffeescript.org/ Cargo Package Management https://doc.rust-lang.org/book/ch01-03-hello-cargo.html Versioning in Golang https://research.swtch.com/vgo-principles Special Guests: José Valim and Richard Feldman.
Package Management in Elixir vs. JavaScript with Wojtek Mach & Amal Hussein
Today on Elixir Wizards, Wojtek Mach of HexPM and Amal Hussein, engineering leader and former NPM team member, join Owen Bickford to compare notes on package management in Elixir vs. JavaScript. This lively conversation covers everything from best practices for dependency management to API design, SemVer (semantic versioning), and the dark ages of web development before package managers existed. The guests debate philosophical differences between the JavaScript and Elixir communities. They highlight the JavaScript ecosystem's maturity and identify potential areas of improvement, contrasted against Elixir’s emphasis on minimal dependencies. Both guests encourage engineers to publish packages, even small ones, as a learning opportunity. Topics discussed in this episode: Leveraging community packages rather than reinventing the wheel Vetting packages carefully before adopting them as dependencies Evaluating security, performance, and bundle size when assessing packages Managing transitive dependencies pulled in by packages Why semantic versioning is difficult to consistently enforce Designing APIs with extensibility and backward compatibility in mind Using tools like deprecations to avoid breaking changes in new releases JavaScript’s preference for code reuse over minimization The Elixir community’s minimal dependencies and avoidance of tech debt Challenges in early package management, such as global dependency Learning from tools like Ruby Gems and Bundler to improve experience How log files provide visibility into dependency management actions How lock files pin dependency versions for consistency Publishing packages democratizes access and provides learning opportunities Linting to enforce standards and prevent certain bugs Primitive-focused packages provide flexibility over highly opinionated ones Suggestions for improving documentation and guides Benefits of collaboration between programming language communities Links mentioned in this episode: Node.js https://github.com/nodejs npm JavaScript Package Manager https://github.com/npm JS Party Podcast https://changelog.com/jsparty Dashbit https://dashbit.co/ HexPM Package Manager for Erlang https://hex.pm/ HTTP Client for Elixir https://github.com/wojtekmach/req Ecto Database-Wrapper for Elixir https://github.com/elixir-ecto (Not an ORM) XState Actor-Based State Management for JavaScript https://xstate.js.org/docs/ Supply Chain Protection for JavaScript, Python, and Go https://socket.dev/ MixAudit https://github.com/mirego/mixaudit NimbleTOTP Library for 2FA https://hexdocs.pm/nimbletotp/NimbleTOTP.html Microsoft Azure https://github.com/Azure Patch Package https://www.npmjs.com/package/patch-package Ruby Bundler to manage Gem dependencies https://github.com/rubygems/bundler npm-shrinkwrap https://docs.npmjs.com/cli/v10/commands/npm-shrinkwrap SemVer Semantic Versioner for NPM https://www.npmjs.com/package/semver Spec-ulation Keynote - Rich Hickey https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyLBGkS5ICk Amal’s favorite Linter https://eslint.org/ Elixir Mint Functional HTTP Client for Elixir https://github.com/elixir-mint Tailwind Open Source CSS Framework https://tailwindcss.com/ WebauthnComponents https://hex.pm/packages/webauthn_components Special Guests: Amal Hussein and Wojtek Mach.
Communities in Tech with Camille Clayton & Scott Tolinski
Today on Elixir Wizards, Camille Clayton, Director of Women Who Code DC, and Scott Tolinski, Co-Host of the Syntax Podcast and Creator of Level Up Tutorials, join hosts Sundi Myint and Owen Bickford to discuss tech community spaces online and IRL. They lay out the blueprint and best practices for fostering an inclusive environment where newcomers feel comfortable and welcome to join the discussion – whether it’s an online forum, YouTube comment sections, social media platform, local meetup, or conference. Topics discussed in this episode: Leaving a space open so newcomers feel empowered to join Celebrating small wins to maintain excitement and build confidence Why consistency is key to building a community with longevity Creating and enforcing a code of conduct to define expectations Finding respectful resolutions for addressing issues or complaints The importance of amplifying underrepresented voices in tech Creating content for all skill levels and adapting to a wider audience How remote meetups broaden the possibilities for attendance and connection Finding the right fit for mentorship Delegation to strengthen community members’ sense of ownership Navigating the new normal of local, in-person gatherings post-pandemic Links mentioned in this episode: https://www.womenwhocode.com/network/dc https://syntax.fm/ https://levelup.video/ https://devopsdays.org/ https://github.com/sveltejs https://github.com/womenwhocodedc https://twitter.com/womenwhocode https://www.remoteworkcalc.com/ https://twitter.com/WomenWhoCodeDC https://www.meetup.com/dc-elixir/ Special Guests: Camille Clayton and Scott Tolinski.
Actor Model and Concurrent Processing in Elixir vs. Clojure and Ruby with Xiang Ji & Nathan Hessler
In this episode of Elixir Wizards, Xiang Ji and Nathan Hessler join hosts Sundi Myint and Owen Bickford to compare actor model implementation in Elixir, Ruby, and Clojure. In Elixir, the actor model is core to how the BEAM VM works, with lightweight processes communicating asynchronously via message passing. GenServers provide a common abstraction for building actors, handling messages, and maintaining internal state. In Ruby, the actor model is represented through Ractors, which currently map to OS threads. They discuss what we can learn by comparing models, understanding tradeoffs between VMs, languages, and concurrency primitives, and how this knowledge can help us choose the best tools for a project. Topics discussed in this episode: Difference between actor model and shared memory concurrency Isolation of actor state and communication via message passing BEAM VM design for high concurrency via lightweight processes GenServers as common abstraction for building stateful actors GenServer callbacks for message handling and state updates Agents as similar process abstraction to GenServers Shared state utilities like ETS for inter-process communication Global Interpreter Lock in older Ruby VMs Ractors as initial actor implementation in Ruby mapping to threads Planned improvements to Ruby concurrency in 3.3 Akka implementation of actor model on JVM using thread scheduling Limitations of shared memory concurrency on JVM Project Loom bringing lightweight processes to JVM Building GenServer behavior in Ruby using metaprogramming CSP model of communication using channels in Clojure Differences between BEAM scheduler and thread-based VMs Comparing Elixir to academic languages like Haskell Remote and theScore are hiring! Links mentioned in this episode: theScore is hiring! https://www.thescore.com/ Remote is also hiring! https://remote.com/ Comparing the Actor Model and CSP with Elixir and Clojure (https://xiangji.me/2023/12/18/comparing-the-actor-model-and-csp-with-elixir-and-clojure/) Blog Post by Xiang Ji Comparing the Actor model & CSP concurrency with Elixir & Clojure (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIQCQKPRNCI) Xiang Ji at ElixirConf EU 2022 Clojure Programming Language https://clojure.org/ Akka https://akka.io/ Go Programming Language https://github.com/golang/go Proto Actor for Golang https://proto.actor/ RabbitMQ Open-Source Message Broker Software https://github.com/rabbitmq JVM Project Loom https://github.com/openjdk/loom Ractor for Ruby https://docs.ruby-lang.org/en/master/ractor_md.html Seven Concurrency Models in Seven Weeks: When Threads Unravel (https://pragprog.com/titles/pb7con/seven-concurrency-models-in-seven-weeks/)by Paul Butcher Seven Languages in Seven Weeks (https://pragprog.com/titles/btlang/seven-languages-in-seven-weeks/) by Bruce A. Tate GenServer https://hexdocs.pm/elixir/1.12/GenServer.html ets https://www.erlang.org/doc/man/ets.html Elixir in Action (https://pragprog.com/titles/btlang/seven-languages-in-seven-weeks/) by Saša Jurić Redis https://github.com/redis/redis Designing for Scalability with Erlang/OTP (https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/designing-for-scalability/9781449361556/) by Francesco Cesarini & Steve Vinoski Discord Blog: Using Rust to Scale Elixir for 11 Million Concurrent Users (https://discord.com/blog/using-rust-to-scale-elixir-for-11-million-concurrent-users) Xiang's website https://xiangji.me/ Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy (https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/feeling-good-the-new-mood-therapy-by-david-d-burns/250046/?resultid=7691fb71-d8f9-4435-a7a3-db3441d2272b#edition=2377541&idiq=3913925) by David D. Burns Special Guests: Nathan Hessler and Xiang Ji.