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Elixir

The Big Picture

AJ Foster

This course introduces Elixir, a language that enables concurrent and fault-tolerant applications with friendly developer aesthetics. You’ll learn how its powerful heritage creates more than just another new language.

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This course introduces Elixir, a language that enables concurrent and fault-tolerant applications with friendly developer aesthetics. You’ll learn how its powerful heritage creates more than just another new language.

Real-time experiences increasingly define our interaction with technology. In this course, Elixir: The Big Picture, you’ll learn how Elixir makes these experiences easy to create. First, you’ll learn about its relationship to Erlang, a battle-tested language that powers telecommunications. Then you’ll see how Elixir’s concurrency model allows us to accomplish a lot while minimizing the impact of errors. Finally, you’ll see what makes Elixir approachable as a functional language that focuses on productivity. When you’re finished with this course, you’ll have the skills and knowledge needed to understand applications that use Elixir, evaluate it for your next project, and begin writing it yourself.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Course Overview
Elixir’s Roots in Erlang
Writing Concurrent and Fault-tolerant Code
Productivity and Extensibility
Read more

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Introduces students to the Elixir language, which has uses in industry and is standard in telecommunications
Taught by AJ Foster, a seasoned instructor specialized in Elixir
Introduces Elixir's strong heritage, which stems from its roots in Erlang
Focuses on how Elixir's concurrency model assists in minimizing the impact of errors
Examines how Elixir's productivity and extensibility make it an approachable functional language
May require students to have prior programming experience

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Elixir: The Big Picture with these activities:
Follow Elixir School’s getting started guide
Review how to set up your development environment and run your first Elixir app.
Browse courses on Elixir
Show steps
  • Visit the Elixir School website
  • Locate the section on Getting Started with Elixir
  • Follow the steps to set up your environment
  • Run your first Elixir application
Organize Course Materials
Organizing your course materials will help you stay on top of your studies and easily access information when needed.
Show steps
  • Create a system for filing and storing notes, assignments, and other course materials.
  • Review your materials regularly to reinforce your learning.
  • Identify any gaps in your understanding and seek additional resources to fill them.
Review 'Erlang Programming'
Reviewing this book will provide background knowledge on Erlang, which Elixir is based on.
View Designing for Scalability with Erlang/OTP:... on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read the introduction and overview of Erlang.
  • Study the chapters on syntax, data types, and pattern matching.
  • Try writing and running simple Erlang programs.
Seven other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all ten activities
Follow Elixir Tutorials on Pluralsight
Following Elixir tutorials on Pluralsight will provide you with step-by-step guidance and hands-on practice.
Browse courses on Elixir
Show steps
  • Search for Elixir tutorials on the Pluralsight platform.
  • Choose a tutorial that aligns with your learning goals.
  • Follow the tutorial instructions carefully and complete the exercises.
Solve Elixir exercises on Exercism
Gain hands-on practice writing Elixir code and solving problems.
Browse courses on Elixir
Show steps
  • Sign up for an Exercism account
  • Choose the Elixir track
  • Start solving the exercises
Build a Simple Elixir App
Building a simple Elixir app will help you apply the concepts you learn in the course and reinforce your understanding of Elixir's features.
Browse courses on Elixir
Show steps
  • Design and plan your app's functionality.
  • Set up an Elixir development environment.
  • Write code for your app's core functionality, including handling concurrency.
  • Test and debug your app to ensure it works correctly.
  • Deploy your app and make it accessible to others.
Join an Elixir Study Group
Joining an Elixir study group will provide you with opportunities to discuss concepts, share knowledge, and collaborate with others.
Browse courses on Elixir
Show steps
  • Find an Elixir study group online or in your local area.
  • Attend study group meetings regularly.
  • Participate in discussions, ask questions, and share your insights.
Practice Solving Elixir Coding Challenges
Solving Elixir coding challenges will help you sharpen your programming skills and improve your problem-solving abilities.
Browse courses on Elixir
Show steps
  • Find Elixir coding challenges online or in books.
  • Attempt to solve the challenges on your own.
  • Check your solutions against provided answers or discuss them with others.
Write a Blog Post on Elixir Concurrency
Writing a blog post on Elixir concurrency will help you solidify your understanding of the topic and share your knowledge with others.
Browse courses on Elixir
Show steps
  • Choose a specific aspect of Elixir concurrency to focus on.
  • Research and gather information on the topic.
  • Write a clear and concise blog post explaining the concept.
  • Include code examples and practical tips to illustrate your points.
  • Publish your blog post on a relevant platform.
Mentor Beginner Elixir Developers
Mentoring beginner Elixir developers will help you deepen your understanding of the language and share your knowledge with others.
Browse courses on Elixir
Show steps
  • Identify beginner Elixir developers who need guidance.
  • Offer your support and assistance.
  • Provide feedback, answer questions, and encourage their progress.

Career center

Learners who complete Elixir: The Big Picture will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Elixir Software Engineer
Elixir Software Engineers are in demand as more and more organizations seek to create real-time, fault-tolerant applications. This course will teach you the fundamentals of Elixir, a language that is specifically designed for building these types of applications. You'll learn how to write concurrent and fault-tolerant code, and you'll also learn about Elixir's powerful concurrency model. This course is a great way to get started with Elixir, and it will give you the skills you need to succeed as an Elixir Software Engineer.
See salaries and explore the career path for Elixir Software Engineer
Erlang Software Engineer
Elixir builds upon the strengths of Erlang, a battle-tested language that powers telecommunications. As an Erlang Software Engineer, you'll be responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining Erlang-based systems. This course will teach you the fundamentals of Erlang, and it will also provide you with an understanding of Elixir's relationship to Erlang. This course can help you build a foundation for a successful career as an Erlang Software Engineer.
See salaries and explore the career path for Erlang Software Engineer
Software Architect
Software Architects are responsible for designing and overseeing the development of software systems. They work with stakeholders to understand the business requirements, and they then design and implement software solutions that meet those requirements. This course will teach you the fundamentals of software architecture, and it will also provide you with an understanding of Elixir's role in building scalable, fault-tolerant systems. This course can help you build a foundation for a successful career as a Software Architect.
See salaries and explore the career path for Software Architect
DevOps Engineer
DevOps Engineers are responsible for bridging the gap between development and operations teams. They work to ensure that software is developed and deployed efficiently and reliably. This course will teach you the fundamentals of DevOps, and it will also provide you with an understanding of Elixir's role in building scalable, fault-tolerant systems. This course can help you build a foundation for a successful career as a DevOps Engineer.
See salaries and explore the career path for DevOps Engineer
Full-Stack Developer
Full Stack Developers are responsible for designing and developing software systems from start to finish. They work on both the front-end and back-end of software applications. This course will teach you the fundamentals of full stack development, and it will also provide you with an understanding of Elixir's role in building scalable, fault-tolerant systems. This course can help you build a foundation for a successful career as a Full Stack Developer.
See salaries and explore the career path for Full-Stack Developer
Systems Engineer
Systems Engineers are responsible for designing and overseeing the development of complex systems. They work with stakeholders to understand the business requirements, and they then design and implement systems that meet those requirements. This course will teach you the fundamentals of systems engineering, and it will also provide you with an understanding of Elixir's role in building scalable, fault-tolerant systems.
See salaries and explore the career path for Systems Engineer
Programmer Analyst
Programmer Analysts are responsible for analyzing user needs and designing and developing software solutions. They work with stakeholders to understand the business requirements, and they then design and implement software solutions that meet those requirements. This course will teach you the fundamentals of software development, and it will also provide you with an understanding of Elixir's role in building scalable, fault-tolerant systems.
See salaries and explore the career path for Programmer Analyst
Computer Programmer
Computer Programmers are responsible for writing and maintaining computer code. They work with stakeholders to understand the business requirements, and they then write and maintain code that meets those requirements. This course will teach you the fundamentals of computer programming, and it will also provide you with an understanding of Elixir's role in building scalable, fault-tolerant systems.
See salaries and explore the career path for Computer Programmer
Software Developer
Software Developers are responsible for designing and developing software applications. They work with stakeholders to understand the business requirements, and they then design and develop software solutions that meet those requirements. This course will teach you the fundamentals of software development, and it will also provide you with an understanding of Elixir's role in building scalable, fault-tolerant systems.
See salaries and explore the career path for Software Developer
Computer Scientist
Computer Scientists are responsible for conducting research in the field of computer science. They work to develop new theories and algorithms, and they also work to design and develop new computer systems. This course will teach you the fundamentals of computer science, and it will also provide you with an understanding of Elixir's role in building scalable, fault-tolerant systems.
See salaries and explore the career path for Computer Scientist
Data Scientist
Data Scientists are responsible for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data. They work with stakeholders to understand the business requirements, and they then use data to develop insights and recommendations. This course will teach you the fundamentals of data science, and it will also provide you with an understanding of Elixir's role in building scalable, fault-tolerant systems.
See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist
Machine Learning Engineer
Machine Learning Engineers are responsible for designing and developing machine learning models. They work with stakeholders to understand the business requirements, and they then design and develop machine learning models that meet those requirements. This course will teach you the fundamentals of machine learning, and it will also provide you with an understanding of Elixir's role in building scalable, fault-tolerant systems.
See salaries and explore the career path for Machine Learning Engineer
Data Engineer
Data Engineers are responsible for designing and developing data pipelines. They work with stakeholders to understand the business requirements, and they then design and develop data pipelines that meet those requirements. This course will teach you the fundamentals of data engineering, and it will also provide you with an understanding of Elixir's role in building scalable, fault-tolerant systems.
See salaries and explore the career path for Data Engineer
Cloud Engineer
Cloud Engineers are responsible for designing and developing cloud-based applications. They work with stakeholders to understand the business requirements, and they then design and develop cloud-based applications that meet those requirements. This course will teach you the fundamentals of cloud computing, and it will also provide you with an understanding of Elixir's role in building scalable, fault-tolerant systems.
See salaries and explore the career path for Cloud Engineer

Reading list

We've selected seven books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Elixir: The Big Picture.
Designing Elixir Systems with OTP
Save
Delves into the practical aspects of building reliable and maintainable Elixir systems using OTP. It covers topics such as supervision trees, error handling, and distributed systems, providing valuable insights for developing robust Elixir applications.
Designing Elixir Systems With OTP: Write Highly...
Kindle Edition
$$
Cover image
Parallel and Concurrent Programming in Haskell
Save
Provides a deep dive into parallel and concurrent programming concepts in Haskell, which functional programming language similar to Elixir. It covers topics such as concurrency primitives, synchronization, and performance optimization, and provides valuable insights applicable to Elixir development.
Parallel and Concurrent Programming in Haskell:...
Paperback
$$
Parallel and Concurrent Programming in Haskell:...
Kindle Edition
$$
Cover image
The Little Elixir & OTP Guidebook
Save
This concise guidebook provides a quick introduction to Elixir and OTP (Open Telecom Platform), which set of libraries and tools that enhance Elixir's capabilities for building fault-tolerant and scalable systems.
The Little Elixir & OTP Guidebook
Paperback
Check
The Little Elixir & OTP Guidebook
Kindle Edition
Check
Cover image
Designing Data-Intensive Applications
Save
Provides a comprehensive overview of the challenges and techniques involved in designing and building data-intensive applications. It covers topics such as data modeling, storage, processing, and analysis, and provides valuable insights applicable to Elixir development, as Elixir is well-suited for handling large amounts of data.
Designing Data-Intensive Applications: The Big...
Paperback
$$
Designing Data-Intensive Applications: The Big...
Kindle Edition
$$
Cover image
Concurrency in Go
Save
Explores concurrency and parallelism in Go, which is another popular language for building concurrent and fault-tolerant systems. It covers topics such as goroutines, channels, and synchronization primitives, and provides valuable insights that can be applied to Elixir development.
Concurrency in Go: Tools and Techniques for...
Paperback
$$
Concurrency in Go: Tools and Techniques for...
Kindle Edition
$$
Cover image
Property-Based Testing with PropEr, Erlang, and...
Save
Provides a beginner-friendly introduction to Erlang, the language that inspired Elixir. It covers the fundamentals of Erlang, such as concurrency, message passing, and pattern matching, and provides a solid foundation for understanding Elixir's core concepts.
Property-Based Testing with PropEr, Erlang, and...
Paperback
$$
Property-Based Testing with PropEr, Erlang, and...
Kindle Edition
$$
Cover image
Seven Concurrency Models in Seven Weeks
Save
Provides a whirlwind tour of different concurrency models, exploring their strengths and weaknesses. It covers topics such as shared memory, message passing, and actor systems, and provides valuable insights applicable to Elixir development, as Elixir supports multiple concurrency models.
Seven Concurrency Models in Seven Weeks
Paperback
Check
Seven Concurrency Models in Seven Weeks
Kindle Edition
Check

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Course image
Time
44 hours
Level
Introductory
Via
Pluralsight
Instructor
AJ Foster
Language
English
Good to know
Introduces students to the Elixir language, which has uses in industry and is standard in telecommunications
Taught by AJ Foster, a seasoned instructor specialized in Elixir
Introduces Elixir's strong heritage, which stems from its roots in Erlang
Focuses on how Elixir's concurrency model assists in minimizing the impact of errors
Examines how Elixir's productivity and extensibility make it an approachable functional language
May require students to have prior programming experience
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