Discover the magic of Elixir macros with insights on the quote and unquote functions. Learn about the exciting Bob project enhancing Elixir and Erlang builds for Mac OS. Delve into the world of Sonic Pi and its quest for sponsorships. Stay updated on a new error tracking library and improvements in Elixir tools. Explore the latest challenges surrounding Live View Native and the significant antitrust ruling against Google, alongside a peek at upcoming ElixirConf events!
Understanding Elixir macros through the concepts of quote and unquote is critical for new developers to streamline their coding process.
The introduction of the Hex.pm 'Bob' project for prebuilt binaries significantly eases the Elixir installation process for Mac OS users.
Deep dives
Understanding Elixir Macros
The podcast highlights the challenges new developers face when using Elixir macros, specifically with the usage of quote and unquote. Quote is used to convert Elixir code into an abstract syntax tree (AST), while unquote evaluates variables within that quoted context, creating potential confusion for beginners. To aid understanding, it is suggested to view a short video that breaks down these concepts, as macros can become complicated quickly when trying to determine whether to quote or unquote variables. The speakers share personal strategies, including their preference to avoid macros unless absolutely necessary, opting instead for direct function calls when possible.
Bob and Prebuilt Binaries for Elixir
Hex.pm operates an agent named Bob, responsible for creating prebuilt binaries for various Elixir and Erlang versions, streamlining the installation process. This development is particularly beneficial for Mac OS users who previously faced lengthy compilation times for Erlang whenever they updated Elixir. A recent Pull Request by Voitech Mach now allows prebuilt binaries for Erlang, reducing inconvenience related to compile times and dependencies, although some optional libraries may still be excluded. This enhancement aims to simplify the onboarding experience for new users, who can now more easily install Elixir without the complexities of manual source builds.
New Error Tracking Library Launch
A new error tracking library has been introduced, designed to integrate into applications and manage exceptions more securely. Unlike conventional external error trackers, this library retains all error data in-house, increasing compliance with regulations such as HIPAA and GDPR. By providing a user interface for tracking and resolving errors, developers can maintain better oversight and transparency within their applications. This tool simplifies the error management process and helps ensure sensitive information remains protected, appealing to developers concerned about data privacy.
News includes a new video by German Velasco explaining quote and unquote in Elixir macros, updates on the Hex.pm “Bob” project for pre-built Elixir and Erlang binaries, Sonic Pi sponsorships and support from Dashbit, the release of ElixirLS v0.23.0, and Google's recent antitrust ruling. We also cover new developments with the Error Tracker library, Florian Arens' guide to building a Phoenix HEEx component, and upcoming events at ElixirConf 2024, and more!
https://github.com/hexpm/bob/pull/193 – The Hex.pm “Bob” project creates pre-built binaries of different Elixir and Erlang versions. This PR adds an Erlang build for MacOS.