Elixir Mentor

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, I talk with Elliott Clark, former engineer at both Facebook and Microsoft, who now runs Batteries Included. Elliott shares his rich background from working on the .NET team at Microsoft and infrastructure and developer efficiency at Facebook to creating a platform that simplifies cloud deployment for developers of all sizes.Elliott explains how his experience at tech giants shaped his vision for Batteries Included, particularly the pain points he observed while at Facebook's developer efficiency team where he saw firsthand how complex configurations led to outages. He discusses why he chose Elixir and LiveView for his platform, highlighting how the unified language environment allows backend developers to build cohesive UIs without the traditional frontend/backend divide.We explore how Batteries Included automates complex infrastructure tasks like setting up Kubernetes, Postgres databases, Redis, and monitoring tools with just a few clicks. Elliott also shares insights on their "Robin Hood" business model—keeping the platform free for smaller developers while charging larger enterprises, a philosophy informed by his time with open-source projects at multiple companies.Our conversation dives into technical territory with discussions on managing large Elixir codebases (approaching 300,000 lines of code), challenges of umbrella projects, and the testing philosophies that help maintain quality. Elliott brings valuable perspectives from his work on large-scale systems at Facebook and Microsoft, offering insights on preventing regressions and building resilient infrastructure.Whether you're interested in Elixir, deployment infrastructure, or the challenges of building developer tools, this episode offers valuable insights from someone who has worked at both tech giants and startups. Elliott's practical approach to solving deployment pain points demonstrates how developers can build tools that truly make a difference in the development workflow.Resources Mentioned:- Batteries Included: https://batteriesincl.com- GitHub: https://github.com/batteries-includedSUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR- Elixir Mentor: https://elixirmentor.com

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, I chat with Kimberly Erni, a software developer who has found balance through contract-based work. We explore the often-overlooked topic of burnout in the tech industry, where "grind culture" is normalized but comes with significant personal costs.Kimberly shares her personal journey, including how taking a break from full-time work helped her overcome infertility struggles. We discuss the challenges of working in startups with constantly shifting priorities, unrealistic deadlines, and the pressure to always be "on." Both of us open up about our own experiences with burnout and the importance of creating boundaries, especially in remote work environments.The conversation covers practical advice for developers considering alternative career paths, including how to transition to contract work, the benefits of building products incrementally, and choosing technologies that maximize productivity while minimizing maintenance overhead. Kimberly also discusses her plans to develop a crochet pattern app, which leads to an insightful discussion about building sustainable side businesses.This episode provides valuable perspective for anyone feeling overwhelmed in their tech career or looking to create a more flexible work arrangement that accommodates personal priorities. Whether you're dealing with burnout, considering contract work, or building your own product, Kimberly's story offers both inspiration and practical guidance.Resources Mentioned:- Healthy Gamer video on burnout: https://youtu.be/XW-02QiiHDM?si=d7LeRrHTJjrpPsnPConnect with Kimberly:- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberly-erni/SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR- Elixir Mentor: https://elixirmentor.com

Tristan Kildaire, a systems programmer and creator of his own programming language, dives into the exciting world of LoRa radio technology and Reticulum mesh networking. He discusses how Elixir can transform IoT development, emphasizing reliability and ease of debugging. Tristan shares insights on practical applications like smart metering and home automation, while also exploring AI-assisted programming and the fun concept of 'vibe coding.' Listeners will find plenty to inspire their own tech projects!

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, I chat with Andrea Leopardi, Elixir core team member and author of "Network Programming in Elixir and Erlang." We dive deep into the fundamentals of network programming and how the BEAM's process model is perfectly suited for building robust networking applications.Andrea breaks down complex concepts like the TCP protocol, the OSI model, and the acceptor pool pattern in clear, understandable terms. We explore how Elixir's message-passing paradigm naturally maps to the world of network communications, making it an excellent choice for building high-performance servers and clients.Our conversation covers the evolution of HTTP protocols from version 1 to 3, the differences between libraries like Mint and GenTCP, and how to approach scalability challenges in network-intensive applications. Andrea shares insights from his experience creating networking libraries and writing technical books that make these advanced topics accessible.Whether you're building web servers, API clients, or custom TCP/UDP applications with Elixir, this episode provides valuable perspective on the underlying networking concepts that will help you write more efficient and reliable code.Resources Mentioned:- Network Programming in Elixir and Erlang: https://pragprog.com/titles/alnpee/network-programming-in-elixir-and-erlang/Connect with Andrea:- Website: https://andrealeopardi.com/SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR- Elixir Mentor: https://elixirmentor.com

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, I chat with Chris Nelson, co-founder and principal engineer at Launch Scout, about leveraging AI tools for Elixir development and how these technologies are transforming developer workflows. Chris brings over a decade of Elixir experience to the conversation, sharing valuable insights on how consultancies can integrate AI to dramatically increase productivity.Chris discusses the inflection point where AI tools became truly valuable for production work, highlighting how features like Claude AI and Cursor's agent mode with test-driven capabilities transformed his team's approach to development. We explore the unpredictable nature of large language models, structured approaches to AI-assisted coding, and how Launch Scout measured a 4x productivity increase on a real client project using these tools effectively. The conversation includes practical examples of how experienced developers can guide AI to create robust, production-ready code while maintaining critical thinking skills.Our discussion extends to Web Assembly components and Chris's work on the WASM library, which enables Elixir developers to securely run code written in various languages within their applications. Chris explains how WASM leverages OTP supervision for resilient system design and opens up new possibilities for customizable platforms. We also explore the advantages of Elixir and LiveView for rapid application development, comparing it to microservices approaches and reflecting on the remarkable stability of Elixir applications in production.Whether you're curious about integrating AI into your development workflow or exploring the cutting edge of Elixir's ecosystem, this conversation offers practical insights and real-world experiences from years of professional Elixir development at scale.Resources Mentioned:- Launch Scout:https://launchscout.com/- Cursor:https://cursor.sh/- Claude AI:https://anthropic.com/claude- WASMEx:https://github.com/tessi/wasmex- LiveState:https://hexdocs.pm/live_state/readme.htmlConnect with Chris:- X:https://x.com/superchris- LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-nelson-038875/- Website:https://launchscout.com/- GitHub:https://github.com/superchrisSUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR- Elixir Mentor:https://elixirmentor.com

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, I chat with returning guest Daniel Bergholz about leveraging AI tools like Windsurf and Claude to dramatically improve Elixir development workflows. Daniel shares his journey from skepticism to becoming a power user, demonstrating how these tools can help developers build faster without compromising quality.Daniel walks us through his practical approach to incorporating AI into both professional development work and side projects. He explains how to effectively use features like rules files, web documentation integration, and memory systems to get the best results when generating Elixir code. The conversation covers important nuances about how different programming languages perform with AI tools, with Daniel noting that while JavaScript/TypeScript might get near-perfect results, Elixir requires more guidance but still provides excellent value.The discussion takes a critical look at the "Vibe coding" trend (generating code without understanding it) and offers a more responsible alternative that we call the "sniper approach" - using AI with precision and knowledge. We explore how AI tools are changing developer roles, potentially transitioning programmers from pure coders to more holistic product engineers who can focus on customer needs while leveraging AI for implementation.Whether you're an Elixir enthusiast curious about productivity tools or a developer interested in responsible AI usage, this episode provides practical insights on balancing automation with craftsmanship. Daniel's experience demonstrates that AI can be a powerful assistant when used thoughtfully, helping developers produce higher quality work in less time.Resources Mentioned:- Windsurf:https://www.windsurf.io/- Cursor:https://cursor.sh/- Claude:https://claude.ai/Connect with Daniel:- Workflow Blog:https://dev.to/danielbergholz/my-ai-powered-workflow-for-writing-elixir-and-phoenix-with-windsurf-4k8m- Website:https://bergdaniel.com.br/SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR- Elixir Mentor:https://elixirmentor.com

Isaak Tsalicoglou, author of "Northwind Elixir Traders" and former mechanical engineer, shares his journey into software development. He dives into database modeling with Ecto, detailing lessons learned from the Northwind project. Topics include optimizing query performance, managing migrations, and the advantages of using SQLite for learning. Isaak also discusses the challenges of schema changes, agile methodologies, and the interplay between hardware and software in product design. His insights offer practical wisdom for both new and seasoned developers.

German Velasco, a software developer specializing in Elixir projects, dives deep into the world of test-driven development and pair programming. He shares his transition from Rails to Elixir and highlights the significant benefits of adopting test-driven strategies, especially with his creation, Phoenix Test. The conversation touches on meaningful code coverage, the balance of testing behavior versus implementation, and how AI tools are reshaping programming workflows. German's insights make it clear that effective testing leads to more maintainable applications and better team collaboration.

In this engaging discussion, Christopher Grainger, founder of Amplified.ai, shares insights from his journey in AI and patent technology. He reveals how moving from Python to Elixir boosted efficiency and reduced costs for his company. The chat dives into the innovative LangGraph project, which simplifies LLM interactions, and the role of semantic technology in revolutionizing patent searches. Grainger emphasizes Elixir's strengths in AI, highlighting its actor model's compatibility with modern architectures and the potential of smaller AI models in software development.

Alex Koutmos, author of "Elixir Patterns," and Peter Ullrich, an active community member, share insights on Elixir development. They dive into the intersection of AI tools and coding workflows, discussing tools like Broadway and GitHub Actions. Cultural quirks shine through as they humorously compare European and American banking systems. Alex teases a new financial analytics book and they reflect on the evolution of development tools and the challenges of privacy in AI. The conversation is a delightful mix of tech talk and lighthearted anecdotes.