
Thinking Elixir Podcast
The Thinking Elixir podcast is a weekly show where we talk about the Elixir programming language and the community around it. We cover news and interview guests to learn more about projects and developments in the community.
Whether you are already experienced with Elixir or just exploring the language, this show is created with you in mind. We discuss community news, Functional Programming, transitioning from OOP, coding conventions, and more.
Guests visit the show to help challenge our assumptions, learn about new developments and grow in the process.
Subscribe to join us on this journey!
Latest episodes

9 snips
Jan 14, 2025 • 22min
236: Turn it up to 1000!
Exciting updates include José Valim's PR for enhanced type inference in Elixir 1.19, making it smarter for argument types. The DenoRider library is introduced, allowing JavaScript to run embedded in Elixir applications, opening doors for full-stack development. Gleam v1.7.0 boasts improved performance and features, showcasing its adaptability in heterogeneous environments. Discussions also delve into the future of coding conventions and the impact of type management on programming productivity.

Jan 7, 2025 • 27min
235: Wrapping Up 2024 with Types
The latest release of Elixir 1.18.0 brings exciting enhancements to its type system, improving error detection and developer experience. Listeners learn about LiveView Native's journey toward a stable release with practical development tips. The introduction of SwapJS offers smoother transitions for LiveView applications, while documentation improvements promise better search and testing features. The announcement of an intriguing conference in Sweden adds to the excitement, complete with a quirky goat tradition!

Dec 24, 2024 • 15min
234: Source Drops, AI, and Holiday Cheer
Explore the exciting integration of AI and Elixir development! Discover how markdown files enhance coding through effective documentation. The newly released source code for 'Engineering Elixir Applications' provides valuable resources for developers. Learn about the Hex2Text project, which standardizes documentation to improve AI interactions. Plus, get insights into advancements in LiveView Native, streamlining mobile app development. It's a festive wrap-up with wishes for a joyful holiday season!

12 snips
Dec 17, 2024 • 1h 4min
233: LiveView 1.0 and Elixir 1.18!
Lars Wikman, an influential member of the Nerves community, shares exciting updates on Nerves Hub and Nerves Cloud. He discusses the groundbreaking release of Phoenix LiveView 1.0 and the enhancements in Elixir 1.18, including built-in JSON support. Lars also unveils Amazon’s Aurora DSQL, a new serverless database solution. The conversation dives into the integration of NERVS with LiveView and the launch of official merchandise for Elixir and NERVS fans, fostering community spirit through unique apparel.

9 snips
Dec 10, 2024 • 1h
232: Towering Over Errors
Gonzalo Rodriguez, a software engineer with expertise in Ruby on Rails and Elixir, discusses his creation, Tower, a tool designed for error tracking in Elixir applications. He shares insights on transitioning from Ruby to Elixir, the challenges faced, and how Tower simplifies error management by decoupling error capturing from notification reporting. The conversation also touches on the importance of open-source contributions, along with the ease of integrating error reporting into applications, enhancing developers' workflows.

Dec 3, 2024 • 17min
231: Pretty Error and OTP Raw Mode
Discover how recent updates make Elixir's protocol errors more readable, enhancing the developer experience. Dive into OTP 28's raw mode, revolutionizing real-time input for interactive CLI applications. Explore Saša Jurić's insights on creating a bespoke Kafka client, tackling challenges with existing libraries. Learn about a new mini-site showcasing Elixir events and the exciting advancements in LiveView, including the Motion.dev wrapper for animations. Plus, get a sneak peek into the upcoming Elixir Conf EU!

Nov 26, 2024 • 36min
230: Hot k8s Takes and Self-Hosting
Explore the rapid rise of Blue Sky and its innovative branding features, allowing users to link personal domains for verification. Delve into the powerful synergy between Elixir and Kubernetes, highlighting Elixir's unique self-healing capabilities. Discover the exciting updates in Gleam version 1.6, focusing on context-aware errors and improved compiler features. Plus, get the lowdown on the milestone update for the Phoenix adapter, enhancing single-page applications with breaking changes to watch out for. It's a dive into cutting-edge tech in the Elixir community!

Nov 19, 2024 • 18min
229: Sharding Functions and MacOS Builds
Discover the latest in Elixir with the introduction of pre-built macOS OTP builds, simplifying developer workflows. Explore the exciting new sharding functions in Elixir NX that boost parallel processing efficiency. Delve into the security enhancements of Phoenix with the new Phoenix2Ban library. Get updates on the nearing 1.0 milestone for Phoenix Live View and the exciting Gleam 1.6 release. Finally, don't miss insights on upcoming Elixir conferences and the rise of Blue Sky as the go-to social media platform for the Elixir community.

Nov 12, 2024 • 21min
228: From Surveys to Cheat Sheets
Theo's ElixirConf presentation video is out, sparking discussions about its release. The new Gleam and Curiosum developer surveys aim to boost community insights. Discovering a handy cheat sheet for Phoenix Live View streamlines the usage of attributes. Upcoming conferences in New York and Portugal are highlighted, alongside a resource to improve communication in tech. The importance of asking clear, thoughtful questions in online settings is emphasized for better engagement and self-discovery.

Nov 5, 2024 • 30min
227: Oban Web Goes Open Source?
Exciting news in the Elixir community as Oban Web goes open source, paving the way for startups. A new project introduces over 80 components for Phoenix LiveView, with aspirations for even more. Discussions highlight the significance of background jobs and the Solid Queue initiative from the Rails community. Insights from Elixir Stream Week reveal the launch of the Klife client for Elixir and Kafka, while also touching on challenges in cross-platform development with Flutter. A great mix of innovation and collaboration!