donnieparka
defmodule Navigator do
def navigate(dir) do
expanded_dir = Path.expand(dir)
go_through([expanded_dir])
end
def go_through([]), do: nil
def go_through([content | rest]) do
print_and_navigate(content, File.dir?(content))
go_through(rest)
end
def print_and_navigate(_dir, false), do: nil
def print_and_navigate(dir, true) do
IO.puts(dir)
children_dirs = File.ls!(dir)
go_through(expand_dirs(children_dirs, dir))
end
def expand_dirs([], relativeto), do: []
def expand_dirs([dir | dirs], relative_to) do
expanded_dir = Path.expand(dir, relative_to)
[expanded_dir | expand_dirs(dirs, relative_to)]
end
end
in:
def print_and_navigate(dir, true) do
IO.puts(dir)
children_dirs = File.ls!(dir)
go_through(expand_dirs(children_dirs, dir))
end
children_dirs is a tuple and expand_dirs expects a list so why do i not get an error? do functions pattern match incoming arguments before throwing errors of arguments compatibility? where can i read more about where and when pattern matching happens?
Where Next?
Trending in Questions
Other Trending Topics
Latest on Elixir Forum
Sponsor Spotlight
Supporting innovation across the BEAM ecosystem.
Categories:
Sub Categories:
Forums
Popular Tags
- #ecto
- #liveview
- #troubleshooting
- #learning-elixir
- #library
- #deployment
- #erlang
- #testing
- #genserver
- #mix
- #absinthe
- #remote-other
- #otp
- #plug
- #how-to-question
- #macros
- #postgres
- #elixirconf
- #channels
- #exunit
- #discussion
- #code-sync
- #podcasts
- #javascript
- #onsite
- #dialyzer
- #docker
- #authentication
- #ai
- #umbrella
- #full-time-contract
- #podcasts-by-brainlid
- #blog-post
- #ecto-query
- #elixirconf-us
- #elixir-ls
- #phoenix_html
- #iex
- #graphql
- #genstage
- #websockets
- #supervisor
- #advent-of-code
- #distillery
- #processes
- #elixirconf-eu
- #api
- #forms
- #security
- #hex
Our Sponsors
Build Elixir applications with speed and confidence.
Supporting innovation across the BEAM ecosystem.
We build reliable cloud platforms for business-critical systems.
Catch errors, track performance, monitor hosts and more.
Elixir, Erlang & BEAM conferences from Code Sync - join us in 2026!
Bringing learning, work and compliance together since 1987.
Producing high quality Elixir screencasts since 2017.
**Building the future of software with AI, trust, and human connection.**
The team behind Membrane, Popcorn, LiveDebugger. Available for hire.
Courses that'll move you from confusion to "Aha, now I get it!"
Showing Posts 1 to 7- Show Best Posts
- Show All (oldest first)
- Show All (newest first)
dimitarvp
It doesn’t seem to be.
File.ls!returns a list.donnieparka
true… honestly docs are confusing in this section:
ls(path \\ “.”)
@spec ls(Path.t()) :: {:ok, [binary()]} | {:error, posix()}
Returns the list of files in the given directory.
Hidden files are not ignored and the results are not sorted.
Since directories are considered files by the file system, they are also included in the returned value.
Returns
{:ok, files}in case of success,{:error, reason}otherwise.ls!(path \\ “.”)
@spec ls!([Path.t()]) :: [[binary()]]
The same as
ls/1but raises aFile.Errorexception in case of an error.dimitarvp
What is confusing? You are using the so-called bang function –
File.ls!– that does not return tuples; it either returns the values you requested, or raises a runtime error.You seem to be mistaking it for the non-bang function –
File.ls.Check the
@specs more closely.donnieparka
that’s what’s confusing. The docs say it’s the same but with the runtime error the fact that it’s not a tuple isn’t mentioned but only showed in the specs
dimitarvp
The docs are saying that it does the same but raises an error instead of returning an error tuple IMO.
But I can see how it can be confusing if you are new to Elixir.
donnieparka
yeah to a newbie it says: " this one does something more when errors come" when i think it could say: “this one does the same but instead of a it does b when errors come” to be clearer to who hasn’t well in mind elixirs mechanics.
LostKobrakai
The problem is more that not just behaviour around errors changes, but also around successes.
{:ok, result}becomes the unwrapedresult{:error, error}becomes the error being raisedThis is such a common convention it is even documented: Naming conventions — Elixir v1.18.2
But in the docs for this function it’s not really explained well.