Uses for Elixir Programming

I wouldn’t say Elixir is only good for web programming, like I wouldn’t say Python is only good for web programming (it’s used for many other things). For an example of something in Elixir that’s not web related, check out https://nerves-project.org/ (Elixir for embedded basically).

I think just currently the web side is pulling so many developers and is the biggest area in software development (in my understanding at least), so that’s why most job ads are for web programmers.

I guess that depends on your definition of “web development”.

If you just mean websites, Elixir is capable of much more than that.

If you also include things that talk over the network, then that is mostly the BEAM’s sweet spot. Erlang was originally created to program telephone switches. And if I’m not mistaken, it is still the main language used today in those switches (I do not currently have a link to back that up).

See GUI programming in Elixir? and Why would I choose Elixir as a general purpose programming language? - #11 by Qqwy - i.e desktop GUI apps are rare

While it’s not directly web related, IoT is likely the most relevant aspect commercially speaking.

The other thing is that BEAM languages will most likely be used to implement distributed systems - which will most likely use something like JSON-over-HTTP for communicating between parts of the system which aren’t geographically co-located or have to cross some other type of “trust boundary”.

Maybe it’s more productive to explore what particular aspects of “web programming” you “hate”.

What I mean is, when wiki says it’s a general purpose language, it means I can create an application to read a file, sort the values, maybe do some quick calculations and output it to another file. Now, I understand that you don’t need Elixir to do this, if you have Windows, Powershell or C# can do that, or on Linux, Bash, Python, Perl are more than capable.

My point is, web development aside (including talking over a network), I can use Elixir for pretty any task I can think of, correct? I understand depending on the operating system, it maybe best to use the built-in language, if the tasks is operating system dependent, for example a trivial task for Powershell, might not be so easy for Python or Elixir because you need it to access the .Net Framework.

All that being said, Elixir is exactly as wiki said, a general purpose language. Any task I have in mind, web development or not, I can do with Elixir?

Riak is a distributed database that was written in erlang, so elixir could be used for similar applications (the storage engine is leveldb which is C++ but that’s neither here nor there).

edit: honestly elixir would be great for any sort of distributed application, but most people that are using elixir are coming from ruby on rails so their primary use case is web app development. From what I’ve seen, the primary use from companies that use erlang/elixir in a major way is for chatting functionality. Whatsapp, facebook (until they switched to c++), Riot/League of Legends, discord, etc.

Correct, though it’s best domain is most things related to highly concurrent and parallel I/O work.

Like I’ve written an IRC/Discord bot in it, which is a good use-case for it.

I’ve written game server, management software, and embedded server management services in the Erlang side of things over the years, as well as more.

I have also written a lot of web things in it too though (mostly Erlang, but my Elixir code is catching up).

I use the term “hate” a little too quickly here. What I mean is, I was researching what skills are necessary for back end development. As you might guess, Algorithms & Data Structures was a topic that came up. I don’t possess a CS degree and to me anyways, it seems quiet difficult. I don’t mind making the effort and learning DS&A, but I don’t want to learn a language that’s only good for one purpose, I want a language that’s flexible. For example, I learned Python on my own, and given enough time, I can build a decent desktop application for simple tasks. No need for DS&A, even though Python is sometimes used for back end development where that topic is relevant. Currently Python is my go to language for any task not OS dependent.

Same goes for front end development, although it’s a small part of it, I lack creativity, and I can’t create appealing websites. I understand front end web development is more than just creativity, but a lot of job postings that ask for front end development also asks for skills in Photoshop, and other editing software.

I just don’t like web development, but if I had to choose, back end development is the place I want to end up.

That’s why I don’t want to learn Elixir if all it’s good for is web development, I want more out of any language I learn. I want to make sure when it says it’s a general purpose language, it really means it. In other words, I can build and use Elixir applications that never touch the web, much like C# or Python.

I think that’s a misconception. Data structures and Algorithms are at the core of “programming”. For example: Elements of Programming Interviews in Python.

A Common-Sense Guide to Data Structures and Algorithms (amazon.com reviews) uses JavaScript, Python, and Ruby to cover some of the basics.

Personally I think those languages are less than ideal for the task - something in the vein of HtDP2e would be more useful - but most people are more utilitarian in their choice of programming languages and I’m not aware that there is any commercial viability to Racket right now.

I just don’t like web development, but if I had to choose, back end development is the place I want to end up.

Unfortunately there is the whole (mythical) fullstack developer thing going on - so in many cases there is some interaction with the web - so “web avoidance” is likely going to make matters more difficult for you. Mobile-first web apps are encroaching on native apps, Electron-based desktop GUIs, etc.

I think that’s a misconception. Data structures and Algorithms are at the core of “programming”. For example: Elements of Programming Interviews in Python

For more complex tasks, then a solid understanding of DS&A is necessary if you intend to implement your own DS. I never said it wasn’t important, or that it was unnecessary, just that for simple applications a List or Dictionary might be enough, I don’t have to worry about how it was implemented, just how to use it.

Am I out of touch?

I certainly won’t say you’re out of touch.

I just wanted to know if Elixir can be used for desktop development like C#/Python can, without touching the web (for example, can I create a GUI utility to read a file and preform calculations and save that file?). However, I realized that my question is misguided because I didn’t really understand Elixir and its user cases.