Elixir Wizards

Today in the Creator’s Lab, Tony Dang joins Elixir Wizards Sundi Myint and Owen Bickford to break down his journey of creating a local-first, offline-ready to-do app using Phoenix LiveView, Svelte, and CRDTs (Conflict-free Replicated Data Types). Tony explains why offline functionality matters and how this feature can transform various apps. He shares insights on different libraries, algorithms, and techniques for building local-first experiences and highlights the advantages of Elixir and Phoenix LiveView. Tony also shares his go-to tools, like Inertia.js for connecting Phoenix backends with JavaScript frontends, and favorite Elixir packages like Oban, Joken, and Hammer, offering a toolkit for anyone building powerful, adaptable applications. Topics discussed in this episode: Tony Dang's background from mechanical engineer to web developer Building an offline-enabled to-do app with Phoenix LiveView and Svelte CRDTs: Conflict-free Replicated Data Types for merging changes offline How to make a LiveView app work offline Sending full state updates vs. incremental updates for performance optimization Inspiring others through open-source projects and community contributions Learning vanilla Phoenix and Channels to understand LiveView better Handling stale CSRF tokens when reconnecting to a LiveView app offline Exploring service workers and browser APIs for managing offline connectivity Balancing the use of JavaScript and Elixir in web development Fostering a supportive and inspiring Elixir community Links mentioned: Working in Elevators: How to build an offline-enabled, real-time todo app (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PX9-lq0LL9Q) w/ LiveView, Svelte, & Yjs Tony’s Twitter: https://x.com/tonydangblog https://liveview-svelte-pwa.fly.dev/ https://github.com/tonydangblog/liveview-svelte-pwa CRDT: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conflict-freereplicateddatatype PWA: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressivewebapp https://github.com/josevalim/sync https://github.com/sveltejs/svelte https://github.com/woutdp/livesvelte https://github.com/yjs/yjs https://github.com/satoren/yex https://github.com/y-crdt/y-crdt https://linear.app/ https://github.com/automerge/automerge https://hexdocs.pm/phoenix/1.4.0-rc.1/presence.html Vaxine, the Rich CRDT Database for ElixirPhoenix Apps (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2c5eWIfziY) | James Arthur | Code BEAM America 2022 https://github.com/electric-sql/vaxine Hybrid Logical Clocks https://muratbuffalo.blogspot.com/2014/07/hybrid-logical-clocks.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/256(number) CSRF Tokens in LiveView https://hexdocs.pm/phoenixliveview/Phoenix.LiveView.html#getconnectparams/1 https://hexdocs.pm/phoenix/channels.html Authentication with Passkeys (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8lFmBcH3vX-JNIgxW3THUy7REthSRFEI) Talk by Tony https://www.meetup.com/dc-elixir/ https://github.com/rails/rails https://github.com/facebook/react-native https://github.com/vuejs https://github.com/laravel/laravel https://hexdocs.pm/phoenixliveview/js-interop.html https://github.com/inertiajs https://github.com/inertiajs/inertia-phoenix https://savvycal.com/ https://github.com/wojtekmach/req https://github.com/oban-bg/oban https://github.com/joken-elixir/joken https://github.com/ExHammer/hammer Special Guest: Tony Dang.

Today on Elixir Wizards, Bryan Green shares how he transformed a vintage 1930s rotary phone into a fully functional cell phone using Elixir, Nerves, and a mix of hardware components. Bryan shares the highs and lows of his project, from decoding rotary dial clicks to troubleshooting hardware issues with LED outputs. He explains why Nerves was the perfect fit for this project, offering SSH access, over-the-air updates, and remote debugging. You’ll also hear how Elixir’s concurrency model helped him manage hardware inputs and outputs efficiently using GenStateMachine and Genservers. Elixir and Nerves really shine when modeling real-world systems. Bryan dives into how he used a finite state machine to track the phone’s states and handled inputs from the rotary dial and hook switch via GPIO. For hardware enthusiasts, Bryan’s advice is to embrace this “golden age” of DIY electronics. Whether you're experienced with embedded systems or just curious on where to start, Bryan's VintageCell can inspire you to tinker with a hardware engineering project. Key topics discussed in this episode: Advantages of functional programming and immutability in Elixir Building hardware projects using Adafruit components Why Nerves was the best choice for the VintageCell project Interpreting rotary dial clicks using GPIO and circuits.gpio Troubleshooting hardware issues with LED diagnostics Challenges in optimizing wiring and PCB design Benefits of Nerves: SSH access, OTA updates, and remote debugging Modeling real-world systems with Elixir and Nerves Implementing a finite state machine with GenStateMachine Managing input with Genservers for rotary dial and hook switch Leveraging community resources like Discord, Elixir Slack, and forums Practical advice for keeping hardware projects on track Potential applications from SMS servers to home automation Links mentioned: Vintage Cellphone: Bridging the Past and Future with Elixir (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4hetzVpjmo) Seven Languages in Seven Weeks https://pragprog.com/titles/btlang/seven-languages-in-seven-weeks/ Seven More Languages https://pragprog.com/titles/7lang/seven-more-languages-in-seven-weeks/ Node.js https://github.com/nodejs https://nerves-project.org/ https://www.arduino.cc/ Adafruit Circuit Playground https://www.adafruit.com/category/965 Adafruit 3D Printed Star Trek Communicator https://learn.adafruit.com/3d-printed-star-trek-communicator Adafruit FONA 3G Cellular + GPS Breakout https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-fona-3g-cellular-gps-breakout/overview https://github.com/elixir-circuits/circuitsgpio Nerves SSH https://hex.pm/packages/nervesssh OTA (over-the-air) Updates with NervesHub https://www.nerves-hub.org/ https://github.com/kicad Waveshare 4G Hat for Raspberry Pi https://www.waveshare.com/sim7600e-h-4g-hat.htm https://hexdocs.pm/genstatemachine/GenStateMachine.html https://hexdocs.pm/elixir/GenServer.html https://www.sparkfun.com/ https://www.digikey.com/ USB-C Gadget Mode with Nerves https://github.com/nerves-project/nervessystemrpi4/issues/18 https://livebook.dev/ https://codestorm.me/ https://github.com/codestorm1/vintage_cell/ Special Guest: Bryan Green.

To kick off Elixir Wizards Season 13, The Creator's Lab, we're joined by Zach Daniel, the creator of Igniter and the Ash framework. Zach joins hosts Owen Bickford and Charles Suggs to discuss the mechanics and aspirations of his latest brainchild, Igniter—a code generation and project patching framework designed to revolutionize the Elixir development experience. Igniter isn’t just about generating code; it’s about generating smarter code. By leveraging tools like Sourcerer and Rewrite, Igniter allows developers to modify source code and batch updates by directly interacting with Elixir's AST instead of regex patching. This approach streamlines new project setup and package installations and enhances overall workflow. They also discuss the strategic implications of Igniter for the broader Elixir community. Zach hopes Igniter will foster a more interconnected and efficient ecosystem that attracts new developers to Elixir and caters to the evolving needs of seasoned Elixir engineers. Topics discussed in this episode: Advanced package installation and code generation improve the developer experience Scripting and staging techniques streamline project updates Innovative methods for smoother installation processes in Elixir packages High-level tools apply direct patches to source code Progressive feature additions simplify the mix phx.new experience Chaining installers and composing tasks for more efficient project setup Continuous improvement in developer experiences to boost Elixir adoption Encourage listeners to collaborate by sharing code generation patterns Introduction of a new mix task aimed at removing the "unless" keyword in preparation for Elixir 1.18 You can learn more in the upcoming book "Building Web Applications with Ash Framework" by Zach and Rebecca Links mentioned: https://smartlogic.io/ https://alembic.com.au/blog/igniter-rethinking-code-generation-with-project-patching https://hexdocs.pm/igniter/readme.html https://github.com/ash-project/igniter https://www.zachdaniel.dev/p/serialization-is-the-secret https://www.zachdaniel.dev/p/welcome-to-my-substack https://ash-hq.org/ https://hexdocs.pm/sourceror/readme.html https://smartlogic.io/podcast/elixir-wizards/s10-e09-hugo-lucas-future-of-elixir-community/ https://github.com/hrzndhrn/rewrite https://github.com/zachdaniel https://github.com/liveshowy/webauthn_components https://hexdocs.pm/elixir/Regex.html https://github.com/msaraiva/vscode-surface https://github.com/swoosh/swoosh https://github.com/erlef/oidcc https://alembic.com.au/ https://www.zachdaniel.dev/ Special Guest: Zach Daniel.

The Elixir Wizards and Thinking Elixir podcasts join forces to bring you a special hype-isode for ElixirConf 2024 in Orlando, Florida. Hosts Owen, Sundi, David, and Mark discuss their favorite moments from past conferences and offer a sneak peek into what this year's event has in store. From insightful training classes to thought-provoking talks on topics like LiveView, data processing, Nerves, and machine learning—there's something for every Elixirist and Elixir-curious software developer. In this episode, we share tips on making the most of the conference, whether you're there to network, learn, or just soak in the community vibes. Want to attend ElixirConf in Orlando from August 27th-30th, 2024? Use code ELIXIRPODCAST at checkout to get a $50 discount on your tickets here: https://ti.to/elixirconf/2024 Key topics discussed in this episode: Favorite moments and experiences from previous ElixirConf events How to network and make the most of your conference attendance Training classes and talks we're looking forward to this year Keynotes from prominent Elixir community figures Chris McCord's keynote: TBD (Could it be a LiveView 1.0 announcement?!) Benefits of attending ElixirConf: learning, networking, community immersion Virtual attendance options for those unable to attend in person Early bird ticket prices and special discount code "ELIXIRPODCAST" for $50 off Why you should step out of your comfort zone and engage with others Passion and energy of Elixir community members at ElixirConf Mentorship opportunities: connect with experienced Elixir developers Exploring Orlando attractions during ElixirConf 2024 downtime An invitation to join us at ElixirConf 2024 and immerse yourself in the Elixir community Links mentioned: https://2024.elixirconf.com/ https://hexdocs.pm/ecto/Ecto.html https://fly.io/ https://brainlid.org/ https://github.com/brainlid/ https://www.meetup.com/austin-elixir/ https://grox.io/ https://hexdocs.pm/phoenixliveview/Phoenix.Component.html https://opentelemetry.io/docs/languages/erlang/ https://ash-hq.org/ https://alembic.com.au/ Functional IoT with Elixir and Nerves - Justin Schneck | Craft 2019 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrpQHZcy3CI) https://docs.nerves-hub.org/ https://nerves-project.org/ https://getoban.pro/ https://hexdocs.pm/broadway/Broadway.html https://developer.farm.bot/v15/docs/farmbot-os.html Leaving Everything Behind For Elixir (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2WciH6rAFg) - Theo’s video Phoenix LiveView Is Making Me Reconsider React... (https://youtu.be/aOk67eT3fpg?si=MTxtIv-xmuJZYbup)- Theo’s other video Podcast: Thinking Elixir 206: BeamOps - DevOps on the BEAM (https://podcast.thinkingelixir.com/206) Special Guests: David Bernheisel and Mark Ericksen.

It’s the season finale of Elixir Wizards Office Hours! SmartLogic’s Project Manager Alicia Brindisi and VP of Delivery Bri LaVorgna join host Dan to delve into the agile ceremony of retrospectives. They explore the vital role of retrospectives in Agile project management and unveil practical strategies for enhancing their effectiveness. Alicia and Bri break down the elements of a successful retrospective. They cover everything from meticulous preparation to facilitation techniques, and how to choose the best format for fostering open dialogue and actionable results. Learn how to navigate common obstacles and guide discussions toward productive, solution-focused outcomes. Throughout the episode, they emphasize the transformative potential of retrospectives within the Agile framework, portraying them not just as a procedural activity, but as a catalyst for continuous team growth and project success. Key topics discussed in this episode: Mastering the full potential of retrospectives in Agile environments Best practices for effective preparation and facilitation Choosing the right format to suit your team's dynamics Strategies for overcoming typical challenges during retrospectives Techniques for addressing and resolving interpersonal conflicts constructively The critical importance of valuing each team member’s perspective Practical advice on applying insights from retrospectives to enact organizational changes Tailoring and refining retrospectives to meet your team’s unique requirements Links mentioned: SmartLogic https://smartlogic.io/ SmartLogic LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/smartlogic-io Contact Bri Bri@smartlogic.io Retrium Retrospectives for Scrum & Agile Teams https://www.retrium.com/ 4Ls Retrospective Template https://www.retrium.com/retrospective-techniques/4ls Start Stop Continue Retrospective https://www.retrium.com/retrospective-techniques/start-stop-continue Sailboat Retrospective https://www.retrium.com/retrospective-techniques/sailboat Starfish Retrospective https://www.retrium.com/retrospective-techniques/starfish ClickUp Project Management Platform https://clickup.com/teams/project-management Asana Task Manager http://www.asana.com Jira Project Management Tool https://www.atlassian.com/software/jira  Special Guests: Alicia Brindisi and Bri LaVorgna.

In Office Hours Episode 10, SmartLogic’s newest developers, Emma Whamond and Micaela Cunha, join Elixir Wizard Owen Bickford to discuss their onboarding experiences, joining a new engineering team, and navigating an unfamiliar codebase. They share tips and challenges on learning new programming languages like Ruby and Elixir while ramping up for active client projects. Emma and Micaela emphasize the value of starting with tests and seeking guidance from teammates when diving into unfamiliar projects. Our guests provide valuable guidance for anyone navigating the transition into a new software development team, highlighting the importance of collaboration, continuous learning, and community support in the tech industry. Key topics discussed in this episode: What to expect when joining a new engineering team Navigating existing codebases as a new hire in Elixir and Ruby Applying previous work experience to software development The importance of tests and team communication in unfamiliar projects Learning Ruby as a C++ and JavaScript developer Differences between dynamic and static typing Building team camaraderie and intentionality in remote work environments The steep learning curve of the onboarding process, including documentation, codebases, and client meetings Relying on teammates for guidance and overcoming the fear of asking too many questions Updating documentation within project repositories Learning team dynamics and identifying domain experts for targeted assistance Domain-specific knowledge: being a senior developer in one language vs. another Building friendships and connections within local tech communities The welcoming and supportive nature of the tech industry for newcomers Links mentioned: Elixir Programming Language https://elixir-lang.org/ Ruby on Rails https://www.ruby-lang.org/en/ Ruby Koans - Learn Ruby language, syntax, structure https://www.rubykoans.com/ Elixir Language Learning Exercises (Elixir Koans) https://github.com/elixirkoans/elixir-koans The PETAL Stack in Elixir https://thinkingelixir.com/petal-stack-in-elixir/ Alpine JS Lightweight JavaScript Framework https://alpinejs.dev/ Phoenix LiveView https://hexdocs.pm/phoenixliveview/Phoenix.LiveView.html WebAuthn Components passwordless authentication to LiveView applications https://github.com/liveshowy/webauthn_components Gleam functional language for building type-safe, scalable systems https://gleam.run/ The Future of Types in Elixir with José Valim, Guillaume Duboc, and Giuseppe Castagna https://smartlogic.io/podcast/elixir-wizards/s10-e12-jose-guillaume-giuseppe-types-elixir/ Git-Blame https://git-scm.com/docs/git-blame nix store https://nixos.org/manual/nix/stable/command-ref/nix-store Code and Coffee https://codeandcoffee.org/ Special Guests: Emma Whamond and Micaela Cunha.

In Episode 9 of Elixir Wizards Office Hours, we dive into task writing and backlog grooming, transforming ideas from the discovery phase into actionable tickets. Join SmartLogic Developer Camber Griffin and hosts Dan Ivovich and Owen Bickford as they explore the intricacies of task writing, ticket grooming, estimation, and backlog management in the software development lifecycle. They emphasize crafting clear, detailed tickets that act as comprehensive guides for development teams. A well-written ticket does more than outline what needs to be built—it facilitates collaboration by including entry points, linking to essential documentation, defining acceptance criteria, detailing QA steps, and identifying potential risks and future hurdles. Key topics discussed in this episode: Crafting actionable development tickets from inspiration Achieving the optimal level of detail in tickets Tailoring ticket content for developers, QA, and stakeholders Standardizing ticket format with templates Structurally breaking down tasks into manageable sections Ensuring flexibility in implementation while maintaining clear specifications Proactively discussing architectural and design approaches Incorporating related documentation within tickets Clarifying acceptance criteria and QA procedures Accurately estimating task effort and complexity Collaboratively grooming tasks with cross-functional teams Adjusting tickets to evolving requirements Strategically planning for uncertainties and out-of-scope concerns Managing and versioning ongoing documentation Keeping the backlog clean, prioritized, and relevant Mapping dependencies among interconnected tasks Links mentioned: Jira Work Management https://www.atlassian.com/software/jira ClickUp Project Management Platform https://clickup.com/teams/project-management GitHub Projects https://docs.github.com/en/issues/planning-and-tracking-with-projects Zube Agile Project Management https://zube.io/ Pivotal Tracker Agile Project Management Tool https://www.pivotaltracker.com/ Trak Portfolio Management System https://pd-trak.com/ ClearCase Software Configuration Mgmt www.ibm.com/products/devops-code-clearcase Oban Job Processing in Elixir https://github.com/sorentwo/oban Special Guest: Camber Griffin.

In Elixir Wizards Office Hours Episode 8, hosts Sundi Myint and Owen Bickford lead an engaging Q&A session with co-host Dan Ivovich, diving deep into the nuances of DevOps. Drawing from his extensive experience, Dan navigates topics from the early days before Docker to managing diverse polyglot environments and optimizing observability. This episode offers insights for developers of all levels looking to sharpen their DevOps skills. Explore the realms of Docker, containerization, DevOps workflows, and the deployment intricacies of Elixir applications. Key topics discussed in this episode: Understanding DevOps and starting points for beginners Best practices for deploying applications to the cloud Using Docker for containerization Managing multiple programming environments with microservices Strategies for geographic distribution and ensuring redundancy Localization considerations involving latency and device specs Using Prometheus and OpenTelemetry for observability Adjusting scaling based on application metrics Approaching failure scenarios, including database migrations and managing dependencies Tackling challenges in monitoring setups and alert configurations Implementing incremental, zero-downtime deployment strategies The intricacies of hot code upgrades and effective state management Recommended learning paths, including Linux and CI/CD workflows Tools for visualizing system health and monitoring Identifying actionable metrics and setting effective alerts Links mentioned: Ansible open source IT automation engine https://www.ansible.com/ Wikimedia engine https://doc.wikimedia.org/ Drupal content management software https://www.drupal.org/ Capistrano remote server automation and deployment https://capistranorb.com/ Docker  https://www.docker.com/ Circle CI CI/CD Tool https://circleci.com/ DNS Cluster https://hex.pm/packages/dnscluster ElixirConf 2023 Chris McCord Phoenix Field Notes https://youtu.be/Ckgl9KO4E4M Nerves https://nerves-project.org/ Oban job processing in Elixir https://getoban.pro/ Sidekiq background jobs for Ruby https://sidekiq.org/ Prometheus https://prometheus.io/ PromEx https://hexdocs.pm/promex/PromEx.html GitHub Actions - Setup BEAM: https://github.com/erlef/setup-beam Jenkins open source automation server https://www.jenkins.io/ DataDog Cloud Monitoring https://www.datadoghq.com/

In Episode 7 of Elixir Wizards Office Hours, SmartLogic Engineers Joel Meador and Charles Suggs join host Owen Bickford to tackle the often tricky task of adding print functionality to web applications. They discuss their recent experiences with browser-based printing and the hurdles of cross-browser compatibility, consistent styling, and dynamic content generation, such as headers and footers. The trio delves into the limitations of current printing capabilities in browsers, the potential of server-side PDF generation, and the necessity of juggling separate templates for web and print. They also consider accessibility for printed content and the demands of delivering high-fidelity, pixel-perfect prints. Throughout the episode, Joel, Charles, and Owen offer up practical advice for developers grappling with similar issues, emphasizing the need for thorough research, proactive problem-solving, and the exploration of both in-browser and external PDF generation solutions. Key topics discussed in this episode: Real-world experiences with software project printing Navigating the limitations of browser-based printing Ensuring cross-browser compatibility and consistent layout Generating dynamic content for print versions Exploring server-side PDF generation and its advantages Balancing design consistency across web and print formats Addressing accessibility in printed outputs Overcoming the unique challenges of high-accuracy printing requirements Practical tips for researching and implementing printing solutions Handling complex data presentations like tables in print Evaluating the pros and cons of different printing APIs Understanding the distinction between web viewing and printing needs Innovating with mixed content in PDF generation Learning from past printing challenges and planning for future improvements Links mentioned: CSS3 https://css3.com/ WeasyPrint https://github.com/Kozea/WeasyPrint WebKit https://webkit.org/ Pdf.js https://github.com/mozilla/pdf.js YesLogic Prince 15 https://www.princexml.com/ PrintXML https://gist.github.com/craiga/2934093 PDF/A https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PDF/A The PDF/A Family of Archiving Standards https://www.pdflib.com/pdf-knowledge-base/pdfa/the-pdfa-standards/ PDF/X https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PDF/X Microsoft Encarta https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Encarta Special Guests: Charles Suggs and Joel Meador.

In Office Hours Episode 6, SmartLogic Developers Anna Dorigo and Bilal Hankins join Elixir Wizards Sundi and Dan to discuss their experiences maintaining a decade-old Ruby on Rails codebase. They delve into the critical importance of deeply understanding the codebase, keeping dependencies current, and adapting to the original application's evolving priorities and design choices. The conversation spans a range of topics, including accessibility, testing, monitoring, and the challenges of deploying database migrations in production environments. The guests share effective strategies for sustaining and enhancing older codebases, such as employing automated tools, performing code audits, and adhering to clean coding principles. Key topics discussed in this episode: Grasping the legacy codebase and its historical context Overcoming accessibility issues in older applications Safe dependency management and upgrades The effects of application scaling on database performance The critical role of comprehensive test suites in legacy systems Using tools like Sentry for error tracking and performance monitoring The benefits of automated security and dependency scans Juggling client needs with budget constraints Local simulation techniques for large datasets The value of iterative code reviews and maintaining clean code Utilizing git history for contextual understanding Onboarding strategies for legacy projects Removing obsolete code and avoiding "magic numbers" Importance of descriptive naming for better code clarity Leveraging a rich repository of example code for learning and reference Proactive code audits to anticipate issues Managing pull request sizes for smoother reviews Communicating effectively about upgrades and potential impacts Strategies for handling large databases efficiently Ensuring thorough test coverage Keeping open lines of communication with clients regarding ongoing maintenance Links mentioned: COBOL programming language https://developer.ibm.com/languages/cobol/ Ruby on Rails https://rubyonrails.org/ ARIA Rules (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) https://www.w3.org/TR/using-aria/ Shawn Vo on Elixir as a Competitive Advantage https://smartlogic.io/podcast/elixir-wizards/s5e5-vo/ Bundler Audit Ruby Gem https://rubygems.org/gems/bundler-audit/ Sentry application monitoring and error tracking software  https://sentry.io/ Dependabot Github automated dependency updates Mix hex.audit https://hexdocs.pm/hex/Mx.Tasks.Hex.Audit.html Git Blame https://git-scm.com/docs/git-blame Cow hoof trimming videos - The Hoof GP on YouTube (TW graphic imagery) Special Guests: Anna Dorigo and Bilal Hankins.

In today's episode, Elixir Wizards Owen and Dan delve into the complexities of building advanced reporting features within software applications. They share personal insights and challenges encountered while developing reporting solutions for user-generated data, leveraging both Elixir/Phoenix and Ruby on Rails. The discussion zeroes in on crucial data modeling and architectural decisions that enhance reporting efficiency and flexibility. Owen and Dan explore tactics like materialized views, event sourcing, and database triggers to optimize data handling while being mindful of UX elements like progress indicators and background job management. They share insights on leveraging the Elixir/Beam ecosystem’s strengths—like concurrency and streamlined deployment—to tackle common reporting, caching, and integration challenges. The episode highlights the impact of reporting features across all aspects of a software application’s design and architecture. Key topics discussed in this episode: Reporting on assessment data, survey results, and user metrics Differences between reporting and performance/error monitoring Implementing reporting in Elixir/Phoenix vs. Ruby on Rails Displaying reports in web, printable, PDF, SVG, and CSV formats Challenges of generating PDFs for large data sets Streaming CSV data directly to the client Handling long-running report generation tasks Providing progress indicators and user notifications Strategies for canceling or abandoning incomplete reports Tradeoffs of pre-calculating report data vs. real-time generation Materializing views and denormalizing data for reporting Exploring event sourcing patterns for reporting needs Using database triggers and stored procedures for reporting Balancing data structure optimization for reports vs. day-to-day usage Caching report data for faster retrieval and rendering Charting and visualization integration in reporting systems Links mentioned: Prometheus monitoring system & time series database https://prometheus.io/ Thinking Elixir "FLAME with Chris McCord" https://podcast.thinkingelixir.com/181 Phoenix LiveView Uploads https://hexdocs.pm/phoenix/fileuploads.html https://hexdocs.pm/phoenixlive_view/Phoenix.LiveView.UploadWriter.html Postgrex PostgreSQL driver for Elixir https://hexdocs.pm/postgrex/Postgrex.html Ecto https://hexdocs.pm/ecto/Ecto.html Heroku cloud application platform  https://www.heroku.com/ Elixir Wizards S9E12 Marcelo Dominguez on Command and Query Responsibility Segregation https://smartlogic.io/podcast/elixir-wizards/s9-e12-marcelo-dominguez-cqrs/ Commanded Elixir CQRS/ES applications https://github.com/commanded/commanded Tailwind CSS Framework https://github.com/tailwindlabs Memcached https://memcached.org/ Redis https://redis.io/ Oban https://hexdocs.pm/oban/Oban.html ETS https://hexdocs.pm/ets/ETS.html Capistrano remote server automation and deployment tool https://capistranorb.com/

In Elixir Wizards Office Hours Episode 4, SmartLogic Product Designer Ava Slivkoff joins hosts Sundi Myint and Owen Bickford to discuss the product designer's role in software development. Ava shares her experience navigating client expectations, software design principles, and technical constraints. They explore the integration of design and development workflows and how designers and engineers can collaborate to meet a project's specific needs. The conversation emphasizes the value of cross-functional teams and the synergy that can arise when all team members work in harmony to bring a product to life. Key concepts discussed in the episode: The broad scope of the designer role in web app development The value of an MVP in the iterative software design process Challenges of aligning client expectations with design best practices Pros and cons of leveraging pre-built Tailwind CSS styled components Trends and evolution in web design aesthetics and patterns Leveraging open-source design systems like Tailwind UI Balancing technical constraints with design aspirations Communication and trust-building between designers and engineers Workflows for design handoffs and feedback loops Importance of user flows and mapping the product experience Challenges around the implementation of complex UI elements Benefits of regular design review meetings and syncs Fostering empathy and collaboration across disciplines Links mentioned Figma Dev Mode https://www.figma.com/dev-mode/ Tailwind CSS utility-first CSS framework https://tailwindcss.com/ Tailwind UI https://tailwindui.com/ https://devinai.ai/ Special Guest: Ava Slivkoff.

Today on Elixir Wizards Office Hours, SmartLogic Engineer Joel Meador joins Dan Ivovich to discuss all things background jobs. The behind-the-scenes heroes of app performance and scalability, background jobs take center stage as we dissect their role in optimizing user experience and managing heavy-lifting tasks away from the main application flow. From syncing with external systems to processing large datasets, background jobs are pivotal to successful application management. Dan and Joel share their perspectives on monitoring, debugging, and securing background jobs, emphasizing the need for a strategic approach to these hidden workflows. Key topics discussed in this episode: The vital role of background jobs in app performance Optimizing user experience through background processing Common pitfalls: resource starvation and latency issues Strategies for effective monitoring and debugging of task runners and job schedulers Data integrity and system security in open source software Background job tools like Oban, Sidekiq, Resque, Cron jobs, Redis pub sub CPU utilization and processing speed Best practices for implementing background jobs Keeping jobs small, focused, and well-monitored Navigating job uniqueness, locking, and deployment orchestration Leveraging asynctask for asynchronous operations The art of continuous improvement in background job management Links mentioned in this episode: https://redis.io/ Oban job processing library https://hexdocs.pm/oban/Oban.html Resque Ruby library for background jobs https://github.com/resque Sidekiq background processing for Ruby https://github.com/sidekiq Delayed Job priority queue system https://github.com/collectiveidea/delayed_job RabbitMQ messaging and streaming broker https://www.rabbitmq.com/ Mnesia distributed telecommunications DBMS https://www.erlang.org/doc/man/mnesia.html Task for Elixir https://hexdocs.pm/elixir/1.12/Task.html ETS in-memory store for Elixir and Erlang objects https://hexdocs.pm/ets/ETS.html Cron - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cron Donate to Miami Indians of Indiana https://www.miamiindians.org/take-action Joel Meador on Tumblr https://joelmeador.tumblr.com/ Special Guest: Joel Meador.

In Elixir Wizards Office Hours Episode 2, "Discovery Discoveries," SmartLogic's Project Manager Alicia Brindisi and VP of Delivery Bri LaVorgna join Elixir Wizards Sundi Myint and Owen Bickford on an exploratory journey through the discovery phase of the software development lifecycle. This episode highlights how collaboration and communication transform the client-project team dynamic into a customized expedition. The goal of discovery is to reveal clear business goals, understand the end user, pinpoint key project objectives, and meticulously document the path forward in a Product Requirements Document (PRD). The discussion emphasizes the importance of fostering transparency, trust, and open communication. Through a mutual exchange of ideas, we are able to create the most tailored, efficient solutions that meet the client's current goals and their vision for the future. Key topics discussed in this episode: Mastering the art of tailored, collaborative discovery Navigating business landscapes and user experiences with empathy Sculpting project objectives and architectural blueprints Continuously capturing discoveries and refining documentation Striking the perfect balance between flexibility and structured processes Steering clear of scope creep while managing expectations Tapping into collective wisdom for ongoing discovery Building and sustaining a foundation of trust and transparency Links mentioned in this episode: https://smartlogic.io/ Follow SmartLogic on social media: https://twitter.com/smartlogic Contact Bri: bri@smartlogic.io What is a PRD? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Productrequirementsdocument Special Guests: Alicia Brindisi and Bri LaVorgna.

The Elixir Wizards Podcast is back with Season 12 Office Hours, where we talk with the internal SmartLogic team about the stages of the software development lifecycle. For the season premiere, "Testing 1, 2, 3," Joel Meador and Charles Suggs join us to discuss the nuances of software testing. In this episode, we discuss everything from testing philosophies to test driven development (TDD), integration, and end-user testing. Our guests share real-world experiences that highlight the benefits of thorough testing, challenges like test maintenance, and problem-solving for complex production environments. Key topics discussed in this episode: How to find a balance that's cost-effective and practical while testing Balancing test coverage and development speed The importance of clear test plans and goals So many tests: Unit testing, integration testing, acceptance testing, penetration testing, automated vs. manual testing Agile vs. Waterfall methodologies Writing readable and maintainable tests Testing edge cases and unexpected scenarios Testing as a form of documentation and communication Advice for developers looking to improve testing practices Continuous integration and deployment Links mentioned: https://smartlogic.io/ Watch this episode on YouTube! youtu.be/unx5AIvSdc Bob Martin “Clean Code” videos - “Uncle Bob”: http://cleancoder.com/ JUnit 5 Testing for Java and the JVM https://junit.org/junit5/ ExUnit Testing for Elixir https://hexdocs.pm/exunit/ExUnit.html Code-Level Testing of Smalltalk Applications https://www.cs.ubc.ca/~murphy/stworkshop/28-7.html Agile Manifesto https://agilemanifesto.org/ Old Man Yells at Cloud https://i.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/original/000/019/304/old.jpg TDD: Test Driven Development https://www.agilealliance.org/glossary/tdd/ Perl Programming Language https://www.perl.org/ Protractor Test Framework for Angular and AngularJS protractortest.org/#/ Waterfall Project Management https://business.adobe.com/blog/basics/waterfall CodeSync Leveling up at Bleacher Report A cautionary tale - PETER HASTIE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4SzZCwB8B4 Mix ecto.dump https://hexdocs.pm/ectosql/Mix.Tasks.Ecto.Dump.html Apache JMeter Load Testing in Java https://jmeter.apache.org/ Pentest Tools Collection - Penetration Testing https://github.com/arch3rPro/PentestTools The Road to 2 Million Websocket Connections in Phoenix https://www.phoenixframework.org/blog/the-road-to-2-million-websocket-connections Donate to Miami Indians of Indiana https://www.miamiindians.org/take-action Joel Meador on Tumblr https://joelmeador.tumblr.com/ Special Guests: Charles Suggs and Joel Meador.

For the final episode of Elixir Wizards’ Season 11 “Branching Out from Elixir,” we’re featuring a recent discussion from the Software Unscripted podcast. In this conversation, José Valim, creator of Elixir, interviews Richard Feldman, creator of Roc. They compare notes on the process and considerations for creating a language. This episode covers the origins of creating a language, its influences, and how goals shape the tradeoffs in programming language design. José and Richard share anecdotes from their experiences guiding the evolution of Elixir and Roc. The discussion provides an insightful look at the experimentation and learning involved in crafting new languages. Topics discussed in this episode What inspires the creation of a new programming language Goals and use cases for a programming language Influences from Elm, Rust, Haskell, Go, OCaml, and more Tradeoffs involved in expressiveness of type systems Opportunistic mutation for performance gains in a functional language Minimum version selection for dependency resolution Build time considerations with type checking and monomorphization Design experiments and rolling back features that don’t work out History from the first simple interpreter to today's real programming language Design considerations around package management and versioning Participation in Advent of Code to gain new users and feedback Providing performance optimization tools to users in the future Tradeoffs involved in picking integer types and arithmetic Comparing floats and equality checks on dictionaries Using abilities to customize equality for custom types Ensuring availability of multiple package versions for incremental upgrades Treating major version bumps as separate artifacts Roc's focus on single-threaded performance Links mentioned in this episode Software Unscripted Podcast https://feeds.resonaterecordings.com/software-unscripted Roc Programming Language https://www.roc-lang.org/ Roc Lang on Github https://github.com/roc-lang/roc Elm Programming Language https://elm-lang.org/ Elm in Action by Richard Feldman https://www.manning.com/books/elm-in-action Richard Feldman on Github https://github.com/rtfeldman Lua Programming Language https://www.lua.org/ Vimscript Guide https://google.github.io/styleguide/vimscriptfull.xml OCaml Programming Language https://ocaml.org/ Advent of Code https://adventofcode.com/ Roc Language on Twitter https://twitter.com/roclang Richard Feldman on Twitter https://twitter.com/rtfeldman Roc Zulip Chat https://roc.zulipchat.com Clojure Programming Language https://clojure.org/ Talk: Persistent Data Structures and Managed References by Rich Hickey https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toD45DtVCFM Koka Programming Language https://koka-lang.github.io/koka/doc/index.html Flix Programming Language https://flix.dev/ Clojure Transients https://clojure.org/reference/transients Haskell Software Transactional Memory https://wiki.haskell.org/Softwaretransactional_memory Rust Traits https://doc.rust-lang.org/book/ch10-02-traits.html CoffeeScript https://coffeescript.org/ Cargo Package Management https://doc.rust-lang.org/book/ch01-03-hello-cargo.html Versioning in Golang https://research.swtch.com/vgo-principles Special Guests: José Valim and Richard Feldman.

Today on Elixir Wizards, Wojtek Mach of HexPM and Amal Hussein, engineering leader and former NPM team member, join Owen Bickford to compare notes on package management in Elixir vs. JavaScript. This lively conversation covers everything from best practices for dependency management to API design, SemVer (semantic versioning), and the dark ages of web development before package managers existed. The guests debate philosophical differences between the JavaScript and Elixir communities. They highlight the JavaScript ecosystem's maturity and identify potential areas of improvement, contrasted against Elixir’s emphasis on minimal dependencies. Both guests encourage engineers to publish packages, even small ones, as a learning opportunity. Topics discussed in this episode: Leveraging community packages rather than reinventing the wheel Vetting packages carefully before adopting them as dependencies Evaluating security, performance, and bundle size when assessing packages Managing transitive dependencies pulled in by packages Why semantic versioning is difficult to consistently enforce Designing APIs with extensibility and backward compatibility in mind Using tools like deprecations to avoid breaking changes in new releases JavaScript’s preference for code reuse over minimization The Elixir community’s minimal dependencies and avoidance of tech debt Challenges in early package management, such as global dependency Learning from tools like Ruby Gems and Bundler to improve experience How log files provide visibility into dependency management actions How lock files pin dependency versions for consistency Publishing packages democratizes access and provides learning opportunities Linting to enforce standards and prevent certain bugs Primitive-focused packages provide flexibility over highly opinionated ones Suggestions for improving documentation and guides Benefits of collaboration between programming language communities Links mentioned in this episode: Node.js https://github.com/nodejs npm JavaScript Package Manager  https://github.com/npm JS Party Podcast https://changelog.com/jsparty Dashbit https://dashbit.co/ HexPM Package Manager for Erlang https://hex.pm/ HTTP Client for Elixir https://github.com/wojtekmach/req Ecto Database-Wrapper for Elixir https://github.com/elixir-ecto (Not an ORM) XState Actor-Based State Management for JavaScript https://xstate.js.org/docs/ Supply Chain Protection for JavaScript, Python, and Go  https://socket.dev/ MixAudit https://github.com/mirego/mixaudit NimbleTOTP Library for 2FA https://hexdocs.pm/nimbletotp/NimbleTOTP.html Microsoft Azure https://github.com/Azure Patch Package https://www.npmjs.com/package/patch-package Ruby Bundler to manage Gem dependencies https://github.com/rubygems/bundler npm-shrinkwrap https://docs.npmjs.com/cli/v10/commands/npm-shrinkwrap SemVer Semantic Versioner for NPM https://www.npmjs.com/package/semver Spec-ulation Keynote - Rich Hickey https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyLBGkS5ICk Amal’s favorite Linter https://eslint.org/ Elixir Mint Functional HTTP Client for Elixir https://github.com/elixir-mint Tailwind Open Source CSS Framework https://tailwindcss.com/ WebauthnComponents https://hex.pm/packages/webauthn_components Special Guests: Amal Hussein and Wojtek Mach.

Today on Elixir Wizards, Camille Clayton, Director of Women Who Code DC, and Scott Tolinski, Co-Host of the Syntax Podcast and Creator of Level Up Tutorials, join hosts Sundi Myint and Owen Bickford to discuss tech community spaces online and IRL. They lay out the blueprint and best practices for fostering an inclusive environment where newcomers feel comfortable and welcome to join the discussion – whether it’s an online forum, YouTube comment sections, social media platform, local meetup, or conference. Topics discussed in this episode: Leaving a space open so newcomers feel empowered to join Celebrating small wins to maintain excitement and build confidence Why consistency is key to building a community with longevity Creating and enforcing a code of conduct to define expectations Finding respectful resolutions for addressing issues or complaints The importance of amplifying underrepresented voices in tech Creating content for all skill levels and adapting to a wider audience How remote meetups broaden the possibilities for attendance and connection Finding the right fit for mentorship Delegation to strengthen community members’ sense of ownership Navigating the new normal of local, in-person gatherings post-pandemic Links mentioned in this episode: https://www.womenwhocode.com/network/dc https://syntax.fm/ https://levelup.video/ https://devopsdays.org/ https://github.com/sveltejs https://github.com/womenwhocodedc https://twitter.com/womenwhocode https://www.remoteworkcalc.com/ https://twitter.com/WomenWhoCodeDC https://www.meetup.com/dc-elixir/ Special Guests: Camille Clayton and Scott Tolinski.

In this episode of Elixir Wizards, Xiang Ji and Nathan Hessler join hosts Sundi Myint and Owen Bickford to compare actor model implementation in Elixir, Ruby, and Clojure. In Elixir, the actor model is core to how the BEAM VM works, with lightweight processes communicating asynchronously via message passing. GenServers provide a common abstraction for building actors, handling messages, and maintaining internal state. In Ruby, the actor model is represented through Ractors, which currently map to OS threads. They discuss what we can learn by comparing models, understanding tradeoffs between VMs, languages, and concurrency primitives, and how this knowledge can help us choose the best tools for a project. Topics discussed in this episode: Difference between actor model and shared memory concurrency Isolation of actor state and communication via message passing BEAM VM design for high concurrency via lightweight processes GenServers as common abstraction for building stateful actors GenServer callbacks for message handling and state updates Agents as similar process abstraction to GenServers Shared state utilities like ETS for inter-process communication Global Interpreter Lock in older Ruby VMs Ractors as initial actor implementation in Ruby mapping to threads Planned improvements to Ruby concurrency in 3.3 Akka implementation of actor model on JVM using thread scheduling Limitations of shared memory concurrency on JVM Project Loom bringing lightweight processes to JVM Building GenServer behavior in Ruby using metaprogramming CSP model of communication using channels in Clojure Differences between BEAM scheduler and thread-based VMs Comparing Elixir to academic languages like Haskell Remote and theScore are hiring! Links mentioned in this episode: theScore is hiring! https://www.thescore.com/ Remote is also hiring! https://remote.com/ Comparing the Actor Model and CSP with Elixir and Clojure (https://xiangji.me/2023/12/18/comparing-the-actor-model-and-csp-with-elixir-and-clojure/) Blog Post by Xiang Ji Comparing the Actor model & CSP concurrency with Elixir & Clojure (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIQCQKPRNCI) Xiang Ji at ElixirConf EU 2022 Clojure Programming Language https://clojure.org/ Akka https://akka.io/ Go Programming Language https://github.com/golang/go Proto Actor for Golang https://proto.actor/ RabbitMQ Open-Source Message Broker Software  https://github.com/rabbitmq JVM Project Loom https://github.com/openjdk/loom Ractor for Ruby  https://docs.ruby-lang.org/en/master/ractor_md.html Seven Concurrency Models in Seven Weeks: When Threads Unravel (https://pragprog.com/titles/pb7con/seven-concurrency-models-in-seven-weeks/)by Paul Butcher Seven Languages in Seven Weeks (https://pragprog.com/titles/btlang/seven-languages-in-seven-weeks/) by Bruce A. Tate GenServer https://hexdocs.pm/elixir/1.12/GenServer.html ets https://www.erlang.org/doc/man/ets.html Elixir in Action (https://pragprog.com/titles/btlang/seven-languages-in-seven-weeks/) by Saša Jurić Redis https://github.com/redis/redis Designing for Scalability with Erlang/OTP (https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/designing-for-scalability/9781449361556/) by Francesco Cesarini & Steve Vinoski Discord Blog: Using Rust to Scale Elixir for 11 Million Concurrent Users (https://discord.com/blog/using-rust-to-scale-elixir-for-11-million-concurrent-users) Xiang's website https://xiangji.me/ Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy (https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/feeling-good-the-new-mood-therapy-by-david-d-burns/250046/?resultid=7691fb71-d8f9-4435-a7a3-db3441d2272b#edition=2377541&idiq=3913925) by David D. Burns Special Guests: Nathan Hessler and Xiang Ji.

In this episode of Elixir Wizards, hosts Owen and Dan are joined by René Föhring, creator of Credo for Elixir, and Marc-André LaFortune, head maintainer of the RuboCop AST library for Ruby. They compare static code analysis in Ruby versus Elixir. The conversation explores the intricacies and challenges inherent in static code analysis across object-oriented and functional programming paradigms, highlighting the unique characteristics of both Ruby and Elixir. Key topics of discussion include the ways these tools can enhance coding styles and empower developers, the delicate balance between providing guidance and enforcing rules, and the evolving future of code analysis in these languages. Topics discussed in this episode: The differences and applications between static and dynamic analysis How Credo aims to offer flexible and educational guidance for Elixir developers The complexities of method identification in Ruby and its impact on static analysis Challenges posed by macros and dynamic code modification during compilation in Elixir Reducing false positives in code analysis tools to minimize developer frustration Promoting uniform coding practices through analysis tools The significance of using analysis tools with clear, specific objectives How coding standards can refine and improve coding styles over time Building analysis tools and checks through an understanding of Abstract Syntax Trees (ASTs) Potential advancements in the analysis of Phoenix templates and HTML in Elixir Contrasting approaches to managing code and comments in Elixir and Ruby ASTs The fine line between providing helpful guidance and imposing stylistic preferences Heuristics in static analysis highlight inconsistencies without mandating style The potential for more straightforward pattern matching in ASTs with future updates The importance of a gradual implementation of tool updates to maintain backward compatibility Creating tools that support and empower developers, rather than hinder them How static analysis contributes to cleaner, more maintainable codebases Potential future developments in the field of static code analysis Practical applications of using linters like Credo and RuboCop in software development Links mentioned in this episode: Credo https://github.com/rrrene/credo https://hexdocs.pm/credo/overview.html Dogma: A code style linter for Elixir https://github.com/lpil/dogma https://github.com/rubocop/rubocop RuboCop's AST extensions and NodePattern functionality https://github.com/rubocop/rubocop-ast https://github.com/whitequark/parser https://hex.pm/packages?search=credo&sort=recentdownloads https://github.com/doorgan/sourceror https://github.com/rrrene/credo/blob/master/lib/credo/check/readability/largenumbers.ex Special Guests: Marc-André Lafortune and René Föhring.