Elixir Wizards

SmartLogic LLC
Elixir Wizards

Elixir Wizards is an interview-style podcast for anyone interested in functional programming and the Elixir Programming Language. Hosted by SmartLogic engineers and Elixirists Owen Bickford, Dan Ivovich, and Sundi Myint, this show features in-depth discussions with some of the brightest minds in the industry, discussing training and documentation in Phoenix LiveView, the evolution of programming languages, Erlang VM, and more. In the current season, we're branching out from Elixir to compare notes with thought leaders and software engineers from programming languages like JavaScript, Ruby on Rails, Go, Scala, Java, and more. Each episode will take a deep dive into a topic from Machine Learning and AI, to ECS and game development, to education and community. Learn more about how SmartLogic uses Phoenix and Elixir. (https://smartlogic.io/phoenix-and-elixir?utm_source=podcast)

  1. Creating a Terrestrial Telescope using Nerves & LiveView with Lucas Sifoni

    6 DAYS AGO

    Creating a Terrestrial Telescope using Nerves & LiveView with Lucas Sifoni

    Today on Elixir Wizards, indie developer Lucas Sifoni shares his experience prototyping a remote-controlled terrestrial telescope using Elixir, Nerves, Rust, and various hardware components. Lucas explains the basic components of a telescope, the challenges he faced during the development process, and the benefits of using Elixir and Nerves for hardware projects. Lucas emphasizes the importance of simulating hardware components and testing assumptions before working with physical devices, as well as the value of literate programming and executable blog posts for documenting and sharing the process. Lucas encourages listeners to explore Nerves and build their own hardware projects. He also gives a shout-out to the Nerves core team for their incredible work. Topics discussed in this episode: Challenges in optimizing wiring and PCB design for the prototype Benefits of Elixir and Nerves for hardware projects Communicating with Arduinos using serial connections and pattern matching Leveraging binary pattern matching and construction in Elixir for hardware Balancing educational value and real-world usability Learning CID software and parametric design for 3D printing components Growing interest in Nerves and hardware projects within the Elixir community Simulating hardware components and testing assumptions before physical implementation Literate programming and executable blog posts for documenting hardware projects Using Elixir's interoperability with Rust for performance-critical tasks Elixir's low fragmentation and high-quality libraries for various domains Potential for using Livebook in hardware projects, with some limitations Encouraging listeners to explore Nerves and build their own hardware projects Links mentioned https://lucassifoni.info/ https://www.rust-lang.org/ https://go.dev/ https://lisp-lang.org/ https://ubuntu.com/ https://hexdocs.pm/iex/IEx.html https://nerves-project.org/ https://lucassifoni.info/blog/prototyping-elixir-telescope-code-beam/ https://github.com/Lucassifoni/oiseaux https://hexdocs.pm/phoenix_live_view/Phoenix.LiveView.html https://www.raspberrypi.com/ https://mangopi.org/ https://store.arduino.cc/products/arduino-nano https://elixir-circuits.github.io/ https://www.erlang.org/doc/apps/runtime_tools/scheduler.html Binary pattern matching in Elixir with PNG parsing example https://zohaib.me/binary-pattern-matching-in-elixir/ Lucas’ Code Beam Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7bleFzA11c https://github.com/membraneframework-labs https://github.com/talklittle/ffmpex https://studio.blender.org/training/3d-printing/ https://www.autodesk.com/products/fusion-360/personal https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parametric_design https://www.exem.fr/ https://www.kikk.be/exhibitions/collectif-lab212-nicolas-guichard-beatrice-lartigue/ https://livebook.dev/ https://github.com/elixir-nx/bumblebee https://github.com/rusterlium/rustlerhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7bleFzA11c Special Guest: Lucas Sifoni.

    50 min
  2. Creating a Local-First Offline-Enabled LiveView PWA with Tony Dang

    31 OCT

    Creating a Local-First Offline-Enabled LiveView PWA with Tony Dang

    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 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-free_replicated_data_type PWA: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_web_app https://github.com/josevalim/sync https://github.com/sveltejs/svelte https://github.com/woutdp/live_svelte https://github.com/yjs/yjs https://github.com/satoren/y_ex 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 | 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 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.

    48 min
  3. Creating VintageCell: Nerves, PCBs, and GenStateMachine with Bryan Green

    24 OCT

    Creating VintageCell: Nerves, PCBs, and GenStateMachine with Bryan Green

    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 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/circuits_gpio Nerves SSH https://hex.pm/packages/nerves_ssh 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/gen_state_machine/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/nerves_system_rpi4/issues/18 https://livebook.dev/ https://codestorm.me/ https://github.com/codestorm1/vintage_cell/ Special Guest: Bryan Green.

    29 min
  4. Creating the Igniter Code Generation Framework with Zach Daniel

    17 OCT

    Creating the Igniter Code Generation Framework with Zach Daniel

    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.

    53 min
  5. Elixir Wizards X Thinking Elixir ElixirConf 2024 Hype-isode

    23 JUL

    Elixir Wizards X Thinking Elixir ElixirConf 2024 Hype-isode

    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/phoenix_live_view/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://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 - Theo’s video Phoenix LiveView Is Making Me Reconsider React... - Theo’s other video Podcast: Thinking Elixir 206: BeamOps - DevOps on the BEAM Special Guests: David Bernheisel and Mark Ericksen.

    1 hr
  6. "The Past is Your Teacher" with Alicia Brindisi and Bri LaVorgna

    30 MAY

    "The Past is Your Teacher" with Alicia Brindisi and Bri LaVorgna

    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.

    33 min
  7. "So You've Been Hired" with Emma Whamond and Micaela Cunha

    23 MAY

    "So You've Been Hired" with Emma Whamond and Micaela Cunha

    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/phoenix_live_view/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.

    46 min
  8. "From Inspiration to Execution" with Camber Griffin

    16 MAY

    "From Inspiration to Execution" with Camber Griffin

    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.

    45 min

About

Elixir Wizards is an interview-style podcast for anyone interested in functional programming and the Elixir Programming Language. Hosted by SmartLogic engineers and Elixirists Owen Bickford, Dan Ivovich, and Sundi Myint, this show features in-depth discussions with some of the brightest minds in the industry, discussing training and documentation in Phoenix LiveView, the evolution of programming languages, Erlang VM, and more. In the current season, we're branching out from Elixir to compare notes with thought leaders and software engineers from programming languages like JavaScript, Ruby on Rails, Go, Scala, Java, and more. Each episode will take a deep dive into a topic from Machine Learning and AI, to ECS and game development, to education and community. Learn more about how SmartLogic uses Phoenix and Elixir. (https://smartlogic.io/phoenix-and-elixir?utm_source=podcast)

You Might Also Like

To listen to explicit episodes, sign in.

Stay up to date with this show

Sign in or sign up to follow shows, save episodes and get the latest updates.

Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America and the Caribbean

The United States and Canada