Elixir Mentor

Jacob Luetzow
  • 5.0 (4)
  • TECHNOLOGY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to the Elixir Mentor Podcast, your go-to source for All Things Elixir. This show digs into the heart of the Elixir community, featuring interviews with enthusiasts and pioneers who share their stories and innovative projects that define our ecosystem. Each episode explores groundbreaking libraries and boundary-pushing applications shaping Elixir's future. We discuss best practices, emerging trends, and the latest tools and techniques. Perfect for developers at any stage of their Elixir journey, providing insights and inspiration. Join me as we explore the world of Elixir together.

  1. Chris McCord on Phoenix 1.8 and AI-Powered Development

    4D AGO

    Chris McCord on Phoenix 1.8 and AI-Powered Development

    In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, I chat with Chris McCord, creator of Phoenix Framework and LiveView. We dive deep into Phoenix 1.8's groundbreaking AI features, including the revolutionary AGENTS.md file that's transforming how developers work with LLMs in their Elixir applications. Chris shares the fascinating evolution from Phoenix channels to LiveView, explaining how his early experiments with real-time Rails applications led to creating the framework that powers some of today's most ambitious web applications. We explore Phoenix.new, the browser-based development platform that lets anyone build Elixir apps without installing anything locally, and discuss how Tidewave MCP brings intelligent AI assistance directly into your development workflow. Our conversation reveals why Elixir's concurrency model and OTP primitives make it the perfect platform for building AI agents, with Chris explaining how gen servers naturally solve the complex state management and routing problems that other ecosystems struggle with. He provides valuable insights on using LLMs effectively in development, from avoiding common pitfalls to leveraging AI for code porting and debugging. The episode concludes with Chris's thoughts on open source sustainability, the importance of community culture, and practical advice for developers looking to level up their skills with AI-assisted development. This conversation offers essential perspective for anyone working with Elixir or considering how AI will shape the future of software development. Resources Mentioned: - Phoenix Framework: https://phoenixframework.org/ - Metaprogramming Elixir book - Phoenix.new - Browser-based development platform - Tidewave MCP - Local AI development integration Connect with Chris: - Website: https://chrismccord.com/ - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-mccord-98b47a37/ SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR - Elixir Mentor: https://elixirmentor.com

    1h 36m
  2. Adam Kirk on Building AI Meeting Automation

    AUG 26

    Adam Kirk on Building AI Meeting Automation

    In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, I chat with Adam Kirk, CTO and co-founder of Jump, where they're building AI-powered meeting intelligence for financial advisors. We dive deep into scaling Elixir applications, managing LiveView at thousands of concurrent connections, and building high-performance teams in competitive markets. Adam shares his fascinating journey from PHP and Rails to Elixir, explaining how Jump pivoted from sales automation to financial advisor tools and found explosive product-market fit. We explore the technical challenges of real-time meeting processing, AI cost optimization, and the unique compliance requirements of the financial sector. Our conversation covers Jump's innovative hiring philosophy, including their distinctive approach of 30-minute coding assessments followed by paid trial weeks. Adam explains how they've successfully hired 40+ engineers, many learning Elixir on the job, while maintaining a strong culture of full-stack ownership and work-life balance. We also discuss practical aspects of scaling with LiveView, handling WebSocket reconnections gracefully, and why they chose Oban over traditional GenServer patterns in their Kubernetes environment. This episode provides valuable insights for anyone building AI-powered applications, scaling engineering teams, or navigating the challenges of startup growth. Resources Mentioned: - Jump: https://jumpapp.com/ - Jump Careers: https://careers.jumpapp.com/ - Adam on X: https://x.com/atomkirk SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR - Elixir Mentor: https://elixirmentor.com - Recruitment Services: https://elixirmentor.com/?utm_source=elixir-mentor

    1h 25m
  3. Mike Hostetler on Autonomous Agents

    JUL 25

    Mike Hostetler on Autonomous Agents

    In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, I sit down with Mike Hostetler, creator of Jido, a powerful framework for building autonomous AI agent systems in Elixir. We explore why Elixir's actor model and OTP make it the ideal platform for creating massive agent swarms. Mike shares his vision of "10,000 agents per human" and explains how Jido's architecture leverages Elixir's strengths to build scalable, distributed agent systems. We dive deep into the framework's core components including actions (atomic units of work), signals (messaging backbone), and how agents can spawn sub-agents in supervision trees. The conversation covers practical applications, from Discord bots to job board automation. Our discussion reveals fascinating insights about the future of software development, where traditional coding languages may need to evolve for the agent-driven world. Mike explains his design philosophy of keeping LLMs separate from the core framework, allowing for both AI-powered and traditional NPC-style agents to coexist efficiently. This episode provides valuable perspective for developers interested in building autonomous systems, understanding distributed architecture, and preparing for the next evolution in software development where agents become integral to our development workflow. **Resources Mentioned:** - Jido Framework: https://github.com/agentjido - Agent Jido: https://agentjido.xyz - Mike's Website: https://mike-hostetler.com/ **Connect with Mike:** - X/Twitter: @mikehostetler SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR - Elixir Mentor: https://elixirmentor.com

    1h 2m
  4. Zach Daniel on Ash and Ash AI

    JUL 12

    Zach Daniel on Ash and Ash AI

    In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, I sit down with Zach Daniel, the brilliant creator of Ash Framework, for a fascinating discussion about the intersection of AI and application development. We dive deep into LLM workflows, explore the revolutionary usage rules system, and get an exclusive look at Ash AI - the comprehensive toolkit that's changing how we integrate AI capabilities into Elixir applications. Zach shares his insights on effective LLM usage patterns, from vibe coding workflows to production-ready AI integrations. We explore the groundbreaking usage rules system that allows library authors to provide LLM-specific guidance, making AI assistance dramatically more effective for framework users. The conversation covers Ash AI's powerful features including automated chatbot generation, prompt-backed actions, and seamless tool integration that lets you build AI-enabled applications with minimal effort. Our discussion also touches on the challenges of scaling open source communities, the future of solo entrepreneurship in the AI era, and how tools like Deep Wiki are creating surprisingly accurate AI-generated documentation. Zach provides valuable perspective on managing large open source projects while maintaining code quality and community engagement. This episode offers essential insights for developers interested in leveraging AI tools effectively, understanding modern framework design, and building robust applications with Elixir and Ash. Whether you're exploring AI integration or looking to understand cutting-edge development workflows, this conversation provides practical wisdom and forward-thinking perspectives. Resources Mentioned: - Ash Framework: https://ash-hq.org/ - Ash Framework Book: https://pragprog.com/titles/ldash/ash-framework/ - Usage Rules: https://hexdocs.pm/usage_rules/ - Deep Wiki: https://deepwiki.org/ Connect with Zach: - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachdaniel/ - Substack: https://www.zachdaniel.dev/ - GitHub: https://github.com/zachdaniel SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR - Elixir Mentor: https://elixirmentor.com

    2h 2m
  5. Greg Medland on Elixir Careers and Market Trends

    JUN 21

    Greg Medland on Elixir Careers and Market Trends

    In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, I welcome back Greg Medland, a recruiter who specializes in connecting talented developers with companies seeking expertise in the Elixir ecosystem. We dive deep into the current state of the Elixir job market and explore what developers can expect in 2025. Greg shares valuable insights on how the market has evolved since the post-COVID correction, revealing encouraging signs of recovery and continued Elixir adoption. We discuss the most in-demand skills including Ash Framework experience, full-stack capabilities with React, and AI/ML integration. The conversation explores how companies like Apple, BBC, and numerous startups are successfully leveraging Elixir at scale. We tackle the elephant in the room - AI's impact on developer roles. Greg provides a balanced perspective on how AI tools are changing the hiring landscape, what employers expect regarding AI proficiency, and how developers can leverage these tools while maintaining their value. He emphasizes the importance of using AI as a productivity enhancer rather than a replacement for critical thinking. The episode concludes with practical career advice including resume tips, interview strategies, and how to stand out in a competitive market. Greg shares his unique perspective from reviewing more Elixir developer resumes than perhaps anyone else, offering actionable insights for developers at all levels. Resources Mentioned: - Elixir Remote US Jobs Channel (Elixir Slack) - I Ask.ai: https://iask.ai Connect with Greg: - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregmedlandg2/ SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR - Elixir Mentor: https://elixirmentor.com

    1h 28m
  6. Brian Cardarella on Elixir Adoption

    JUN 7

    Brian Cardarella on Elixir Adoption

    In this comprehensive episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, I sit down with Brian Cardarella, CEO of DockYard, to tackle one of the most critical topics facing our community: Elixir adoption. We dive deep into the challenges and opportunities that shape how developers and companies discover and embrace Elixir. Brian shares his extensive experience from the consulting world, discussing everything from the changing conference landscape and social media fragmentation to the existential questions around AI's impact on programming languages. We explore why traditional adoption pathways have shifted, the role of LLMs in shaping developer choices, and practical strategies for convincing teams to adopt Elixir in both startup and enterprise environments. Our conversation covers the technical barriers newcomers face with OTP, the importance of community building, and the economic realities affecting the entire tech industry. Brian provides candid insights about running a consultancy during market downturns, the influence of private equity, and why Elixir's "makes hard things easy" philosophy sometimes struggles with the "easy things" developers expect. We also tackle community-submitted questions about migration strategies, tooling gaps, type systems, and the future of Live View Native. This episode offers both tactical advice for developers and strategic insights for technical leaders considering Elixir adoption. Resources Mentioned: - Elixir Outreach Stipend Program: https://elixir-lang.org/blog/2025/06/02/elixir-outreach-stipend-for-speakers/ - Conference opportunities list by Dave Erensson:https://www.codosaur.us/speaking/cfps-ending-soon Connect with Brian: - X/Twitter: https://x.com/bcardarella/ - DockYard: https://dockyard.com/ SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR - Elixir Mentor: https://elixirmentor.com

    3h 3m
  7. Henry Saint-Juste on Rapid Prototyping

    MAY 24

    Henry Saint-Juste on Rapid Prototyping

    In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, I sit down with Henry Saint-Juste, Solutions Architect at NetJets, to explore his philosophy of rapid prototyping and moving fast to validate ideas before committing to tech stacks. Henry shares his unique approach to staying 2-3 sprints ahead of engineering teams and building proof of concepts that drive real business decisions. We dive deep into Henry's experience building NetJets' mobile application using a "code once, deploy anywhere" strategy with React Native and Expo. Henry explains how he evaluates cross-platform frameworks and why React Native succeeded where other solutions like Flutter and Cordova fell short. Our conversation covers his methodology for rapid prototyping, platform engineering approaches, and the importance of getting user feedback loops as quickly as possible. Henry also shares his experience working with Elixir at a previous healthcare startup, his thoughts on automation and "speed of thought" development, and some fascinating insights about his unique perks working at NetJets (hint: private jets are involved). We explore modern deployment strategies, the evolving landscape of DevOps tools, and wrap up with predictions about AI's impact on software engineering teams. This conversation offers valuable insights for anyone interested in rapid prototyping methodologies, cross-platform mobile development, and building MVPs that actually provide meaningful data for product decisions. Connect with Henry: - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hberson/ SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR - Elixir Mentor: https://elixirmentor.com

    1h 36m
  8. Elliott Clark on Simplifying Cloud Infrastructure

    MAY 17

    Elliott Clark on Simplifying Cloud Infrastructure

    In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, I talk with Elliott Clark, former engineer at both Facebook and Microsoft, who now runs Batteries Included. Elliott shares his rich background from working on the .NET team at Microsoft and infrastructure and developer efficiency at Facebook to creating a platform that simplifies cloud deployment for developers of all sizes. Elliott explains how his experience at tech giants shaped his vision for Batteries Included, particularly the pain points he observed while at Facebook's developer efficiency team where he saw firsthand how complex configurations led to outages. He discusses why he chose Elixir and LiveView for his platform, highlighting how the unified language environment allows backend developers to build cohesive UIs without the traditional frontend/backend divide. We explore how Batteries Included automates complex infrastructure tasks like setting up Kubernetes, Postgres databases, Redis, and monitoring tools with just a few clicks. Elliott also shares insights on their "Robin Hood" business model—keeping the platform free for smaller developers while charging larger enterprises, a philosophy informed by his time with open-source projects at multiple companies. Our conversation dives into technical territory with discussions on managing large Elixir codebases (approaching 300,000 lines of code), challenges of umbrella projects, and the testing philosophies that help maintain quality. Elliott brings valuable perspectives from his work on large-scale systems at Facebook and Microsoft, offering insights on preventing regressions and building resilient infrastructure. Whether you're interested in Elixir, deployment infrastructure, or the challenges of building developer tools, this episode offers valuable insights from someone who has worked at both tech giants and startups. Elliott's practical approach to solving deployment pain points demonstrates how developers can build tools that truly make a difference in the development workflow. Resources Mentioned: - Batteries Included: https://batteriesincl.com - GitHub: https://github.com/batteries-included SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR - Elixir Mentor: https://elixirmentor.com

    1h 37m
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Welcome to the Elixir Mentor Podcast, your go-to source for All Things Elixir. This show digs into the heart of the Elixir community, featuring interviews with enthusiasts and pioneers who share their stories and innovative projects that define our ecosystem. Each episode explores groundbreaking libraries and boundary-pushing applications shaping Elixir's future. We discuss best practices, emerging trends, and the latest tools and techniques. Perfect for developers at any stage of their Elixir journey, providing insights and inspiration. Join me as we explore the world of Elixir together.

Information

  • Creator
    Jacob Luetzow
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    56
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Jacob Luetzow
  • Show Website
    Elixir Mentor

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