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Introducing Elixir: Getting Started in Functional Programming
Elixir is an excellent language if you want to learn about functional programming, and with this hands-on introduction, you’ll discover just how powerful and fun Elixir can be. This language combines the robust functional programming of Erlang with a syntax similar to Ruby, and includes powerful features for metaprogramming. This book shows you how to write simple Elixir programs by teaching one skill at a time. Once you pick up pattern matching, process-oriented programming, and other concepts, you’ll understand why Elixir makes it easier to build concurrent and resilient programs that scale up and down with ease.
210 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
February 27, 2016
Just a bad copy of Elixir's documentation
February 15, 2018
Got the book from Humble Bundle Functional Programming, I read it in one shot straight. It is okay, covering all features of Elixir.
The cool thing of the book that it uses only 1 example from the beginning till the last chapter - what a so consistent content.
Though, it feels like reading Elixir tutorial + Phoenix tutorial with sole one example.
Mnesia is a good part which not in Elixir tut and you have to use Elixir lib for it / or know Erlang already.
The part on error handling is so basic - it said that in Elixir let it fall is the way to do, but don't explain further.
Learn some good tips like: cd , pwd, v, :dbg, display Mnesia table on GUI which not available now in Elixir tut.
The cool thing of the book that it uses only 1 example from the beginning till the last chapter - what a so consistent content.
Though, it feels like reading Elixir tutorial + Phoenix tutorial with sole one example.
Mnesia is a good part which not in Elixir tut and you have to use Elixir lib for it / or know Erlang already.
The part on error handling is so basic - it said that in Elixir let it fall is the way to do, but don't explain further.
Learn some good tips like: cd , pwd, v, :dbg, display Mnesia table on GUI which not available now in Elixir tut.
July 26, 2020
In a way, this is an "Introducing" book, so one shouldn't expect some deep knowledge about the language after reading it. But also, sometimes it feels a bit too "shallow" to gather some proper understanding of the language.
One thing that kept bugging me was the fact that code kept changing: Not in the "going forward" kind of change, which is good, explain the basic, then start adding more complex/shorter solutions, but "let me bend this to another direction and completely ignore that direction later".
But to get a "feeling" of the language, it is a good book.
One thing that kept bugging me was the fact that code kept changing: Not in the "going forward" kind of change, which is good, explain the basic, then start adding more complex/shorter solutions, but "let me bend this to another direction and completely ignore that direction later".
But to get a "feeling" of the language, it is a good book.
January 29, 2023
The book itself is very good, very well written and quite inviting provided you have some programming experience prior. I do have to say though, I don't like the organisation: seems like logic and if statements are pushed to one side when they are pretty fundamental while it prioritises other things like processes.
The language itself, I have a love-hate relationship with. Some parts of it I adore e.g. processes feature while I don't like how much is done in the console as opposed to just using files. This may be just because of the learning curve but the book didn't make it easy on me.
The language itself, I have a love-hate relationship with. Some parts of it I adore e.g. processes feature while I don't like how much is done in the console as opposed to just using files. This may be just because of the learning curve but the book didn't make it easy on me.
December 29, 2017
Short book...nice if you have read any other Elixir book before...it's good for reference or for knowledge refreshing...but wouldn't choose it as a starter book...as it just scratches the surface without going to deep in detail...
Would love to give it more than 3 stars...but it have so few examples...
Anyway...not a bad book...just simple...
Would love to give it more than 3 stars...but it have so few examples...
Anyway...not a bad book...just simple...
November 6, 2019
Having to learn to think in tail-recursive functions all the time instead of what I'm used to in most programming languages meant Elixir was a headache to learn and feels more like an IQ test when writing in it. The book is not too bad at explaining the concepts, and does a pretty good job at easing the learning process, just not an exceptional job.
February 25, 2018
A good introduction to Elixir. Basic syntax, semantics, debugging, observation, testing, and a brief introduction to GenServer and Supervisor. Exactly what I wanted before I went off to read and write in a new programming language!
February 25, 2016
This the second Elixir book I read so naturally I read this one faster. I also find it much easier to read. The examples are easy to understand. Almost like Ruby without its functional programming features.
March 5, 2016
Seems like a reasonable overview of Elixir. The book seemed a little confused about whether it was an introduction to programming or just Elixir though. I feel it could have assumed more programming experience and built on that to introduce Elixir and its distinguishing features.
December 24, 2014
Not a bad book, but really quite basic. Unless you are completely you new to Erlang and/or FP, you're probably better off with some other book. In all fairness, the foreword does say as much.
August 24, 2015
Brief intro into elixir with simple examples, They could have give better examples yet it is ok and good for beginners.
May 6, 2016
The book lacks cohesion. It consists of an index of the language features with corresponding examples. I found the examples to be made up.
August 29, 2016
As it says, it's just an introduction. In fact, I find the documentation more helpful.
It's a toy book.
It's a toy book.
November 26, 2016
A well written fast introduction to Elixir programming language. But remember it is just an introduction. It is not enough to understand how things actually work.
April 30, 2017
I enjoyed it - I found it to be a bit more suited for my learning method.
January 26, 2019
Nice Book. For begining with Elixir you learn the basics and in the final chapter you have a little experience with the Phoenix framework.
May 7, 2019
Nice book for beginnners with Elixir!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
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