The Stack

What’s so difficult about building a blog?

Assuming we keep it plain and simple, not so much. That’s why I’ve selected it as a test of our emerging Erlang competencies.

Personally, I’m really interested in highly collaborative web applications. But I don’t know how to build them  — yet. Figure I should walk before I run.

Here are the tools spread across my workbench. At this point I’m all thumbs, but figure that these should see us through.

• Nitrogen – web framework http://nitrogenproject.com/
• Mochiweb – webserver http://code.google.com/p/mochiweb/
• Erlang – primary programming language http://erlang.org/
• Mnesia – database http://www1.erlang.org/documentation/doc-5.0.1/lib/mnesia-3.9.2/doc/index.html

Why these?

For one, I love the fact that this stack is Erlang top to bottom. I’m getting just too darned old to learn six languages to complete one project.

I’m attracted to the claims that Erlang is concurrent, scalable, and fault tolerant.

Nitrogen is a new kid on the block; probably not production ready. But I love the way it interfaces with Javascript, native language of the browser. And, hey, it might be fun to get in on the ground floor.

Yes, I know that there are 100 languages out there better suited to web development and at least 1,000 reasons why Erlang sucks.

But if you’re of a mood to argue either of these propositions here, please, please start your own blog.

We’re eager and willing to take our lumps.

Journey of One Thousand Miles

My long-time associate Fred sucks up source code a page at a time; spits out source code as fast as he can type while simultaneously conducting an unrelated discussion on his cell phone.

I’m a plodder. I learn and program step (hmm… let’s mull this over) by (mull mull mull) step at a time.

This blog may well unfold at a similar plodding rhythm,  though I hope with enough meat to keep a few folks following along.

My intent is to master Erlang, sharing what I learn as I go along. But here’s a longer-term goal just to keep things on track:

Goal: Move this blog from this blog application generously provided through the good graces of WordPress to a blog application of our own design and construction written in Erlang.

I say we above because I’m hoping you’ll participate at every turn.

If you’re an Erlang wizard, we’ll welcome your guru-grace and mentoring.

If you’re just climbing aboard the learning curve, we’ll welcome your company and fresh way of confronting challenges that we’ll no doubt encounter along the way.

Shocking Discoveries

One way to learn about electricity is to stick your finger in a light socket. Assuming you survive, the experience will no doubt be memorable. And, absent other information, it may be the only path toward enlightenment. Follow up with cautious curiosity and you may even learn about on/off switches, line cords, plugs, and wall sockets.

Similarly, one can learn much about cutting-edge software projects by poking around the source code, even when the language reads like so much Greek. Indeed, poking around may be the only way forward when documentation lags behind code development, which is often the case.

Erlang documentation ranges from first class to skimpy at best. I’m starting low on the learning curve; hoping to climb by digging in and getting my hands dirty. Looking to record my experiences and insights here.

I welcome error correction and words of wisdom from those higher on the learning curve; invite any and all wishing to join me on the journey to pitch in.