ErlangElixir

ErlangElixir is a term used to describe interoperability between Erlang and Elixir running on the BEAM virtual machine. It emphasizes that both languages share the same runtime, data representations (terms), and messaging primitives, allowing components written in one language to interact with those written in the other.

In practice, ErlangElixir functions as a collection of conventions, libraries, and tooling designed to ease cross-language use. Developers can reuse Erlang libraries from Elixir without translation, and Elixir modules can be invoked from Erlang. The shared BEAM environment means processes, supervisors, and OTP behaviors can span both languages, enabling mixed-code bases.

Common approaches include calling Erlang functions from Elixir via standard module invocation, using :erlang primitives when necessary, and exposing Elixir modules to Erlang with the Elixir module naming scheme (Elixir.MyModule) for interop. Tooling may provide wrappers, type specs, and tests that cover cross-language paths. Some projects aim to simplify imports of Erlang applications into Elixir projects or wrap popular Erlang libraries for Elixir use.

Challenges include differences in syntax, macro systems, and, in OTP, supervision strategies and generics; performance considerations; and potential maintenance costs from cross-language interfaces. While BEAM already supports cross-language calls, ErlangElixir as a formal concept highlights best practices for managing mixed modules and ensuring reliability.

See also Erlang, Elixir, BEAM, OTP.