Elixir Wizards

Latest Episodes:

Creating the Castmagic AI-Powered Content Workflow Platform with Justin Tormey Nov 28, 2024

Show notes

Justin Tormey, co-founder of Castmagic, joins the Elixir Wizards to discuss building an AI-powered content creation app. Castmagic repurposes audio and video into social media posts, blog articles, newsletters, and more. The tech stack leverages OpenAI and Anthropic LLMs with Elixir as the coordination layer and Phoenix LiveView powering the front end.

Justin dives into the technical details of Castmagic, including the integration of JavaScript libraries like ProseMirror and TipTap through LiveSvelte, as well as enabling real-time collaboration with CRDTs and YDoc. He shares the benefits and challenges of using Elixir for rapid development, as well as the trade-offs between custom code and off-the-shelf solutions.

The conversation also covers Justin’s entrepreneurial journey, highlighting the advantages of bootstrapping over venture capital, the importance of acquiring early customers, and creative marketing strategies like affiliate programs and software marketplaces.

Whether you're an Elixirist exploring machine learning or an aspiring tech founder, tune in to learn more about AI with Elixir, navigating startup challenges, and turning ideas into impactful software.

Topics discussed in this episode:

Building Castmagic to generate content from audio and video for creators
Using AI services like OpenAI and Anthropic for transcription and workflows
Elixir as the coordination layer for complex processes
Rapid UI development with Phoenix LiveView
Integrating rich text editing libraries through LiveSvelte
Enabling collaborative editing with CRDTs and YDoc
Balancing offline functionality with cloud-based AI tools
Challenges of working with external AI services
Exploring the future of multimodal AI in product development
Bootstrapping vs. venture capital: benefits and challenges
Strategies for finding distribution channels and early adopters
Creative approaches to marketing, including affiliates and marketplaces
Balancing engineering efforts with customer and business needs
Practical advice for navigating the early stages of a startup

Special Guest: Justin Tormey.

Creating the Standd AI-Native Due Diligence Platform with Stephen Solka Nov 21, 2024

Show notes

Stephen Solka, CTO and co-founder of Standd.io, joins Elixir Wizards Owen and Charles to share the journey of building an AI-native deal intelligence and due diligence platform. Designed to streamline document analysis and text generation for venture capital firms, Standd.io leverages large language models and AI tools to address key customer pain points in document workflows.

Stephen explains how Elixir and Phoenix LiveView enabled rapid UI iteration and seamless integration between the front-end and back-end.

The conversation also explores the human side of startup life. Stephen reflects on balancing tech debt with customer demands, the value of accelerators in building networks and securing funding, and the challenges of pricing in early-stage startups. He emphasizes the importance of validating ideas with potential customers and learning from the hurdles of growing a business.

Tune in for insights on leveraging AI in Elixir, solving real-world problems, and navigating the journey from concept to company.

Topics discussed in this episode:

The journey from self-taught programmer to CTO
The perks of Phoenix LiveView for rapid UI development
Integrating front-end and back-end technologies
AI tools for code generation
How early adopters balance functionality with product polish
Validating ideas and understanding customer needs
The impact of accelerators on networking and fundraising
Approaches to managing pricing strategies for startups
Balancing technical debt with feature development
The role of telemetry and error reporting in product development
Creating collaborative and supportive tech communities
Educating users on AI’s capabilities and limitations
The broader implications of AI tools across industries

Links Mentioned

Contact Stephen & Julie at Standd: founders@standd.io
https://www.standd.io/
https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/gangs-of-four-gof-design-patterns
https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/code-complete_steve-mcconnell/248753/item/15057346/
https://aws.amazon.com/sagemaker/
https://www.anthropic.com/
https://getoban.pro/
https://kubernetes.io/
https://www.apollographql.com/
https://aws.amazon.com/startups/accelerators
https://accelerate.techstars.com/
https://aider.chat/
https://github.com/Aider-AI/aider
https://neovim.io/
https://ui.shadcn.com/
https://tailwindui.com/
https://www.ycombinator.com/
https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/close-to-the-machine-technophilia-and-its-discontents_ellen-ullman/392556

Special Guest: Stephen Solka.

Creating the WebAuthn Components Library for Phoenix LiveView Apps with Owen Bickford Nov 14, 2024

Show notes

Today on Elixir Wizards, Owen Bickford, fellow Wizard and creator of the WebauthnComponents library, joins us to talk about building passwordless authentication for Phoenix LiveView applications. Owen walks us through the evolution of authentication—touching on everything from plain text passwords to multi-factor setups—and explains the security flaws and user experience issues each method presents. He describes passkeys, a solution based on the WebAuthn API, which improves security and ease of use.

The conversation covers cross-device support for passkeys, the role of password managers in keeping credentials synced, and ideas for enhancing WebauthnComponents, like supporting multiple passkeys per account. Owen invites listeners to contribute to the library’s development on GitHub and emphasizes the role passkeys play in improving app security and user experience.

Topics discussed in this episode:

Passkeys and the shift toward passwordless authentication
WebAuthn API and its role in secure login systems
Creating the WebauthnComponents library for Phoenix LiveView
History of authentication from basic passwords to multi-factor approaches
Security gaps and user experience challenges with traditional methods
Asymmetric cryptography’s impact on secure logins
Hardware-based credential storage and generation with Trusted Platform Modules
Structure and components of the WebAuthn library: dependencies, LiveViews, and Ecto schemas
Live components for real-time server-browser interactions
Passkeys as a primary or secondary authentication method
Key business considerations when choosing authentication methods
Cross-device support for passkeys and credential syncing
Strategies for passkey recovery if devices are lost
Ensuring secure access in unattended environments
Elixir’s ecosystem advantages for building authentication systems
Simplifying JavaScript complexity within Elixir projects
Future-proofing WebAuthn Components for seamless updates
Using Igniter to enhance customization and refactoring
Developer-friendly tools for secure authentication
Inviting community contributions on GitHub and the Elixir forum
Plans for telemetry and performance tracking
Why adopting passkeys is a win for app security and user experience

Links mentioned:

https://github.com/liveshowy/webauthn_components
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_(cryptography)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainbow_table
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multi-factor_authentication
https://oauth.net/2/
https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/Web_Authentication_API
https://www.w3.org/TR/webauthn-3/
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/tips/windows-hello
https://trustedcomputinggroup.org/resource/trusted-platform-module-tpm-summary/
https://hexdocs.pm/phoenix/mix_phx_gen_auth.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public-key_cryptography
SSH Protocol (Secure Shell) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secure_Shell
https://www.yubico.com/products/yubikey-5-overview/
https://fidoalliance.org/how-fido-works/
https://1password.com/
https://keepassxc.org/
https://hexdocs.pm/ecto_ulid/Ecto.ULID.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universally_unique_identifier
https://hexdocs.pm/ecto/Ecto.Schema.html
https://hexdocs.pm/sourceror/
https://github.com/ash-project/igniter
Forum thread:
https://elixirforum.com/t/webauthnlivecomponent-passwordless-auth-for-liveview-apps/49941

Creating a Terrestrial Telescope using Nerves & LiveView with Lucas Sifoni Nov 07, 2024

Show notes

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.

Creating a Local-First Offline-Enabled LiveView PWA with Tony Dang Oct 31, 2024

Show notes

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:

Special Guest: Tony Dang.

Creating VintageCell: Nerves, PCBs, and GenStateMachine with Bryan Green Oct 24, 2024

Show notes

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.

Creating the Igniter Code Generation Framework with Zach Daniel Oct 17, 2024

Show notes

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.

Elixir Wizards X Thinking Elixir ElixirConf 2024 Hype-isode Jul 23, 2024

Show notes

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.

"The Past is Your Teacher" with Alicia Brindisi and Bri LaVorgna May 30, 2024

Show notes

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.

"So You've Been Hired" with Emma Whamond and Micaela Cunha May 23, 2024

Show notes

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