Elixir Deployment and Usage Guide

Prerequisites

Before installing Elixir, ensure you have the following:

Erlang/OTP: Elixir runs on the Erlang virtual machine. Install Erlang version 24.0 or later from the official Erlang website.
Git: Required for cloning the repository.
Build tools: Depending on your platform, you may need build tools like make and a C compiler.

Installation

From Source

To compile Elixir from source:

Clone the repository:

git clone https://github.com/elixir-lang/elixir.git
cd elixir

Compile Elixir:
```
make
```
(Optional) Set as system version by adding the bin directory to your PATH environment variable:
```
export PATH=$PATH:/path/to/elixir/bin
```

System Installation

For various platform-specific installation methods, refer to the official installation guide.

Note for Windows users: This article includes important notes for compiling Elixir from source on Windows.

Configuration

Environment Variables

ERL_COMPILER_OPTIONS=deterministic: Set this for deterministic builds.
Update your PATH to include the Elixir binary directory if using a custom installation.

Build Configuration

When updating the repository, run make clean before recompiling to ensure a clean build.

Build & Run

Development

Compile the project:
```
make
```
Run the Elixir interactive shell (IEx):
```
bin/iex
```

Production

For production deployments, consider using pre-built packages or your system's package manager for stability.

Deployment

Platform Options

Elixir applications can be deployed on various platforms:

Docker: Containerize your Elixir application using official Docker images.
Platform as a Service (PaaS):
- Heroku with the Elixir buildpack
- Gigalixir (Elixir-specific PaaS)
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS):
- AWS EC2 with Distillery or Mix releases
- Google Cloud Compute Engine
Kubernetes: Deploy using Kubernetes with Distillery or Mix releases.

Release Management

For production deployments, use Mix releases or Distillery to create self-contained releases of your Elixir applications.

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Erlang Not Found
- Ensure Erlang is installed and in your PATH
- Verify Erlang version is 24.0 or later
Compilation Errors
- Run make clean before recompiling
- Check that all build dependencies are installed
PATH Issues
- Verify the Elixir bin directory is in your PATH
- Restart your terminal after modifying PATH
Deterministic Build Issues
- Set ERL_COMPILER_OPTIONS=deterministic environment variable

Getting Help

For general discussions and support, use the community spaces listed on the Elixir website.
For bug reports, visit the issue tracker.
For security vulnerabilities, follow the Security Policy.

How to Deploy & Use elixir-lang/elixir