Elixir Mentor

Brice Ayres on Fractional Engineering

Jacob Luetzow — Fri, 18 Sep 2026 19:00:00 GMT

Brice Ayres, founder of Axio Intelligence, on fractional engineering and what changes when one senior engineer can run a team of AI agents. Brice went from the Army and a 3.7 million follower Facebook cause to finding Elixir at Topgolf, leading engineering orgs, and going out on his own.

We get into managing agents like an engineering org, whether you still need to read every line, and why Ash keeps LLMs on the rails. I share how a team of Grok Bots handles marketing, support, and QA for Killswitch, and we close with Brice's playbook for cutting cloud costs.

00:00 - Introduction

02:51 - Web dev class, the Army, and a viral nonprofit

08:38 - Finding Elixir at Topgolf

13:00 - What is fractional engineering?

16:10 - Vibe coding and why engineers still matter

24:03 - Think like an engineering manager

26:32 - Reviewing AI code, Ash, and established patterns

29:55 - Offmic, a live AI podcast producer

35:18 - Running agents like an engineering org

40:51 - Read-only agents in prod and self-healing infra

42:05 - A Polymarket bot with agent consensus

47:06 - Marketing Killswitch with Grok Bots

52:06 - Lighthouse scores and agentic browsing

56:13 - Getting found by LLMs

59:27 - Order with Surf: agentic food ordering

1:02:48 - Agent QA and local testing with K3s and Floci

1:05:40 - Data labeling, synthetic data, and edge AI

1:08:55 - Nerves, Peridio, and Avocado OS

1:11:47 - Bot traffic, analytics, and self-hosting

1:16:00 - Hardware stories and real-world edge cases

1:26:24 - When engineers ship faster than you can plan

1:29:10 - Monoliths, Postgres scaling, and ETS

1:36:40 - Where to find Brice

1:37:44 - Cutting cloud costs: logging and AZ traffic

Resources Mentioned:

- Axio Intelligence: https://axiointelligence.com/?utm_source=elixir-mentor

- Grok Bot: https://x.ai/news/introducing-grok-bot?utm_source=elixir-mentor

- Killswitch: https://killswitch.app/?utm_source=elixir-mentor

Connect with Brice:

- X/Twitter: https://x.com/briceayres?utm_source=elixir-mentor

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briceayres/?utm_source=elixir-mentor

Sponsors:

- BEAMOps: https://beamops.co.uk/?utm_source=elixir-mentor

- Paraxial.io: https://paraxial.io/?utm_source=elixir-mentor

- Jido: https://agentjido.xyz/discord?utm_source=elixir-mentor

SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR

- Elixir Mentor: https://elixirmentor.com/?utm_source=elixir-mentor

#ElixirLang #MyElixirStatus #ElixirMentor

Bobby Clayson on Building Marketplaces

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 04 Oct 2025 15:52:38 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, I sit down with Bobby Clayson, CEO of Crofter Market, who's tackling one of America's biggest challenges: food system centralization. Bobby shares his journey from building Tax Bit in the cryptocurrency space to creating a marketplace that connects local farmers directly with consumers.

We dive deep into the technical and business challenges of building a two-sided marketplace with Elixir. Bobby explains how COVID exposed critical weaknesses in our food supply chain—from beef rationing while farms had surplus livestock to the loss of 50% of American ranchers over four decades. He shares how Crofter evolved from a simple directory to a full third-party logistics operation with refrigerated delivery.

The conversation covers crucial startup lessons: solving the cold start problem, building trust with non-technical farmers, knowing when to pivot, and the importance of stepping away from code as a technical founder. Bobby offers candid advice about fundraising, hiring in the Elixir ecosystem, and why passion for your problem matters more than your idea. He emphasizes how functional programming naturally aligns with distributed systems and why Elixir's fault tolerance makes it perfect for marketplace infrastructure.

This episode provides valuable insights for anyone building marketplaces, working with physical logistics, or transitioning from technical to leadership roles. Bobby's story demonstrates how technology can address real-world problems while supporting local farmers and improving public health through better food access.

Resources Mentioned:
- Crofter Market: https://crofter.com
- The Cold Start Problem by Andrew Chen
- Platform Revolution

Connect with Bobby:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbyclayson/

SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR
- Elixir Mentor: https://elixirmentor.com

Chris McCord on Phoenix 1.8 and AI-Powered Development

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 13 Sep 2025 14:41:33 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, I chat with Chris McCord, creator of Phoenix Framework and LiveView. We dive deep into Phoenix 1.8's groundbreaking AI features, including the revolutionary AGENTS.md file that's transforming how developers work with LLMs in their Elixir applications.

Chris shares the fascinating evolution from Phoenix channels to LiveView, explaining how his early experiments with real-time Rails applications led to creating the framework that powers some of today's most ambitious web applications. We explore Phoenix.new, the browser-based development platform that lets anyone build Elixir apps without installing anything locally, and discuss how Tidewave MCP brings intelligent AI assistance directly into your development workflow.

Our conversation reveals why Elixir's concurrency model and OTP primitives make it the perfect platform for building AI agents, with Chris explaining how gen servers naturally solve the complex state management and routing problems that other ecosystems struggle with. He provides valuable insights on using LLMs effectively in development, from avoiding common pitfalls to leveraging AI for code porting and debugging.

The episode concludes with Chris's thoughts on open source sustainability, the importance of community culture, and practical advice for developers looking to level up their skills with AI-assisted development. This conversation offers essential perspective for anyone working with Elixir or considering how AI will shape the future of software development.

Resources Mentioned:
- Phoenix Framework: https://phoenixframework.org/
- Metaprogramming Elixir book
- Phoenix.new - Browser-based development platform
- Tidewave MCP - Local AI development integration

Connect with Chris:
- Website: https://chrismccord.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-mccord-98b47a37/

SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR
- Elixir Mentor: https://elixirmentor.com

Adam Kirk on Building AI Meeting Automation

Jacob Luetzow — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 14:32:08 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, I chat with Adam Kirk, CTO and co-founder of Jump, where they're building AI-powered meeting intelligence for financial advisors. We dive deep into scaling Elixir applications, managing LiveView at thousands of concurrent connections, and building high-performance teams in competitive markets.

Adam shares his fascinating journey from PHP and Rails to Elixir, explaining how Jump pivoted from sales automation to financial advisor tools and found explosive product-market fit. We explore the technical challenges of real-time meeting processing, AI cost optimization, and the unique compliance requirements of the financial sector.

Our conversation covers Jump's innovative hiring philosophy, including their distinctive approach of 30-minute coding assessments followed by paid trial weeks. Adam explains how they've successfully hired 40+ engineers, many learning Elixir on the job, while maintaining a strong culture of full-stack ownership and work-life balance.

We also discuss practical aspects of scaling with LiveView, handling WebSocket reconnections gracefully, and why they chose Oban over traditional GenServer patterns in their Kubernetes environment. This episode provides valuable insights for anyone building AI-powered applications, scaling engineering teams, or navigating the challenges of startup growth.

Resources Mentioned:
- Jump: https://jumpapp.com/
- Jump Careers: https://careers.jumpapp.com/
- Adam on X: https://x.com/atomkirk

SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR
- Elixir Mentor: https://elixirmentor.com
- Recruitment Services: https://elixirmentor.com/?utm_source=elixir-mentor

Zach Daniel on Ash and Ash AI

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 12 Jul 2025 15:10:22 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, I sit down with Zach Daniel, the brilliant creator of Ash Framework, for a fascinating discussion about the intersection of AI and application development. We dive deep into LLM workflows, explore the revolutionary usage rules system, and get an exclusive look at Ash AI - the comprehensive toolkit that's changing how we integrate AI capabilities into Elixir applications.

Zach shares his insights on effective LLM usage patterns, from vibe coding workflows to production-ready AI integrations. We explore the groundbreaking usage rules system that allows library authors to provide LLM-specific guidance, making AI assistance dramatically more effective for framework users. The conversation covers Ash AI's powerful features including automated chatbot generation, prompt-backed actions, and seamless tool integration that lets you build AI-enabled applications with minimal effort.

Our discussion also touches on the challenges of scaling open source communities, the future of solo entrepreneurship in the AI era, and how tools like Deep Wiki are creating surprisingly accurate AI-generated documentation. Zach provides valuable perspective on managing large open source projects while maintaining code quality and community engagement.

This episode offers essential insights for developers interested in leveraging AI tools effectively, understanding modern framework design, and building robust applications with Elixir and Ash. Whether you're exploring AI integration or looking to understand cutting-edge development workflows, this conversation provides practical wisdom and forward-thinking perspectives.

Resources Mentioned:
- Ash Framework: https://ash-hq.org/
- Ash Framework Book: https://pragprog.com/titles/ldash/ash-framework/
- Usage Rules: https://hexdocs.pm/usage_rules/
- Deep Wiki: https://deepwiki.org/

Connect with Zach:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachdaniel/
- Substack: https://www.zachdaniel.dev/
- GitHub: https://github.com/zachdaniel

SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR
- Elixir Mentor: https://elixirmentor.com

Brian Cardarella on Elixir Adoption

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 07 Jun 2025 14:27:18 GMT

In this comprehensive episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, I sit down with Brian Cardarella, CEO of DockYard, to tackle one of the most critical topics facing our community: Elixir adoption. We dive deep into the challenges and opportunities that shape how developers and companies discover and embrace Elixir.

Brian shares his extensive experience from the consulting world, discussing everything from the changing conference landscape and social media fragmentation to the existential questions around AI's impact on programming languages. We explore why traditional adoption pathways have shifted, the role of LLMs in shaping developer choices, and practical strategies for convincing teams to adopt Elixir in both startup and enterprise environments.

Our conversation covers the technical barriers newcomers face with OTP, the importance of community building, and the economic realities affecting the entire tech industry. Brian provides candid insights about running a consultancy during market downturns, the influence of private equity, and why Elixir's "makes hard things easy" philosophy sometimes struggles with the "easy things" developers expect.

We also tackle community-submitted questions about migration strategies, tooling gaps, type systems, and the future of Live View Native. This episode offers both tactical advice for developers and strategic insights for technical leaders considering Elixir adoption.

Resources Mentioned:
- Elixir Outreach Stipend Program: https://elixir-lang.org/blog/2025/06/02/elixir-outreach-stipend-for-speakers/
- Conference opportunities list by Dave Erensson:https://www.codosaur.us/speaking/cfps-ending-soon

Connect with Brian:
- X/Twitter: https://x.com/bcardarella/
- DockYard: https://dockyard.com/

SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR
- Elixir Mentor: https://elixirmentor.com

Elliott Clark on Simplifying Cloud Infrastructure

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 17 May 2025 14:00:46 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, I talk with Elliott Clark, former engineer at both Facebook and Microsoft, who now runs Batteries Included. Elliott shares his rich background from working on the .NET team at Microsoft and infrastructure and developer efficiency at Facebook to creating a platform that simplifies cloud deployment for developers of all sizes.

Elliott explains how his experience at tech giants shaped his vision for Batteries Included, particularly the pain points he observed while at Facebook's developer efficiency team where he saw firsthand how complex configurations led to outages. He discusses why he chose Elixir and LiveView for his platform, highlighting how the unified language environment allows backend developers to build cohesive UIs without the traditional frontend/backend divide.

We explore how Batteries Included automates complex infrastructure tasks like setting up Kubernetes, Postgres databases, Redis, and monitoring tools with just a few clicks. Elliott also shares insights on their "Robin Hood" business model—keeping the platform free for smaller developers while charging larger enterprises, a philosophy informed by his time with open-source projects at multiple companies.

Our conversation dives into technical territory with discussions on managing large Elixir codebases (approaching 300,000 lines of code), challenges of umbrella projects, and the testing philosophies that help maintain quality. Elliott brings valuable perspectives from his work on large-scale systems at Facebook and Microsoft, offering insights on preventing regressions and building resilient infrastructure.

Whether you're interested in Elixir, deployment infrastructure, or the challenges of building developer tools, this episode offers valuable insights from someone who has worked at both tech giants and startups. Elliott's practical approach to solving deployment pain points demonstrates how developers can build tools that truly make a difference in the development workflow.

Resources Mentioned:
- Batteries Included: https://batteriesincl.com
- GitHub: https://github.com/batteries-included

SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR
- Elixir Mentor: https://elixirmentor.com

Daniel Bergholz on Windsurf and Claude for Elixir

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 29 Mar 2025 15:48:23 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, I chat with returning guest Daniel Bergholz about leveraging AI tools like Windsurf and Claude to dramatically improve Elixir development workflows. Daniel shares his journey from skepticism to becoming a power user, demonstrating how these tools can help developers build faster without compromising quality.

Daniel walks us through his practical approach to incorporating AI into both professional development work and side projects. He explains how to effectively use features like rules files, web documentation integration, and memory systems to get the best results when generating Elixir code. The conversation covers important nuances about how different programming languages perform with AI tools, with Daniel noting that while JavaScript/TypeScript might get near-perfect results, Elixir requires more guidance but still provides excellent value.

The discussion takes a critical look at the "Vibe coding" trend (generating code without understanding it) and offers a more responsible alternative that we call the "sniper approach" - using AI with precision and knowledge. We explore how AI tools are changing developer roles, potentially transitioning programmers from pure coders to more holistic product engineers who can focus on customer needs while leveraging AI for implementation.

Whether you're an Elixir enthusiast curious about productivity tools or a developer interested in responsible AI usage, this episode provides practical insights on balancing automation with craftsmanship. Daniel's experience demonstrates that AI can be a powerful assistant when used thoughtfully, helping developers produce higher quality work in less time.

Resources Mentioned:
- Windsurf:https://www.windsurf.io/
- Cursor:https://cursor.sh/
- Claude:https://claude.ai/

Connect with Daniel:
- Workflow Blog:https://dev.to/danielbergholz/my-ai-powered-workflow-for-writing-elixir-and-phoenix-with-windsurf-4k8m
- Website:https://bergdaniel.com.br/

SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR
- Elixir Mentor:https://elixirmentor.com

Sean Moriarity on Machine Learning in Elixir

Jacob Luetzow — Sun, 16 Jun 2024 01:15:10 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, your go-to source for all things Elixir, we are thrilled to welcome Sean Moriarity, the author of "Genetic Algorithms in Elixir: Solve Problems using Evolution" and "Machine Learning in Elixir: Learning to Learn with Nx and Axon"! 📚🧠

Sean will share his expertise in applying machine learning techniques within the Elixir ecosystem. We'll explore how genetic algorithms can be utilized to solve complex problems and optimize solutions. 🌿🦾

Sean will also discuss machine learning with Elixir, explaining how libraries like Nx and Axon enable developers to build intelligent systems that can learn and adapt. 📊🎓

Throughout the episode, we'll cover practical examples, best practices, and real-world applications of machine learning in Elixir. Sean will provide valuable knowledge on the benefits and challenges of implementing these techniques and share his experiences in writing his books. 📖✨

With a passion for artificial intelligence, evolutionary algorithms, mathematics, and functional programming, Sean brings a wealth of knowledge to the table. 🤖🧮

Whether you're a seasoned Elixir developer looking to expand your skill set or a machine learning enthusiast curious about Elixir's potential, this episode is packed with valuable insights and inspiration. 💡🔥

Join us as we uncover the exciting possibilities at the intersection of Elixir and machine learning with Sean Moriarity! 🎙️🧪

#ElixirMentor #MachineLearning #GeneticAlgorithms #Nx #Axon #SeanMoriarity #BEAM #FunctionalProgramming

Connect with Sean:
X: Follow Sean on X (Twitter)
Website: Visit Sean's Website

SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR
🌐 My website: Visit Elixir Mentor Website
🎙 Check out my podcast: Listen to Hired Gun Apps Podcast
🆘 NEED HELP?? Join our Discord Server
🔗 All my Links: Connect with Jacob on Linktree

Join this channel to get access to perks: YouTube Channel Membership

Alex Koutmos on Elixir Patterns

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 27 Apr 2024 14:41:47 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, your go-to source for All Things Elixir, I'm thrilled to welcome Alex Koutmos, a talented software engineer and author of the highly anticipated book "Elixir Patterns." 🌟💻📚

By day, Alex writes production code in Elixir, JavaScript, and Vue, while also leveraging his DevOps skills with Kubernetes, Docker, Prometheus, Grafana, and ELK. 👨‍💻💪

We'll dive into Alex's new book, "Elixir Patterns," which provides developers with a powerful toolbox of patterns that leverage the unique characteristics of the Erlang virtual machine (BEAM) to solve everyday problems in a simple yet scalable way. 📚🔍🚀

Alex will share his insights on how to effectively utilize the tools provided by Erlang and the BEAM, as well as how to apply functional programming principles to achieve clear and concise solutions. 💡

We'll explore the book's comprehensive coverage of topics, from the Erlang and Elixir standard libraries to advanced GenServer recipes, supervisors, and initialization patterns. 📖🧩

Join us for an informative discussion with Alex Koutmos, as we uncover the secrets to mastering Elixir, harnessing the power of the BEAM, and building robust, scalable applications using proven design patterns. 💪📈

This episode is a must-listen for Elixir developers looking to expand their knowledge, streamline their development process, and create high-performance applications. 🌟🔧🚀

#ElixirMentor #AlexKoutmos #ElixirPatterns #BEAM #FunctionalProgramming #GenServer #Supervisors #ScalableApps

Connect with Alex:
Twitter: Follow Alex on Twitter
Website: Visit Alex's Website

Join this channel to get access to perks: YouTube Channel Membership

Roman Kotov on Creative Tech Solutions

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 24 Feb 2024 17:18:51 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, your go-to source for All Things Elixir, I sit down with Roman Kotov, a trailblazer in custom smart home solutions.

We'll unravel the story behind Exshome, Roman's platform that's redefining the boundaries of smart homes by enabling enthusiasts to create their personalized setups. From using old USB webcams and Raspberry Pis to crafting unique CCTV solutions, we'll explore how Exshome empowers you to bring your unused gadgets back to life.

Our discussion will cover:

The challenges of traditional smart home systems
The technical foundations of Exshome, including its use of Elixir and LiveView
What the future holds for smart home enthusiasts looking to break free from off-the-shelf limitations
Roman's other innovative projects, showcasing his contributions to the tech community

Whether you're a smart home hobbyist, an Elixir developer, or just love tech innovation, this session is packed with insights you won't want to miss. Gear up for an engaging chat that will inspire you to think differently about smart home technology. Catch you there!

#ElixirMentor #SmartHome #Exshome #Elixir #LiveView #TechInnovation #HomeAutomation #DIYTech #SoftwareDevelopment #ProgrammingCommunity

Connect with Roman:
X: Follow Roman on X (Twitter)
Website: Visit Roman's Website
Github: Explore Exshome on GitHub

Join this channel to get access to perks: YouTube Channel Membership

Gustavo Oliveira on Tailwind in Phoenix

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 17 Feb 2024 21:45:32 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, your go-to source for All Things Elixir, I sit down with Gustavo Oliveira, an Elixir tutorial pro.

In this session, we'll explore the integration of Tailwind CSS with Phoenix 1.7 and how Phoenix now includes Tailwind by default, making web development more streamlined. We'll dive into the advantages, key features, and impact on your projects, highlighting the ease and efficiency of building web applications with Phoenix and Tailwind.

This show is packed with insights, from the utility-first approach of Tailwind to the real-time capabilities of LiveView. Whether you're an experienced Elixir developer or passionate about web development, this is a must-watch.

Get ready for a concise and informative discussion that will enhance your web development skills. Don't miss it!

#ElixirLang #LiveView #ElixirMentor #TechTalk #SoftwareDevelopment #ElixirProgramming #DeveloperCommunity #CareerDevelopment #TechJobs #ElixirCourse #OpenSource #projectdevelopment #css #tailwind

Useful Resources:
Theo's Tailwind tips
Tailwind cheatsheet
Tailwind CSS IntelliSense
Emmet

Connect with Gustavo:
YouTube: Gustavo's YouTube Channel
ELXPRO: Visit ELXPRO Website

Join this channel to get access to perks: YouTube Channel Membership

Josh Price on Ash & Alembic

Jacob Luetzow — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 19:08:33 GMT

Josh Price, founder & CTO of Alembic and one of the core forces behind Ash Framework, joins me for a wide-ranging conversation that starts with the origin story of Alembic, winds through the history of GraphQL and Ash, and lands on Clarity — his new interactive introspection and visualization tool for understanding your Ash codebase. Josh has been writing Elixir for over ten years and building Alembic for nine, which gives him a rare perspective on how the ecosystem has matured and where it's headed in an agentic world.

We trace how Josh's frustration with real-time data at a gaming company pointed him toward Elixir and Erlang, how that led to an obsession with GraphQL domain modeling, and how that obsession eventually collided with Ash — which turned out to solve exactly the problems he'd been hacking around for years. We talk about what Ash actually is beyond an API generator, why auto-generated migrations are criminally underrated, and why the developers who resist Ash most are often the ones in the middle of the experience curve. Josh also shares the inside story of how slowing Zack Daniel down was actually the best thing that ever happened to the Ash ecosystem.

A big chunk of the conversation covers the AI moment we're in right now — Claude Code workflow tips (including the /insights command and how to keep session history beyond 30 days), why CLIs are beating MCPs for LLM tool use, Claude Code skills and usage rules for progressive disclosure, and how Clarity grew from Ash's built-in introspection into something far more interesting: an in-memory Erlang digraph knowledge graph of your entire Elixir application. Josh also shares his take on multi-model databases, the disappearance of the UI, and why the only limits left for software engineers are taste, judgment, and imagination.

Resources mentioned in this episode:
- Alembic: https://alembic.com.au
- Clarity (Hex): https://hex.pm/packages/clarity
- Ash Framework: https://ash-hq.org
- Ash Framework book: https://pragprog.com/titles/ldash/ash-framework/
- Killswitch: https://killswitch.app

Connect with Josh:
- Website: https://alembic.com.au
- X/Twitter: https://x.com/joshprice
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshcprice

Sponsors:
- Paraxial.io: https://paraxial.io
- Jido: https://agentjido.xyz/discord

SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR
- Elixir Mentor: https://elixirmentor.com

Tjaco Oostdijk on Drums to Elixir

Jacob Luetzow — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 13:46:22 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, I talk with Tjaco Oostdijk, a drummer turned Elixir developer now working at DPG Media, one of the largest media companies in the Netherlands. Tjaco played drums professionally from the age of seven and has taught for 22 years, before landing in software through a music distribution company writing Ruby and eventually moving to Elixir nearly a decade ago.

We get into what it takes to keep Elixir running inside a large enterprise. DPG adopted Elixir after a high-traffic Ruby service fell over at scale, and Tjaco describes the reality of working in a locked-down environment standardized on Kotlin, using Copilot with Anthropic models while waiting for Claude Code to be approved. He also talks about the colleagues who stay skeptical of AI tooling and why that skepticism can be healthy.

The heart of the conversation is muziekles.app, the application Tjaco built for Dutch music teachers to run their entire teaching practice, from year-long scheduling and student accounts to homework and assignments. He explains why he deliberately keeps payments out of the product, how he thinks about onboarding teachers, and the build process using Phoenix, Ash, Claude Code, and Tidewave. We also compare notes on shipping side projects fast, multi-tenancy in Ash, and the differences between hardware and software work.

If you are building with Elixir inside a company that hasn't standardized on it, or shipping a side project with AI tooling, this conversation is full of practical, hard-won lessons from someone doing both at once.

Connect with Tjaco:
- Website:https://drumusician.com
- X / Twitter:https://x.com/drumusician
- GitHub:https://github.com/drumusician
- LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/tjaco-oostdijk

Resources Mentioned:
- muziekles.app:https://muziekles.app
- Tidewave:https://tidewave.ai
- Vocablo:https://vocabloapp.com
- Kabisa:https://kabisa.nl

Sponsors:
- BEAMOps:https://beamops.co.uk
- Paraxial.io:https://paraxial.io

SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR
- Elixir Mentor:https://elixirmentor.com

Kimberly Erni on Flexible Career Paths

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 10 May 2025 14:57:29 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, I chat with Kimberly Erni, a software developer who has found balance through contract-based work. We explore the often-overlooked topic of burnout in the tech industry, where "grind culture" is normalized but comes with significant personal costs.

Kimberly shares her personal journey, including how taking a break from full-time work helped her overcome infertility struggles. We discuss the challenges of working in startups with constantly shifting priorities, unrealistic deadlines, and the pressure to always be "on." Both of us open up about our own experiences with burnout and the importance of creating boundaries, especially in remote work environments.

The conversation covers practical advice for developers considering alternative career paths, including how to transition to contract work, the benefits of building products incrementally, and choosing technologies that maximize productivity while minimizing maintenance overhead. Kimberly also discusses her plans to develop a crochet pattern app, which leads to an insightful discussion about building sustainable side businesses.

This episode provides valuable perspective for anyone feeling overwhelmed in their tech career or looking to create a more flexible work arrangement that accommodates personal priorities. Whether you're dealing with burnout, considering contract work, or building your own product, Kimberly's story offers both inspiration and practical guidance.

Resources Mentioned:
- Healthy Gamer video on burnout: https://youtu.be/XW-02QiiHDM?si=d7LeRrHTJjrpPsnP

Connect with Kimberly:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberly-erni/

SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR
- Elixir Mentor: https://elixirmentor.com

Leandro Pereira on MDEx

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 14 Mar 2026 16:39:53 GMT

Leandro Pereira is back on the Elixir Mentor Podcast — this time to dive deep into MDEx, his Rust-powered Markdown library for Elixir. MDEx is built on the Comrak Rust crate, runs 31x faster, and uses 3,500x less memory than existing Elixir alternatives. We also get into Lumis, his standalone syntax highlighting engine powered by tree-sitter and Neovim themes.

Leandro walks through why he chose a Rust NIF over a pure Elixir implementation, what it took to ship Lumis as its own project, and the surprisingly hard technical challenge at the heart of MDEx: streaming Markdown for AI applications. We discuss how MDEx handles incomplete Markdown fragments in real time, what the upcoming Components feature unlocks for Phoenix/LiveView developers, and how the HEEx parser integration works under the hood.

We also cover the human side of maintaining two solo open source projects: how Leandro prioritizes, uses AI to chip away at the backlog, and thinks about monetization. The conversation goes deeper into how the AI era has changed Markdown's role in the ecosystem, the pitfalls of vibe coding, and what it really takes to get an open source project noticed — including the uncomfortable truth that marketing matters more than most developers want to admit.

The episode closes with a wide-ranging conversation on developer growth — the Dunning-Krueger curve, making the mental shift from OOP to functional programming, and why Elixir feels easier once it finally clicks. A great listen for anyone building libraries, wrestling with Rust NIFs, or navigating open source in the Elixir ecosystem.

Resources Mentioned:
- MDEx: https://mdelixir.dev
- MDEx on Hex: https://hex.pm/packages/mdex
- Lumis: https://lumis.sh
- Lumis on Hex: https://hex.pm/packages/lumis

Connect with Leandro:
- X/Twitter: https://x.com/leandrocesquini
- GitHub: https://github.com/leandrocp/mdex

SPONSORS
- Paraxial.io: https://paraxial.io
- Jido (Elixir AI Collective Discord): https://agentjido.xyz/discord

SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR
- Elixir Mentor: https://elixirmentor.com

Enrique Leigh on Prende

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 24 Jan 2026 15:29:53 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, I chat with Enrique Leigh, founder of Prende Café in Chile. We explore how he built a specialty coffee subscription business using Phoenix LiveView, his journey from marketing and ad tech to becoming an Elixir developer, and why he chose custom e-commerce over platforms like Shopify.

Enrique shares the WordPress crash during a Chile vs Brazil match that sparked his interest in Elixir, and how building his own coffee business became the perfect way to finally learn the language. We discuss UX principles from "Don't Make Me Think," marketing frameworks like Jobs to Be Done, and the counterintuitive lesson that adding more checkout steps can actually increase conversions. He also explains the specialty coffee value chain, from sourcing beans in Brazil to roasting and running a physical café alongside the e-commerce platform.

Our conversation covers practical entrepreneurship topics including MVP philosophy, building subscription and coupon systems with Mercado Pago, using Oban for job scheduling, and content marketing strategies that work. Enrique shares insights on balancing Iron Man training with running a family business, productivity techniques from the Flow Research Collective, and the evolving landscape of ad tech after GDPR. We also discuss his future goals of learning Nerves to build IoT coffee machines and the growing Elixir community in Chile.

The episode wraps up with advice for aspiring entrepreneurs: just launch it. Enrique emphasizes that the cost of inaction is often greater than the cost of action, and with tools like LLMs that work remarkably well with Elixir, there's never been a better time to build your own products.

Resources Mentioned:
- Don't Make Me Think: https://sensible.com/dont-make-me-think/
- Oban: https://getoban.pro/
- Jido: https://agentjido.xyz/discord

Connect with Enrique:
- Website: https://www.prendecafe.cl
- X/Twitter: https://x.com/EnriqueLeigh
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/enriqueleigh/

Sponsors:
- Paraxial.io: https://paraxial.io
- Jido: https://agentjido.xyz/discord

SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR
- Elixir Mentor: https://elixirmentor.com

Nathan Hessler on ExMex & engineering culture

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 22 Nov 2025 16:45:27 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, I chat with Nathan Hessler, an Elixir developer and organizer of the ExMex conference in Austin. Nathan shares his experience launching a successful regional conference just two weeks prior, offering invaluable insights for anyone considering organizing their own tech event.

We explore the intricate logistics of conference planning, from choosing the perfect venue to managing sponsorships and hidden costs. Nathan reveals why he opted for a single-track format at Capital Factory, how he approached speaker selection to promote new voices in the community, and the creative process behind ExMex's clever Texas-themed naming convention.

Our conversation shifts to Nathan's decade of experience in engineering leadership, where he shares wisdom on building healthy engineering cultures. We discuss the critical soft skills needed for technical management, strategies for creating trust and respect within teams, and how to foster environments where constructive debate thrives. Nathan emphasizes that the best engineering teams aren't built on shared hobbies but on mutual respect and the ability to engage in productive disagreement.

The episode concludes with practical advice for aspiring conference organizers, including the importance of talking to other organizers, loving your speakers, and celebrating the unique character of your location. Nathan also reveals plans for RBQ, his upcoming Ruby conference scheduled for March 2025, continuing his mission to strengthen the Austin tech community through meaningful in-person connections.

Resources Mentioned:
- ExMex Conference: https://exmexconf.com/
- RBQ Conference: Upcoming Ruby conference in Austin (March 2025)
- Capital Factory: Conference venue in Austin

Connect with Nathan:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanhessler/
- Website: https://hesslerconsulting.com/
- ExMex: https://exmexconf.com/

SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR
- Elixir Mentor: https://elixirmentor.com/?utm_source=elixir-mentor
- Discord: https://elixirmentor.com/discord

Dave Lucia on Building TV Labs

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 14 Feb 2026 16:50:05 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, I chat with Dave Lucia, CTO and Co-Founder of TV Labs. Dave returns to the podcast to talk about building an AI-powered smart TV testing platform that lets media companies test streaming apps on hundreds of real physical devices through the cloud — all built primarily in Elixir.

Dave walks through the founding of TV Labs, from meeting his co-founder at Bloomberg over a decade ago to building an MVP with WebRTC during the pandemic. He covers the technical challenges of managing a massive device lab — procurement, warm-up processes, security isolation, session management, and keeping hundreds of TVs, Rokus, Fire TVs, and Apple TVs healthy and available for enterprise clients. The platform uses a custom KQL query engine for real-time device matching and a licensing system built on Elixir GenServers sharded across the cluster.

We get into Dave's 10-year history with Elixir in production, starting at Bloomberg and carrying through to TV Labs. He explains why Elixir was the right fit for orchestrating physical devices at scale, from its standard library minimizing dependencies to building Apple device communication libraries and even a Lua 5.3 interpreter directly in Elixir. Dave also shares how TV Labs uses OpenTelemetry for observability and runs multi-region infrastructure with session recording capabilities.

The conversation shifts to AI, where Dave describes using Claude and other LLMs to accelerate development, automate operations like vendor management and support emails, and build AI agents for QA testing. We wrap up with a candid discussion on whether AI will replace developers and how these tools are fundamentally changing what's possible for small teams.

Connect with Dave:
- Website: https://davelucia.com
- X/Twitter: https://x.com/davydog187
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-lucia-a395441b/

Sponsors:
- BEAMOps: https://beamops.co.uk
- Paraxial.io: https://paraxial.io
- Jido: https://agentjido.xyz/discord

SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR
- Elixir Mentor: https://elixirmentor.com

Chris Nelson on AI Dev Workflows

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 05 Apr 2025 17:37:21 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, I chat with Chris Nelson, co-founder and principal engineer at Launch Scout, about leveraging AI tools for Elixir development and how these technologies are transforming developer workflows. Chris brings over a decade of Elixir experience to the conversation, sharing valuable insights on how consultancies can integrate AI to dramatically increase productivity.

Chris discusses the inflection point where AI tools became truly valuable for production work, highlighting how features like Claude AI and Cursor's agent mode with test-driven capabilities transformed his team's approach to development. We explore the unpredictable nature of large language models, structured approaches to AI-assisted coding, and how Launch Scout measured a 4x productivity increase on a real client project using these tools effectively. The conversation includes practical examples of how experienced developers can guide AI to create robust, production-ready code while maintaining critical thinking skills.

Our discussion extends to Web Assembly components and Chris's work on the WASM library, which enables Elixir developers to securely run code written in various languages within their applications. Chris explains how WASM leverages OTP supervision for resilient system design and opens up new possibilities for customizable platforms. We also explore the advantages of Elixir and LiveView for rapid application development, comparing it to microservices approaches and reflecting on the remarkable stability of Elixir applications in production.

Whether you're curious about integrating AI into your development workflow or exploring the cutting edge of Elixir's ecosystem, this conversation offers practical insights and real-world experiences from years of professional Elixir development at scale.

Resources Mentioned:
- Launch Scout:https://launchscout.com/
- Cursor:https://cursor.sh/
- Claude AI:https://anthropic.com/claude
- WASMEx:https://github.com/tessi/wasmex
- LiveState:https://hexdocs.pm/live_state/readme.html

Connect with Chris:
- X:https://x.com/superchris
- LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-nelson-038875/
- Website:https://launchscout.com/
- GitHub:https://github.com/superchris

SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR
- Elixir Mentor:https://elixirmentor.com

Mike Ratliff on Building an Energy Tech Startup

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 17 Jan 2026 16:59:02 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, I chat with Mike Ratliff, a 30-year tech veteran and CTO currently building an energy tech startup. Mike shares his path from Ruby threading nightmares to leading 20-engineer Elixir teams, and how discovering the BEAM transformed his approach to building 24/7 grid systems.

We dig into the technical challenges of power grid software, including distributed energy resource management, solar intermittency, and why utilities remain cautious about new technology. Mike explains how his current startup is tackling transmission interconnection problems using Elixir, and his plans to incorporate AI agents through the Jido framework.

The conversation shifts to how AI is reshaping development teams and startup economics. Mike makes a compelling case for small, elite teams over large engineering organizations, sharing his philosophy on profit per headcount and why he believes we'll see one-person unicorn companies emerge. We discuss rethinking technical interviews for the LLM era, the Ash framework in production, and why great engineers become even greater with AI tools.

Mike wraps up with hard-won startup wisdom: build painkillers not vitamins, learn to tell stories that move people, and understand that nobody buys on facts alone. Whether you're building energy infrastructure or SaaS products, this conversation offers practical perspective on scaling with small teams.

Connect with Mike:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-ratliff-3096571/

Sponsors:
- Paraxial.io: https://paraxial.io
- Jido Discord: https://agentjido.xyz/discord

SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR
- Elixir Mentor: https://elixirmentor.com/?utm_source=elixir-mentor

Michael Lubas on Evolving Elixir Security

Jacob Luetzow — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 13:41:35 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, I welcome back Michael Lubas, founder of Paraxial.io, where he's building comprehensive security tooling specifically designed for the Elixir ecosystem. We explore how AI-generated code is impacting application security and why traditional scanning tools aren't catching critical vulnerabilities.

Michael shares his experience with the most common security mistakes in Elixir projects, including binary deserialization exploits that can lead to remote code execution. We discuss how Phoenix 1.8's improved security documentation helps developers, the rise of organized ransomware attacks, and why security scanning is more crucial than ever with AI-assisted development becoming mainstream.

Our conversation covers the challenges of enterprise security tooling, the differences between Rails and Elixir security patterns, and how Paraxial 3.0 is addressing the unique needs of Elixir developers. Michael explains why most enterprise security tools fail developers and how Paraxial takes a developer-first approach to vulnerability detection and remediation.

We also discuss the future of AI in software development, identity verification challenges in an age of deepfakes, and the evolving hiring landscape for developers. This conversation provides essential context for anyone building production Elixir applications or concerned about security in the age of AI-generated code.

Resources Mentioned:
- Paraxial.io Security Platform: https://paraxial.io/
- Phoenix Security Documentation: https://hexdocs.pm/phoenix/security.html

Connect with Michael Lubas:
- X/Twitter: https://x.com/paraxialio
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaellubas/

SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR
- Elixir Mentor: https://elixirmentor.com

Parker & Shannon Selbert on Oban

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 26 Oct 2024 15:10:04 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, the go-to source for All Things Elixir, Parker and Shannon Selbert, the creators of Oban, join me to discuss their groundbreaking work.

We explore the journey of developing Oban, a powerful job processing system that has become essential for thousands of Elixir applications. The Selberts share their vision behind Oban's creation, emphasizing its core principles of reliability, consistency, and observability in background job processing.

Our conversation covers how Oban achieves impressive performance and touches on its evolution from open-source beginnings to the advanced capabilities of Oban Pro and Oban Web. This episode offers valuable perspectives for Elixir developers looking to optimize their application's performance and reliability, providing a glimpse into the future of background job processing in the Elixir ecosystem.

#ElixirLang #Oban #BackgroundJobs #ElixirDevelopment

Connect with Parker & Shannon:

X: https://x.com/sorentwo

Oban Pro: https://getoban.pro/

SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR

My website: https://elixirmentor.com/

Hired Gun Apps - Custom Software & Web Design: https://www.hiredgunapps.com

NEED HELP?? Join the Discord Server: https://discord.gg/HcnjPsWATg

All my Links: https://linktr.ee/jacob_luetzow

Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChbS_z6KHQiIu9et38O37eQ/join

Zach Daniel on the Ash Framework

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 08 Jun 2024 22:09:13 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, your go-to source for all things Elixir, we sit down with Zach Daniel, the creator of the Ash Framework! 🎙️💻

We'll discuss the development of the Ash Framework, its impact on building robust and maintainable Elixir applications, and its future direction. 🌟 Zach will explain how Ash simplifies complex business logic and enhances productivity for developers. 🚀

The Ash Framework offers a declarative approach to define resources, relationships, and actions, making it easier to manage and evolve applications over time. Key features include:

Declarative resource definitions
Customizable actions
Fine-grained access control policies
Data layer abstraction
Customizable behavior

We'll also dive into Zach's latest project, Igniter, a code generation and project patching framework designed to streamline development workflows and enhance efficiency. 🔥

Don't miss this opportunity to hear from Zach Daniel and learn more about the Ash Framework and Igniter. This is a must-watch for all Elixir enthusiasts and developers. 🎧

#ElixirMentor #AshFramework #Igniter #ZachDaniel #BEAM #FunctionalProgramming

Connect with Zach:
X: Follow Zach on X (Twitter)
Ash Framework: Visit Ash Framework Website
Igniter: Explore Igniter on GitHub

Join this channel to get access to perks: YouTube Channel Membership

Steve Domino on Starting a Fintech

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 22:29:36 GMT

Steve Domino is the co-founder and CTO of Crew, a fintech startup building what he calls the most powerful checking account in the world — one with programmable automation rules, a family-scoped AI financial assistant, and zero of the fees that make traditional banking frustrating. He came up through startups, spent time at Divvy before its Bill.com acquisition, and brought his Elixir experience directly into Crew's foundation.

We cover a lot of ground on the product side: how Crew's "Autopilot" rules engine lets users program their money (and the recursion checks it took to make that safe), why Crew consolidated savings and checking into a single account, how the team handles high-value deposits without physical branches, and what's coming — business accounts, wills and trusts, family investing, and a credit card designed to work like a debit card. Steve also talks through the challenge of projecting bills years into the future to keep balance reservations accurate, and how building and using your own product surfaces problems fast.

On the Elixir side, Steve talks about why fintech is a natural fit for the BEAM — Crew decisions on card transactions in under 250 milliseconds — and how Oban became central to their reliability story when partner services go down. He shares what drew him to Elixir personally (pattern matching, the pipe operator, the with block), reflects on the Utah Elixir ecosystem that Divvy and Podium helped build, and explains how Penny, their AI financial assistant, is scoped per family so it can never reach outside a user's own data.

We also spend time on career and engineering culture: Steve's take on the "Extreme Ownership" mindset that shaped how he grew into a leadership role, why he asks candidates to design something they'd actually build at Crew instead of solving puzzles, and his honest concern that developers leaning entirely on AI may lose the ability to think critically about architecture. Good conversation throughout.

Resources Mentioned:
- Extreme Ownership (book): Amazon
- Oban: oban.pro

Connect with Steve:
- Crew: trycrew.com
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/steve-domino

SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR
- Elixir Mentor: elixirmentor.com

SPONSORS
- Paraxial.io — Elixir-first app security: paraxial.io
- BEAMOps — Scalable Elixir infrastructure: beamops.co.uk
- Jido — Elixir AI Collective Discord: agentjido.xyz/discord

Michael Lubas on Securing Elixir

Jacob Luetzow — Sun, 04 Feb 2024 22:23:50 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, your go-to source for All Things Elixir, I sit down with Michael Lubas, the founder of Paraxial.io.

Dive into the conversation as we explore the innovative security solutions Paraxial.io offers for Elixir and Phoenix applications. Discover how this platform revolutionizes application security, from bot defense to compliance with critical security standards.

Take advantage of Michael's insights and experiences about building a niche security platform and the evolving cybersecurity landscape in the Elixir ecosystem.

Join us for an engaging and informative session that's a must-watch for every Elixir enthusiast!

#ElixirLang #PhoenixFramework #CyberSecurity #DevSecOps #WebDevelopment #TechInterview #CodingCommunity #LiveStream #SoftwareSecurity #ElixirMentor #Paraxial_io #TechTalks

Learn more about Paraxial.io:
Visit Paraxial.io Website

Join this channel to get access to perks: YouTube Channel Membership

Benjamin Schultzer on Real-time Database Observability

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 30 Mar 2024 15:47:16 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, your go-to source for All Things Elixir, I'm thrilled to welcome Benjamin Schultzer, a Senior Engineer who is building a real-time database observability tool for Ecto and Phoenix LiveView. 🔍💡

Benjamin will share his insights into the challenges developers face when working with databases in Elixir applications and showcase his solution. We'll explore how his tool integrates seamlessly with Ecto to provide developers with valuable insights into query performance, database connections, and potential bottlenecks.

We'll also dive into the world of Phoenix LiveView and discover how Benjamin's real-time observability tool enhances the development experience by monitoring and optimizing database interactions triggered by LiveView events. 📊⚡🌐💻

Join us for an insightful conversation that will enhance your approach to database optimization and empower you to build performant and scalable applications. 🚀💡

#ElixirMentor #DatabaseObservability #RealTimeMonitoring #EctoOptimization #PhoenixLiveView #PerformanceTuning #DeveloperTools

Connect with Benjamin:
X: Follow Benjamin on X (Twitter)
DB Visor: Explore DB Visor

Join this channel to get access to perks: YouTube Channel Membership

Francesco Ciulla on Winning Developer Adoption

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 27 Jun 2026 21:09:00 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, I step a little outside the BEAM to talk with Francesco Ciulla, Head of DevRel at Zerops. Francesco came up as a Rust developer and content creator with a 300,000-subscriber YouTube channel, and we get into the problem every builder runs into: getting developers to actually adopt what you ship.

Francesco shares how he went from a corporate developer role at the European Space Agency to going independent, building an audience, and publishing his own Rust book. We talk about why distribution matters as much as the work itself, how public speaking changed him, and what being a developer looks like in 2026 with AI in the mix.

From there we get into developer relations directly. Francesco explains what the job actually is, why you can't advocate for a product you don't believe in, and how he builds credibility for something he didn't write. He breaks down what Zerops does as a platform, how it compares to running things on GCP, and where developers fall off between signing up and getting real value.

We also cover building a brand by declaring it and not stopping, why negative comments are a sign your audience is growing, language tribalism in tech, the risks of shipping vibe-coded projects without thinking about security, and what it takes to run Elixir on Zerops. A useful conversation for anyone trying to get a tool, a project, or themselves in front of developers.

Resources Mentioned:
- Zerops:https://zerops.io

Connect with Francesco:
- X/Twitter:https://x.com/FrancescoCiull4
- Website:https://francescociulla.com

Sponsors:
- BEAMOps:https://beamops.co.uk
- Paraxial.io:https://paraxial.io

SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR
- Elixir Mentor:https://elixirmentor.com

Andrew Stewart on LiveView the Do’s and Don’ts

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 10 Feb 2024 16:00:00 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, your go-to source for All Things Elixir, I sit down with Andrew Stewart, who runs his own educational YouTube channel under the username @srcrip.

We are discussing the best practices and potential pitfalls of LiveView and other intricacies involved in developing a real-time web application with LiveView. Our conversation covers an assortment of topics ranging from streams to JS hooks.

We conclude by discussing general development experiences and some open-source projects. It's a whole stream of great information. You won't regret tuning in!

#ElixirLang #LiveView #ElixirMentor #TechTalk #SoftwareDevelopment #ElixirProgramming #DeveloperCommunity #CareerDevelopment #TechJobs #ElixirCourse #AnalyticsServer #OpenSource #projectdevelopment

Connect with Andrew:
X: Follow Andrew on X (Twitter)
YouTube: Subscribe to Andrew's YouTube Channel

Join this channel to get access to perks: YouTube Channel Membership

Isaak Tsalicoglou on ECTO Modeling

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 22 Mar 2025 13:35:51 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, I chat with Isaac Tsalicoglou, author of Northwind Elixir Traders. We explore database modeling techniques, working with Ecto, and his fascinating transition from mechanical engineering to Elixir development.

Isaac shares his experience creating a practical guide for database modeling in Elixir, explaining how the Northwind Traders project helps developers understand complex relationships and query optimization. We discuss the benefits of SQLite for learning, how to effectively manage database migrations, and the challenges of schema changes with real-world data.

Our conversation covers database architecture philosophy, performance optimization techniques, and the importance of understanding query execution plans. Isaac also shares valuable insights on self-hosting, data privacy considerations, and the fundamental differences between hardware and software product development.

The episode concludes with a discussion on development principles and startup philosophy, offering practical wisdom for engineers and developers across disciplines. This conversation provides valuable perspective for anyone working with databases in Elixir or considering a career transition into software development.

Resources Mentioned:
- Northwind Elixir Traders:https://leanpub.com/northwind-elixir-traders

Connect with Isaac:
- LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/tisaak/
- Website:https://overbring.com/

SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR
- Elixir Mentor:https://elixirmentor.com

George Guimarães on Forecasting

Jacob Luetzow — Sun, 21 Dec 2025 15:01:41 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, I chat with George Guimarães about Soothsayer, his time series forecasting library inspired by NeuralProphet and built on Axon and NX for business data analysis.

We explore how Soothsayer decomposes business data into seasonal components, handles holidays as special events, and uses neural networks to model nonlinear patterns. George explains why Elixir's ecosystem with NX, Axon, and Bumblebee provides unique advantages for machine learning workflows, allowing you to run models directly in your supervision tree without external infrastructure.

The conversation expands into why Elixir is particularly well-suited for AI agent development. George shares insights from his current work building agentic commerce solutions, where the BEAM's actor model, fault tolerance, and message passing provide battle-tested patterns that other ecosystems are now trying to replicate for LLM workflows. We also discuss AEO (Agent Engine Optimization) as the new SEO, and how websites will evolve to serve both human and agent visitors.

Whether you're interested in time series forecasting, building AI-powered applications in Elixir, or understanding why the BEAM's concurrency model is perfect for the agentic future, this conversation offers valuable perspective from an Elixir community OG.

Resources Mentioned:
- Soothsayer: https://github.com/georgeguimaraes/soothsayer

Connect with George:
- X: https://x.com/georgeguimaraes
- Website: https://georgeguimaraes.com

SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR
- Elixir Mentor: https://elixirmentor.com/?utm_source=elixir-mentor

Peter Ullrich on Hunting CVEs

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 30 May 2026 16:02:54 GMT

Peter Ullrich returns to talk about a CVE hunt across the most-downloaded Hex packages, run with Claude Code on Opus 4.7. After ElixirConf EU pulled him into AI security, he started pointing Opus at popular libraries day and night, and within half an hour of his first serious attempt he found the Decimal vulnerability, where raising 10 to a huge power can blow up an application's memory.

We get into what separates a real CVE from noise, how CVSS scoring works, and why reachability matters so much, since a flaw in Phoenix's default config matters far more than a crash in a function nobody can call. Peter also walks through the process he runs with the EEF: verifying each issue, getting a second pair of eyes, coordinating a fix, and getting a number issued through a CNA, without sending slop reports to maintainers. We also touch on regulation and breach reporting.

We also cover how Opus compares to Mythos, why Peter keeps coming back to Claude, his first impressions of Opus 4.8, and the economics, with a simple scan costing about $10 in API tokens. He also shares his Session Watcher plugin, an update on Killswitch and its browser-side encryption, thoughts on AEO, and how he uses dev containers to sandbox coding agents.

Resources Mentioned:

Peter's blog post: peterullrich.com/what-the-cve
Peter's prompts: gist
Scrutineer: github.com/alpha-omega-security/scrutineer
Decimal advisory: GHSA-rhv4-8758-jx7v
EEF CNA published CVEs: cna.erlef.org/cves
EEF CNA security policy: cna.erlef.org/security-policy
Responsible disclosure guidelines: security.erlef.org
Anthropic article: red.anthropic.com

Connect with Peter:

Sponsors:

BEAMOps: beamops.co.uk
Paraxial.io: paraxial.io

SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR

Elixir Mentor: elixirmentor.com

George Millo on Agentic Coding

Jacob Luetzow — Sun, 22 Mar 2026 15:02:28 GMT

George Millo — creator of Learn Phoenix Live View and alumnus of the Gauntlet AI fellowship — joins me to talk through what really changes when you commit to LLM-driven development. George went through Gauntlet's intensive 10-week program built around LLM maximalism, came out the other side rethinking how he builds software, and has spent the past year working on an AI-first engineering team applying those lessons in production.

We spend a lot of time on the practical realities of agentic coding: verification debt (the gap that grows between your mental model and what the AI actually built), the importance of planning before prompting, why George works in small self-contained PRs, and how he uses Codex and Claude Code in parallel tabs without losing track of what's happening. We also get into the debate around vibe coding, spec-driven development, testing pitfalls, and why deep technical knowledge matters more now — not less — when AI is writing most of the code.

The conversation covers where Elixir fits in an AI-first world: the BEAM's process model as a natural fit for agent architectures, Phoenix shipping with an agent.md file, Tidewave's approach to closing the feedback loop, and why Elixir's tooling consistency puts it ahead of the JavaScript fragmentation George deals with at his day job. We also get into the security risks that come with AI-assisted development — giving LLM tools codebase access, the OpenClaw skills marketplace vulnerabilities, and the kinds of security mistakes that are now much easier to ship without noticing.

George closes with practical advice for anyone hesitant to adopt agentic workflows: stay curious, ask the AI to explain the code it writes, build something outside your comfort zone, and put in the reps.

Resources Mentioned:
- Learn Phoenix Live View: https://learnphoenixliveview.com

Connect with George:
- X/Twitter: x.com/georgemillo
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/millog

Sponsors:
- Paraxial.io — Elixir-first application security: paraxial.io
- Jido — Elixir AI Collective Discord: agentjido.xyz/discord

SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR
- Elixir Mentor: elixirmentor.com

Tony Dang on Offline-Enabled LiveView

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 04 May 2024 14:33:11 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, your go-to source for All Things Elixir, I'm excited to chat with Tony Dang, a talented web developer who has pushed the boundaries of LiveView's offline capabilities. 🌟💻🔌

By combining Phoenix LiveView, Svelte, and Yjs, Tony has created an offline-enabled, real-time application that seamlessly synchronizes data and maintains interactivity, even without an internet connection. 🚀🔧🌐

This innovative approach is a game-changer, demonstrating how to overcome the limitations of LiveView's server-rendered, socket-based architecture and deliver exceptional user experiences. 💡🔄

Join us as Tony shares his technical insights, practical tips, and lessons learned throughout the development process. 📚💪

Discover how the combination of LiveView, Svelte, and Yjs can transform the way you build robust, offline-capable applications in the Elixir ecosystem. 🌟🚀

Tune in and take your LiveView skills to the next level with Tony Dang's expertise! 🎧🔧

#ElixirMentor #TonyDang #LiveViewOffline #Phoenix #LiveSvelte #Svelte #Yjs #OfflineApps #RealtimeCollaboration

Connect with Tony:
Twitter: Follow Tony on Twitter
Website: Visit Tony's Blog
YouTube: Subscribe to Tony's YouTube Channel

Mentioned Resources:
Extism - compile code from any language and run in Elixir
WebAuthn Components - passkey auth with Phoenix LiveView

Join this channel to get access to perks: YouTube Channel Membership

Bruce Tate on Educating the Elixir Community

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 13 Apr 2024 15:03:33 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, your go-to source for All Things Elixir, I'm stoked to welcome Bruce Tate, a renowned Elixir trainer, author, and founder of Groxio, a programming content company that offers public and private training for Elixir, Phoenix LiveView, and OTP. 🌟📚💼

With bestselling books like "Programming Phoenix," "Adopting Elixir," and "Designing Systems with OTP," Bruce is a true Elixir expert and a wealth of knowledge in the community. 📖💡

We'll dive into Bruce's insights on rapidly building complex, scalable web applications using Elixir, the highly performant and fault-tolerant functional language, and Phoenix LiveView, the game-changing library for building interactive, real-time user interfaces. 🌐⚡

Bruce will share his experience as an international speaker. 🌍🎙️

We'll also discuss the upcoming Gig City Elixir conference, taking place on May 10-11, 2024, where Bruce and other industry leaders will share their expertise and latest developments in the Elixir ecosystem. 🎉🗓️

Join us for an informative and engaging discussion on the power of Elixir, the future of web development, and the exciting opportunities that await developers in this rapidly growing community. 🔧🔍

This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to expand their Elixir skills, build cutting-edge web applications, and stay at the forefront of the Elixir world. 📈🚀

#ElixirMentor #BruceTate #Groxio #PhoenixLiveView #OTP #GigCityElixir #ScalableWebApps #FunctionalProgramming #RealTimeUI

Get Groxio's Training! Good for 40% through May 1, 2024. 👉🏻 Groxio Training Discount

Connect with Bruce:
Twitter: @redrapids, @GroxioLearning, @GigCityElixir
Website: Groxio
Gig City Elixir Conference: Gig City Elixir

Join this channel to get access to perks: YouTube Channel Membership

Rob Walling on Building SaaS

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 07 Feb 2026 16:26:43 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, I chat with Rob Walling — serial entrepreneur, author of The SaaS Playbook, founder of MicroConf, co-founder of TinySeed, and the guy who bootstrapped Drip to a successful exit. With over 20 years of experience and investments in 230+ B2B SaaS companies, Rob shares the playbook for building software businesses without venture capital.

Rob breaks down his stairstep method of entrepreneurship, explaining why technical founders should start with small wins on existing marketplaces before attempting a standalone SaaS product. We get into the common traps developers fall into — refusing to learn marketing, building products that "sell themselves," and bootstrapping two-sided marketplaces without an existing audience. Rob also shares the full Drip origin story, from a plateauing email tool to a marketing automation platform that took off after listening to customer feedback.

We cover the four core SaaS skills every founding team needs (marketing or sales, product, and engineering), how to decide between finding a co-founder and learning to sell on your own, and where successful SaaS ideas actually come from — 72% were discovered at a day job. Rob also weighs in on how AI is reshaping the SaaS landscape, why he doesn't believe in a "SaaS apocalypse," and what really drives company valuations. His final advice for technical founders: think in years, not months, and invest in learning entrepreneurship the same way you invested in learning to code.

Resources Mentioned:
- The SaaS Playbook: https://saasplaybook.com
- MicroConf: https://microconf.com
- TinySeed: https://tinyseed.com

Connect with Rob:
- Website: https://robwalling.com
- X/Twitter: https://x.com/robwalling
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robwalling
- Podcast: https://www.startupsfortherestofus.com

Sponsors:
- Paraxial.io: https://paraxial.io
- Jido: https://agentjido.xyz/discord

SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR
- Elixir Mentor: https://elixirmentor.com

Thomas Athanas on Building Without Vendor Lock-In

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 07 Mar 2026 16:42:56 GMT

Thomas Athanas, Head of Engineering at LevelAll, joins me on the Elixir Mentor Podcast to talk through the infrastructure, architectural, and leadership decisions that come with building systems you actually own — and what happens when vendor lock-in catches up with you in production.

Thomas walks through LevelAll's move away from Fly and Gigalixir toward bare metal hardware, the thundering herd problem that comes with serving 50,000 concurrent education users, and why they made the call to remove both Phoenix LiveView and Ash framework from production. We get into Ash APS premium support, JSONB query challenges, and the tradeoffs of leaning on a framework when hiring for it is hard.

We talk about using AI as a development planning tool and context keeper for managers — including Thomas's "Lore Master" concept, where AI agents preserve institutional knowledge so it never walks out the door. From there we get into the Auth0 rate limiting incident that hit during a live onboarding, the FusionAuth migration that followed, enterprise auth requirements like OIDC and SAML, and the bcrypt hash conversion work that made it all possible. Thomas also shares his work on a custom Erlang-based bare metal deployment agent and his approach to Postgres configuration and backups with pgBackRest.

The second half covers founder mode mentality, total ownership of problems, the player-coach leadership style, Sanity CMS vendor lock-in, building an audience vs. building a customer base, and practical advice for technical founders who keep procrastinating with features instead of making sales.

Connect with Thomas:
- X/Twitter: https://x.com/ThomasAthanas
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasathanas/

Sponsors:
- BEAMOps: https://beamops.co.uk
- Paraxial.io: https://paraxial.io
- Jido: https://agentjido.xyz/discord

SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR
- Elixir Mentor: https://elixirmentor.com/?utm_source=elixir-mentor

Jason Allum on Bedrock

Jacob Luetzow — Sun, 24 May 2026 17:52:19 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, I sit down with Jason Allum, creator of Bedrock and Beadwork and a 40-year veteran of computing, to talk about Bedrock: an embedded, distributed key-value store for Elixir with guarantees that go beyond ACID.

Jason walks through the problem Bedrock solves, keeping distributed state consistent when the same data is read and written across many nodes. We get into why the BEAM's decades-old ideas map cleanly onto today's AI and agent workloads, how Bedrock borrows its architecture from FoundationDB, and what serializable transactions actually buy you over plain ACID.

From there we dig into the machinery: log servers versus storage servers, the five-second version window and MVCC, letting it crash with supervision-tree thinking across a cluster, and how rows can live as values while indexes become keys. Jason also covers running distributed jobs with leases and what it takes to swap Postgres out for Bedrock.

Along the way Jason makes the case that none of this is magic, that the real wins come from understanding your machine and the shape of your data. We finish on Beadwork, his lightweight system for managing agent tickets directly in git. If you build with Elixir or care about distributed databases, there's a lot here to chew on.

Connect with Jason:
- X/Twitter:https://x.com/mullaj
- GitHub:https://github.com/jallum

Projects:
- Bedrock:https://github.com/bedrock-kv/bedrock
- Beadwork:https://github.com/jallum/beadwork

Resources Mentioned:
- Notes on the FoundationDB paper:https://uvdn7.github.io/notes-on-the-foundationdb-paper/
- FoundationDB architecture:https://apple.github.io/foundationdb/architecture.html
- Raft consensus algorithm (GeeksforGeeks):https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/system-design/raft-consensus-algorithm/
- The Raft Consensus Algorithm:https://raft.github.io/

Sponsors:
- BEAMOps:https://beamops.co.uk
- Paraxial.io:https://paraxial.io
- Jido (Elixir AI Collective Discord):https://agentjido.xyz/discord

SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR
- Elixir Mentor:https://elixirmentor.com

Tristan Brice on Radio Resilience

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 26 Apr 2025 13:46:59 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, I chat with Tristan Kildaire, a systems programmer who works on low-level projects including his own programming language. We explore LoRa radio technology, Reticulum mesh networking, and how Elixir can revolutionize IoT development.

Tristan explains the fundamentals of long-range wireless communication using LoRa, which operates in unlicensed spectrum bands and enables low-power, long-distance data transmission perfect for IoT applications. We discuss Reticulum, a cryptographically-secure mesh networking framework that works across heterogeneous networks from radio to Ethernet, providing resilient communication even in challenging environments.

The conversation covers practical applications in smart metering, home automation, and security systems, along with an introduction to the Nerves project for building reliable IoT systems with Elixir. Tristan shares insights on why Erlang's fault-tolerant design makes it ideal for IoT applications, discusses IPv6 advocacy, and explains how Phoenix LiveView enables web development without JavaScript.

We conclude with a lighthearted discussion about AI-assisted programming and the concept of "vibe coding," imagining a collaborative Elixir project built entirely through AI assistance. This episode provides valuable insights for anyone interested in radio technology, mesh networking, or IoT development with Elixir.

Connect with Tristan:
- Website: https://deavmi.assigned.network/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tristan-brice-velloza-kildaire/

SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR
- Elixir Mentor: https://elixirmentor.com

Thomas Millar on Machine Learning & Elixir

Jacob Luetzow — Mon, 05 Feb 2024 00:48:28 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, your go-to source for All Things Elixir, I sit down with Thomas Millar, the creator of "instructor_ex." This tool is taking Elixir into the future of AI by structuring LLM outputs to match Ecto schemas.

We'll delve into the development process, explore Thomas's background in machine learning and Python, and discuss the possibilities for Elixir in AI. This talk is a must-attend for anyone interested in the intersection of Elixir and machine learning.

Don't miss this chance to gain insights into the future of tech with one of the innovative developers in this space. Whether you're a seasoned Elixir developer, a machine learning enthusiast, or simply curious about the next big thing in tech, this conversation promises to be enlightening.

Take advantage of this opportunity to learn from one of the forefront thinkers in the field.

#ElixirLang #MachineLearning #AI #ElixirMentor #InstructorEx #OpenAI #TechTalk #Programming #SoftwareDevelopment #ElixirProgramming #DataEngineering #PythonCoding #ArtificialIntelligence #TechInnovation #developercommunity

Connect with Thomas:
X: Follow Thomas on X (Twitter)
Instructor: Explore instructor_ex on GitHub

Upcoming Event:
"Let's Talk Elixir" Meetup - Feb 5, 2024 @6PM MST

Join this channel to get access to perks: YouTube Channel Membership

Henry Saint-Juste on Rapid Prototyping

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 24 May 2025 18:58:43 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, I sit down with Henry Saint-Juste, Solutions Architect at NetJets, to explore his philosophy of rapid prototyping and moving fast to validate ideas before committing to tech stacks. Henry shares his unique approach to staying 2-3 sprints ahead of engineering teams and building proof of concepts that drive real business decisions.

We dive deep into Henry's experience building NetJets' mobile application using a "code once, deploy anywhere" strategy with React Native and Expo. Henry explains how he evaluates cross-platform frameworks and why React Native succeeded where other solutions like Flutter and Cordova fell short. Our conversation covers his methodology for rapid prototyping, platform engineering approaches, and the importance of getting user feedback loops as quickly as possible.

Henry also shares his experience working with Elixir at a previous healthcare startup, his thoughts on automation and "speed of thought" development, and some fascinating insights about his unique perks working at NetJets (hint: private jets are involved). We explore modern deployment strategies, the evolving landscape of DevOps tools, and wrap up with predictions about AI's impact on software engineering teams.

This conversation offers valuable insights for anyone interested in rapid prototyping methodologies, cross-platform mobile development, and building MVPs that actually provide meaningful data for product decisions.

Connect with Henry:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hberson/

SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR
- Elixir Mentor: https://elixirmentor.com

Zach Daniel on Igniter

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 11 Jan 2025 15:18:40 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, we welcome back Zach Daniel, creator of the Ash Framework, to explore Igniter, a sophisticated code generation and project patching framework for Elixir. Zach shares his vision for modernizing how developers handle project upgrades, installations, and code refactoring in the Elixir ecosystem. We dive into how Igniter streamlines dependency management with smart installers, simplifies project upgrades and provides powerful tools for library authors to create semantic code modifications. Whether you're a library maintainer looking to improve your generators or a developer seeking better tooling for project maintenance, this episode offers valuable insights into the future of Elixir project automation. #ElixirLang #AshFramework #CodeGeneration #Igniter #DeveloperTools

Links from the discussion:

- Hologram: https://hologram.page/

- mneme: https://github.com/zachallaun/mneme

- Muzak: https://github.com/devonestes/muzak

- SEO: https://hexdocs.pm/phoenix_seo/SEO.html

Connect with Zach:

- X: https://x.com/ZachSDaniel1

- BSKY: https://bsky.app/profile/zachdaniel.dev

- ASH: https://ash-hq.org/

- Igniter: https://github.com/ash-project/igniter

SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR

- Elixir Mentor: https://elixirmentor.com

Steve Bussey on Ruby to Elixir

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 02 Nov 2024 16:38:33 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, your go-to source for All Things Elixir, I welcome Steve Bussey, author of "Real-Time Phoenix" and "From Ruby to Elixir." We'll discuss Steve's journey transitioning from Ruby to Elixir, discussing key differences between the languages and Elixir's unique strengths in building scalable, real-time applications.

Steve shares insights from his experience as a software engineer and entrepreneur, including lessons learned while building SUPERED. Whether you're a Ruby developer considering Elixir or an Elixir enthusiast seeking advanced techniques, this episode offers valuable advice for your programming journey. #ElixirLang #RubyToElixir #WebDevelopment

Connect with Steve:

X: https://x.com/YOOOODAAAA

Website: https://stephenbussey.com/

SUPERED: https://www.supered.io/

SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR

🌐🌐 My website: https://elixirmentor.com/

🎙🎙Check out my podcast: https://www.hiredgunapps.com/podcast

🆘🆘NEED HELP?? Join the Discord Server: https://discord.gg/HcnjPsWATg

🔗🔗All my Links: https://linktr.ee/jacob_luetzow

Carlo Gilmar on Visual Thinking

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 10 Aug 2024 14:07:22 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, your go-to source for All Things Elixir, join me as I chat with Carlo Gilmar, a software engineer at Erlang Solutions and founder of Visual Partner. Carlo combines his expertise in software engineering with visual storytelling, transforming technical presentations into insightful visual summaries.

We'll discuss his unique approach, insights into Erlang, and the intersection of art and technology.

#ElixirLang #VisualPartner #ErlangSolutions #ArtAndTechnology

Connect with Carlo:
X: Follow Carlo on X (Twitter)
Website: Explore Visual Partnership Constellations

Join this channel to get access to perks: YouTube Channel Membership

Dave Lucia on Rustler & Team Building

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 03 Aug 2024 14:20:03 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, your go-to source for All Things Elixir, join me and Dave Lucia as we explore Rustler and discuss topics like team building, recruiting, and open-source contributions. The conversation promises to be full of surprises!

#ElixirLang #Rustler #TeamBuilding #Recruiting #OpenSource

Connect with Dave:
X: Follow Dave on X (Twitter)
Website: Visit Dave's Website

Join this channel to get access to perks: YouTube Channel Membership

Saša Jurić on Elixir Insights & Advice

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 29 Jun 2024 14:00:00 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, I'm excited to have Saša Jurić, the author of "Elixir in Action," now in its third edition as of February 2024. Saša has a ton of experience in developing web and desktop applications with Elixir, Erlang, Ruby, JavaScript, C#, and C++.

We'll have a wide-ranging discussion touching on everything from the evolution of Elixir and its ecosystem to real-world applications, performance optimization, and future trends. Whether you're interested in the technical aspects of Elixir, its practical applications, or the vibrant community around it, this conversation will be engaging and informative.

Join me for a great chat with Saša Jurić, where anything and everything about Elixir is on the table. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from one of the leading voices in the Elixir world!

📕 Purchase Elixir in Action 📕

Mentioned blog post: SDKs with req: Stripe

Connect with Saša:
X: Follow Saša on X (Twitter)
LinkedIn: Connect with Saša on LinkedIn
GitHub: Explore Saša's GitHub
Website: Visit The Erlangelist

Join this channel to get access to perks: YouTube Channel Membership

Daniel Bergholz on Language Leaps

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 24 Aug 2024 15:05:19 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, your go-to source for All Things Elixir, join me and Daniel Bergholz as we explore his fascinating journey from JavaScript to Elixir. We'll dive into comparisons between these two languages, uncover the unique aspects of Elixir that captured Daniel's interest, and discuss the challenges and rewards of transitioning between programming paradigms.

Daniel will also share insights about TechSchool, his platform for sharing free learning resources, and offer valuable advice for small content creators in the tech space. Whether you're a seasoned Elixir developer or just starting your coding journey, this conversation promises to be full of practical tips and inspiring stories!

#ElixirLang #JavaScript #ProgrammingJourney #TechEducation #FreeLearningResources

Connect with Daniel:
X: Follow Daniel on X (Twitter)
Website: Visit Daniel's Website
Tech School: Explore Tech School

Join this channel to get access to perks: YouTube Channel Membership

Paulo Valente on Nx

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 14 Dec 2024 15:28:21 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, I'm joined by Paulo Valente, an R&D Software Engineer and maintainer of Nx, the Numerical Elixir ecosystem. Paulo shares his deep expertise in numerical computing and machine learning within the Elixir ecosystem, discussing both advanced concepts like sharding strategies and fundamentals for newcomers to the field. We explore the technical challenges and opportunities in growing Nx adoption, examining how this powerful library brings tensor computation and machine learning capabilities to Elixir applications. Paulo offers insights into the future directions of numerical computing in Elixir, balancing performance optimization with developer experience. The conversation spans from practical implementation details to broader discussions about fostering a thriving machine learning community within Elixir. Whether you're new to numerical computing or an experienced ML practitioner, this episode provides valuable perspectives on building and scaling numerical applications with Elixir. #ElixirLang #MachineLearning #Nx #NumericalComputing #TensorComputation

Connect with Paulo:

X: https://x.com/polvalente

GitHub: https://github.com/sponsors/polvalente

Nx Guide: https://hexdocs.pm/nx/intro-to-nx.html

SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR

Elixir Mentor: https://elixirmentor.com/

siteBrains: https://sitebrains.io

Jason Allum on Beadwork

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 20 Jun 2026 14:31:24 GMT

Jason Allum returns to the Elixir Mentor Podcast to talk about Beadwork, his filesystem-native, git-synced issue tracker built for AI coding agents. With 40 years of building software and cleaning up other people's messes, Jason has a sharp read on where agentic coding falls apart.

The conversation starts with Beads, the ticketing tool that inspired Beadwork, and why it eventually devolved into slop as it grew. Jason explains how coding agents lose the thread on long tasks through compaction and drift, and how a clean queue of tickets keeps an agent moving toward the right outcome instead of stitching back together the very thing it was told to tear out.

From there we get into how Beadwork is built: a git-synced design backed by an orphan branch that sidesteps the merge conflicts that made earlier tools painful for teams and work trees. Jason walks through breaking large changes into epics and issues, pausing the agent to catch drift, and the parts of the job an agent still can't do, like architecture decisions, taste, and judgment.

We also cover raising the quality bar on agent output, the efficiency argument around tokens, multi-project and team workflows, and the prompts Jason reaches for to get better plans. If you write code alongside an agent every day, this one is full of practical, common-sense workflow advice you can put to use right away.

Resources Mentioned:
- Beadwork:https://github.com/jallum/beadwork
- Bedrock (from last time):https://github.com/bedrock-kv/bedrock

Connect with Jason:
- X/Twitter:https://x.com/mullaj
- GitHub:https://github.com/jallum

Sponsors:
- BEAMOps:https://beamops.co.uk
- Paraxial.io:https://paraxial.io

SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR
- Elixir Mentor:https://elixirmentor.com

Miguel Camba on Beacon CMS’s Visual Editor

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 16 Nov 2024 16:18:49 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, I'm joined by Miguel Camba, a Senior Engineer at DockYard and key contributor to Beacon CMS. Miguel dives deep into the development of Beacon's visual editor, a powerful feature that bridges the gap between developers and content creators. We explore how the team leveraged Phoenix LiveView and JavaScript to build an intuitive, real-time editing experience while maintaining Beacon's commitment to performance. Miguel shares fascinating technical insights about implementing drag-and-drop functionality, handling real-time previews, and managing state across complex visual editing operations. Our conversation covers the challenges of building a modern page builder in Elixir, the architectural decisions that shaped the editor's design, and how it fits into Beacon's vision of making content management more accessible. This episode provides valuable perspectives for developers interested in building sophisticated browser-based tools with Phoenix LiveView and the future of visual editing in the Elixir ecosystem.

#ElixirLang #BeaconCMS #PhoenixLiveView #DockYard #webdevelopment

Connect with Miguel:
X: https://x.com/MiguelCamba
BeaconCMS GitHub: https://github.com/BeaconCMS

SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR
🌐 My website: https://elixirmentor.com/
🎙 Check out my podcast: https://www.hiredgunapps.com/podcast
🆘 NEED HELP?? Join the Discord Server: https://discord.gg/HcnjPsWATg
🔗 All my Links: https://linktr.ee/jacob_luetzow

Christopher Grainger on LangGraph

Jacob Luetzow — Sun, 23 Feb 2025 03:19:02 GMT

In this episode, Christopher Grainger, founder of Amplified.ai, joins me to discuss the intersection of Elixir and AI, particularly focusing on Lang graph functionality and agentic workflows. Christopher shares his journey from academia to founding a successful patent search platform, and how Elixir's unique characteristics make it particularly well-suited for AI/ML workloads.

We explore how OTP primitives provide natural solutions for agent-based AI systems, discussing how Elixir's actor model aligns perfectly with modern AI architectures. Christopher explains how Amplified.ai transformed their tech stack by moving from Python to Elixir, resulting in significant cost savings and improved system efficiency.

The conversation dives into the challenges of the patent search industry, the importance of semantic search in patent analysis, and how AI is revolutionizing this space. We also discuss the future of Elixir in the AI landscape, examining why its concurrency model and fault tolerance make it an excellent choice for building robust AI systems.

A fascinating discussion about practical applications of Elixir in AI, scaling businesses with small teams, and the future of technology in the patent industry.

Connect with Christopher:Amplified: https://www.amplified.ai/BSky: https://bsky.app/profile/cigrainger.bsky.socialWebsite: https://cigrainger.com/
SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTORElixir Mentor: https://elixirmentor.com/

Leandro Pereira on Beacon CMS

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 09 Nov 2024 14:39:54 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, I'm joined by Leandro Pereira, one of the key developers behind Beacon CMS. Leandro discusses Beacon, a cutting-edge content management system built with Phoenix LiveView that aims to deliver high performance without compromising productivity. We explore how Beacon leverages Phoenix to boost rendering speeds and enhance SEO performance, even for content-heavy pages. Leandro shares insights into Beacon's core components, including its LiveView UI for resource management and the upcoming drag-and-drop page builder for non-technical users. Our conversation covers Beacon's innovative approach to web development, its open-source nature, and the project's journey towards a stable release. This episode offers valuable perspectives for Elixir developers interested in modern CMS solutions and the future of web development in the Elixir ecosystem.

#ElixirLang #BeaconCMS #PhoenixLiveView #webdevelopment

Connect with Leandro:
X: https://x.com/leandrocesquini
Website: https://leandrocp.com.br/
BeaconCMS GitHub: https://github.com/BeaconCMS

Andrew Stewart on JS in LiveView

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 20 Jul 2024 14:29:27 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, your go-to source for All Things Elixir, I'm excited to welcome back Andrew Stewart, who runs his educational YouTube channel under the username @srcrip. This time, we focus on JavaScript interoperability in LiveView.

We'll discuss best practices, share insights, and explore various aspects of integrating JavaScript with LiveView. Don't miss it!

#ElixirLang #LiveView #ElixirMentor #TechTalk #SoftwareDevelopment #ElixirProgramming #DeveloperCommunity #JavaScript #WebDevelopment

Textarea code snippet to maintain height on reload:

const MaintainHeightHook = { beforeUpdate() { this.prevHeight = this.el.style.height }, updated() { this.el.style.height = this.prevHeight } }

Image proxy mentioned: Check out the image proxy

Connect with Andrew:
X: Follow Andrew on X (Twitter)
YouTube: Subscribe to Andrew's YouTube Channel
Toast Library: Explore Andrew's Toast Library

Join this channel to get access to perks: YouTube Channel Membership

Mike Hostetler on Autonomous Agents

Jacob Luetzow — Fri, 25 Jul 2025 13:52:02 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, I sit down with Mike Hostetler, creator of Jido, a powerful framework for building autonomous AI agent systems in Elixir. We explore why Elixir's actor model and OTP make it the ideal platform for creating massive agent swarms.

Mike shares his vision of "10,000 agents per human" and explains how Jido's architecture leverages Elixir's strengths to build scalable, distributed agent systems. We dive deep into the framework's core components including actions (atomic units of work), signals (messaging backbone), and how agents can spawn sub-agents in supervision trees. The conversation covers practical applications, from Discord bots to job board automation.

Our discussion reveals fascinating insights about the future of software development, where traditional coding languages may need to evolve for the agent-driven world. Mike explains his design philosophy of keeping LLMs separate from the core framework, allowing for both AI-powered and traditional NPC-style agents to coexist efficiently.

This episode provides valuable perspective for developers interested in building autonomous systems, understanding distributed architecture, and preparing for the next evolution in software development where agents become integral to our development workflow.

**Resources Mentioned:**
- Jido Framework: https://github.com/agentjido
- Agent Jido: https://agentjido.xyz
- Mike's Website: https://mike-hostetler.com/

**Connect with Mike:**
- X/Twitter: @mikehostetler

SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR
- Elixir Mentor: https://elixirmentor.com

Luca Corti on Bringing Elixir to Fintech

Jacob Luetzow — Sun, 12 Apr 2026 13:28:27 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, I sit down with Luca Corti, CTO at Sibill, a Milano-based fintech startup building cash flow management software for Italian small and medium businesses. Luca walks through his path from the early days of the internet at a small ISP in Milano to discovering functional programming at a major Italian telco—and why Elixir clicked for him immediately after years of fighting mutable state in OOP.

Luca shares how he joined Sibill with an existing Python and TypeScript MVP, made the case for Elixir as the stack to rebuild on, and navigated integration with open banking APIs and Italy's national electronic invoicing system (SDI). We cover bank sync scheduling with Broadway and message queues, scaling a venture-backed engineering team to 40, and how fintech requirements around data privacy shape day-to-day engineering decisions.

The conversation goes deep on the BEAM's real superpower—fault tolerance and resilience over raw concurrency—and Luca's hands-on approach to learning by building: an HTTP/2 server in Elixir a decade ago, and more recently using AI to help implement an HTTP/3 library. We also discuss hiring into an Elixir codebase, the challenges of selling SaaS to Italian SMBs accustomed to on-premises software, and a grounded take on AI tooling—useful, with clear limits, and nowhere close to replacing experienced engineers.

Resources Mentioned:
- Sibill: https://sibill.com
- ankh (HTTP/2 library): https://github.com/lucacorti/ankh
- lapin (AMQP client): https://github.com/lucacorti/lapin

Connect with Luca:
- X/Twitter: https://x.com/lucacorti
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucacorti
- GitHub: https://github.com/lucacorti

Sponsors:
- Paraxial.io: https://paraxial.io
- Jido (Elixir AI Collective Discord): https://agentjido.xyz/discord

SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR
- Elixir Mentor: https://elixirmentor.com

Mikh Ahmed on SWARMMO

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 03 Jan 2026 16:43:45 GMT

Mikh Ahmed joins me to talk about SWARMMO, a massively multiplayer online browser game he's building entirely with Elixir and Godot. After experiencing burnout from AWS Lambda and serverless tooling at a Canadian fintech startup, Mikh discovered Elixir and realized it was exactly what he'd been looking for to build his dream game project.

We explore how the BEAM's actor model maps perfectly to game architecture, with individual player processes, hierarchical AI units that form squads and platoons, and a simulation where NPCs actively compete for territory. Mikh shares his experience going from zero Elixir knowledge to building a game server that can handle a thousand concurrent AI units while using only 4GB of RAM and 50% CPU.

The conversation covers the realities of indie game development: failed crowdfunding campaigns that led to private support, the challenge of marketing when you'd rather be coding, and plans for a Steam release and version 1.0 launch. We also discuss the potential for LLM-powered NPC personalities, why minimal dependencies matter, and how game design psychology from board games applies to digital experiences.

Connect with Mikh:
- X: https://x.com/SWARMMOOFFICIAL
- SWARMMO: https://swarmmo.games/?lang=en

SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR
- Elixir Mentor: https://elixirmentor.com/?utm_source=elixir-mentor

Isaak Tsalicoglou on REST API Design

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 13 Dec 2025 17:26:15 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, I chat with Isaak Tsalicoglou, author of Elixir Software Engineering. Isaak shares hard-won lessons from building production Elixir API clients, covering validation strategies, error handling approaches, authentication flows, and architectural patterns that actually work in the real world.

We explore Isaak's journey back into programming through building internal tools for his family's industrial equipment business, and how that led to writing a comprehensive guide on REST API client development. He explains his approach to request validation, why he ultimately decided against using Ecto schemas for API responses, and the importance of resisting unnecessary complexity in software architecture.

The conversation covers practical API design topics including how to structure clean RESTful routes, avoiding tight coupling between APIs and UIs, and finding the right balance between over-serving and under-serving data. Isaak also shares his thoughts on LLM-assisted development, explaining why he prefers using AI as a code reviewer rather than fully automated coding, and discusses his self-hosting infrastructure setup for privacy-conscious applications.

This episode offers valuable insights for anyone building API clients in Elixir or thinking critically about software architecture decisions and their long-term implications.

Resources Mentioned:
- Elixir Software Engineering: https://leanpub.com/elixir-software-engineering

Connect with Isaak:
- X: https://x.com/realMrLaminar
- LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/tisaakx

SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR
- Elixir Mentor: https://elixirmentor.com/?utm_source=elixir-mentor

Andrés Alejos on LiveBook

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 13 Jul 2024 14:10:23 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, I'm thrilled to have Andrés Alejos join us. Andrés is well-versed in the uses and power of LiveBook and has extensive knowledge in machine learning.

We'll explore a variety of topics, including:

The capabilities and applications of LiveBook
Integrating machine learning with Elixir
How these tools can enhance your projects

Whether you're curious about practical implementations, technical details, or the broader impact of these technologies, this conversation is sure to be valuable.

Join me for a great discussion with Andrés Alejos, where we explore the intersections of LiveBook, machine learning, and Elixir. Don't miss this opportunity to gain insights from an expert in the field!

Connect with Andrés:
X: Follow Andrés on X (Twitter)
Website: Visit The Stack Canary
LinkedIn: Connect with Andrés on LinkedIn
GitHub: Explore Andrés's GitHub

Join this channel to get access to perks: YouTube Channel Membership

Coby Benveniste & Daniel Garcia-Shulman on AI Marketing Agents

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 10 Jan 2026 16:29:56 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, I chat with Coby Benveniste and Daniel Garcia-Shulman from MarkeTeam.ai about building intelligent AI marketing agents with Elixir. They share their experience migrating from Python and React to a full Elixir and LiveView stack, and explain why the BEAM VM is ideal for powering autonomous agent workflows.

Coby and Daniel explain their approach to agent architecture, including why they chose gen state machine over gen server for managing agent state machines. They walk through the ReAct pattern (reasoning, actions, observations) and how it maps naturally to Erlang's state machine behaviors. The conversation covers their custom marketing strategy LLM, how they use RAG patterns for brand context, and why specialized agents outperform single all-purpose agents.

We explore the technical details of their stack, including how they handle DevOps without a dedicated team using mix release, their use of Fun with Flags for feature flagging, and how Broadway and Oban power their data pipelines. The discussion also covers practical workflows with Claude Code, context management using Beads, and the usage rules library for better LLM documentation.

The episode wraps up with insights on hiring Elixir developers, the emerging field of AEO (Answer Engine Optimization), and advice for developers learning Elixir with LLM assistance. Whether you're building AI agents, exploring marketing automation, or curious about advanced Elixir patterns, this conversation offers practical insights from engineers shipping production AI systems.

Resources Mentioned:
- MarkeTeam AI: https://www.marketeam.ai
- Beads (Claude Code context tool): https://github.com/steveyegge/beads

Connect with Coby & Daniel:
- Coby: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coby-benveniste/
- Daniel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielegsh/

SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR
- Elixir Mentor: https://elixirmentor.com

Brian Cardarella on LiveView Native

Jacob Luetzow — Tue, 03 Sep 2024 22:03:01 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, the go-to source for All Things Elixir, Brian Cardarella, CEO of DockYard, joins to discuss LiveView Native. This conversation explores how LiveView Native enables developers to build native and web applications seamlessly with Phoenix, allowing teams to do more with less.

Brian shares insights on how a single team can now manage front-end development for both web and native applications using a single codebase, leveraging Phoenix's server-side rendering. This episode offers valuable perspectives for Elixir developers on the future of cross-platform development, discussing how to build complex, client-side applications that are faster and lighter than those built with heavy JavaScript frameworks.

Listeners will learn about delivering better user experiences across all platforms and optimizing productivity with a unified approach.

#ElixirLang #LiveViewNative #PhoenixFramework #CrossPlatformDev #DockYard

Connect with Brian:
X: Follow Brian on X (Twitter)
Website: Visit DockYard Website
LiveView Native: Explore LiveView Native

Alex Koutmos on EagleMMS

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 29 Nov 2025 18:16:02 GMT

In this episode, I chat with Alex Koutmos, author of Elixir Patterns and creator of numerous open source libraries, about building EagleMMS—a SaaS platform helping collision repair shops accurately calculate consumable costs for vehicle repairs. Alex shares his journey from two failed startups to building a profitable business with nearly a thousand customers.

We discuss the outdated methods insurance companies use to calculate repair costs, the brutal reality of door-to-door sales, and how Alex's brother (a licensed auto body technician and appraiser) became his co-founder and sales partner. Alex explains why customer support load is heavier than expected when dealing with insurance company pushback and how they coach shops through negotiations.

On the technical side, Alex walks through his evolution from a Vue SPA to a full LiveView application, building PWAs that work seamlessly on mobile, and why Elixir has never been a bottleneck for his business needs. We cover ETS caching strategies for performance, database backup lessons learned the hard way, and why he refuses to do standups. Alex also previews his upcoming books on financial analytics with Explorer and Scholar, plus a Nerves book entering beta soon.

Connect with Alex:
- X: https://x.com/akoutmos
- Books: https://akoutmos.com/top/books/
- EagleMMS: https://eaglemms.com/

SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR
- Elixir Mentor: https://elixirmentor.com

Peter Ullrich & Alex Koutmos on EZSuite

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 21 Dec 2024 14:58:10 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, we welcome back Peter Ullrich and Alex Koutmos to discuss their new venture, EZSuite. With over 20 years of combined software engineering experience, they're tackling the challenge of automating away essential but time-consuming aspects of Elixir development. We explore their first product, Phx2Ban, a sophisticated Fail2Ban alternative for Phoenix applications that helps developers implement robust bot protection with minimal setup. Peter, known for his contributions to the Elixir community through his blog and conference talks, and Alex, creator of numerous Elixir libraries and host of the BeamRadio podcast, share their vision for making Elixir development more efficient. The conversation covers technical decisions behind EZSuite's products, the challenges of transitioning from open-source to commercial development, and their commitment to maintaining high-quality developer tools. Whether you're running production Phoenix applications or interested in Elixir's ecosystem growth, this episode offers valuable insights into practical solutions for common development challenges. #ElixirLang #Phoenix #WebSecurity #DevTools #EZSuite

EZSuite: https://ezsuite.dev/

Connect with Peter:
X: https://x.com/PJUllrich
BSky: https://bsky.app/profile/peterullrich.com
Website: https://peterullrich.com/

Connect with Alex:
X: https://x.com/akoutmos
BSky: https://bsky.app/profile/akoutmos.bsky.social
Website: https://akoutmos.com/

SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR
Elixir Mentor: https://elixirmentor.com/
siteBrains: https://sitebrains.io

Ellie Fairholm & Josep Lluis Giralt D’Lacoste on BEAMOps

Jacob Luetzow — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 01:55:13 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, I chat with Ellie and Josep, co-authors of "Engineering Elixir Applications: Navigate Each Stage of Software Delivery with Confidence." They discuss their journey into Elixir development, their experience writing the book together as a couple, and dive deep into DevOps concepts for Elixir applications.

The conversation covers their approach to teaching deployment concepts through practical examples, including their use of Docker, Docker Swarm, and Terraform. They explain how they made complex topics accessible by starting with project management and building up to more advanced deployment scenarios.

The authors describe their book's example application - a Kanban board that demonstrates distributed Elixir capabilities - and discuss their collaboration with Ricardo Garcia on its development. The episode also touches on personal topics, including Joseph's impromptu marathon story and their shared love for gaming.

The discussion highlights the importance of understanding DevOps concepts for Elixir developers and provides practical insights for those looking to deploy Elixir applications in production environments.

Links discussed:
- Engineering Elixir Applications (Book):https://pragprog.com/titles/beamops/engineering-elixir-applications/
- Docker & Docker Swarm:https://www.docker.com/
- Terraform:https://www.terraform.io/

Connect with the authors:
- Josep:https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseplluisgiraltdlacoste/
- Ellie:https://www.linkedin.com/in/elliefairholm/

- Website:https://beamops.co.uk/

SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR
- Elixir Mentor:https://elixirmentor.com

Barnabas Jovanovics on Ash Core Development

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 20 Sep 2025 16:49:03 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, I sit down with Barnabas Jovanovics, a core engineer on the Ash framework team. Barnabas shares his unique journey from working as an electrician and automation engineer to becoming a key contributor to one of Elixir's most powerful frameworks.

We explore how Barnabas discovered Ash while building a booking platform, initially skeptical but quickly becoming convinced by its power. He discusses his major contributions including Ash RBAC for simplified role-based access control and GraphQL subscriptions, as well as his current work on a Discord bot framework that leverages Ash's architecture patterns.

Our conversation covers the philosophy of open source development, the challenges of maintaining large projects, and the exciting new Ash TypeScript integration that just launched. This feature automatically generates type-safe TypeScript client code from your Ash resources, supporting both fetch and Phoenix channels for real-time communication.

We also discuss valuable perspectives on the Elixir community, conference experiences at Goatmire and Alchemy Conf, and practical advice for developers navigating the rapidly evolving landscape of AI-assisted programming. Whether you're new to Ash or an experienced user, this conversation provides valuable insights into the framework's architecture and future direction.

Resources Mentioned:
- Ash Framework: https://ash-hq.org/

Connect with Barnabas:
- X: https://x.com/barnabasMJ

SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR
- Elixir Mentor: https://elixirmentor.com

Peter Ullrich on Elixir and Online Course Creation

Jacob Luetzow — Sun, 24 Mar 2024 16:15:13 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, your go-to source for All Things Elixir, I sit down with Peter Ullrich, a Senior Elixir developer, PragProg Author, Public Speaker, and Blogger. 🚀

We'll explore his unique journey from psychology to software development and discuss his passion for Software Architecture, Product Engineering, and knowledge sharing. Discover how Peter's background in psychology influences his approach to coding and learn about his experience as a founder of "Indie Courses."

We'll explore the challenges of creating and selling video courses and how Indie Courses help creators succeed in the competitive online education market. Don't miss this opportunity to gain insights from a multifaceted expert in the Elixir community and learn how to monetize your knowledge effectively.

Join us for an inspiring conversation! 🎙️

#ElixirMentor #SoftwareDevelopment #ProductEngineering #OnlineEducation #Entrepreneurship #VideoCourseSales #KnowledgeSharing #TechCommunity

Connect with Peter:
Indie Courses: Explore Indie Courses
X: Follow Peter on X (Twitter)
Website: Visit Peter's Website

Join this channel to get access to perks: YouTube Channel Membership

Jamil Bou Kheir on Firezone

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 31 Jan 2026 19:24:15 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, I chat with Jamil Bou Kheir, founder of Firezone, a YC-backed open-source zero-trust access platform. Jamil shares his journey from eight years as a Cisco security engineer to building an enterprise VPN replacement using Elixir and Rust.

We explore how Firezone started as a simple WireGuard configuration tool that hit the front page of Hacker News, then evolved into a full zero-trust platform. Jamil explains the architecture decisions behind using Elixir for the control plane and Rust for the data plane, including their custom ICE implementation called Snownet for NAT traversal. The conversation covers practical insights on Phoenix PubSub for real-time signaling, Postgres WAL streaming for change data capture, and running a global Erlang cluster.

Jamil also shares candid advice from the Y Combinator experience, discussing funding, product-market fit, and the challenges of rebuilding a product architecture mid-startup. We dive into the realities of open source licensing, security through transparency, and SOC 2 compliance. The episode touches on AI in development workflows, managing large refactors, and marketing strategies for technical founders.

Whether you're interested in networking protocols, building with Elixir at scale, or the startup journey from side project to funded company, this conversation offers valuable perspective from someone doing it in production.

Resources Mentioned:
- Firezone: https://www.firezone.dev
- WireGuard: https://www.wireguard.com
- Github: https://github.com/firezone/firezone

Connect with Jamil:
- Website: https://www.firezone.dev
- X/Twitter: https://x.com/jamilbk
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamilbk/
- GitHub: https://github.com/jamilbk

Sponsors:
- Paraxial.io: https://paraxial.io
- Jido: https://agentjido.xyz/discord

SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR
- Elixir Mentor: https://elixirmentor.com

Vasilis Spilka on LLMs & Ash

Jacob Luetzow — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 17:54:57 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, I chat with Vasilis Spilka, Head of Software Development at Teacherspace, about building agentic software as a solo developer, the pairing of Ash and LLMs, and what it takes to ship a startup side project alongside a day job.

Vasilis shares his path from Ruby on Rails in 2014 to nearly a decade of Elixir work across fintech, supply chain, and ad tech. We talk through Teacherspace's recent acquisition, the challenges of integrating with legacy Danish education contractors, and the three pivots it took to land on a working product.

We spend a good chunk of the episode on Ash: why its unique DSL and introspection make it unusually strong with LLMs, how Spark lets you build your own DSLs, and why usage rules plus Igniter are a game-changer for library authors. Vasilis walks through his Claude Code workflow, the sculpting approach he uses for prototypes, and where he still won't let the LLM near — system design and API keys.

The conversation also covers Communities, his local-first social platform; the paperclip-style autonomous company idea he's exploring with ash_typescript; whether LLMs actually understand anything; and the unglamorous reality of getting a consumer product off the ground through networking and volunteering. We close with practical tips on prompt phrasing and skill-file tweaks that meaningfully change output quality.

Resources Mentioned:
- Ash Framework: https://ash-hq.org
- Tidewave: https://tidewave.ai
- Igniter: https://hexdocs.pm/igniter
- ash_typescript: https://github.com/ash-project/ash_typescript

Connect with Vasilis:
- X/Twitter: https://x.com/vasspilka
- GitHub: https://github.com/vasspilka

Sponsors:
- BEAMOps: https://beamops.co.uk
- Paraxial.io: https://paraxial.io
- Jido (Elixir AI Collective Discord): https://agentjido.xyz/discord

SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR
- Elixir Mentor: https://elixirmentor.com

Peter Solnica on JustCrossPost

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 25 Jan 2025 16:51:48 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, we dive into JustCrossPost with creator Peter Solnica, exploring his journey from Ruby to Elixir development and the evolution of his social media automation tool. Peter shares insights on using AI for development, particularly for frontend work, and discusses how his background in functional programming through Ruby helped smooth his transition to Elixir. We explore the technical architecture behind JustCrossPost, including its use of Oban Pro workflows for reliable cross-platform posting, Cloudinary for image optimization, and his approach to testing both backend and frontend components. The conversation also covers the challenges of learning LiveView, maintaining multiple SDK clients at Sentry, and his thoughts on the impact of AI on software development, particularly for junior developers. Peter also teases upcoming features for JustCrossPost, including GitHub integration for open source maintainers and automated release announcements.

Links from the discussion:
- TDD Phoenix: https://tddphoenix.com/
- Cloudinary: https://cloudinary.com/
- Cursor.sh: https://cursor.sh/
- Playwright: https://playwright.dev/

Connect with Peter:
- X: https://x.com/solnic_dev
- BSKY: https://bsky.app/profile/solnic.dev
- Website: https://solnic.dev/
- JCP: https://justcrosspost.app/
- GitHub: https://github.com/solnic

SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR
- Elixir Mentor: https://elixirmentor.com

Greg Medland on Elixir Jobs

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 19 Oct 2024 22:00:54 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, your go-to source for All Things Elixir, I'm excited to welcome Greg Medland, a seasoned Elixir developer recruiter with over 4 years of experience placing talent across the US and Canada. We'll dive into the current Elixir job market, exploring trends, opportunities, and challenges facing both employers and job seekers in this growing field. Greg will share invaluable insights on what companies are looking for in Elixir developers and how candidates can position themselves for success. The discussion will cover the evolution of Elixir jobs, key skills that make candidates stand out, and future projections for the market. Whether you're an Elixir developer looking to advance your career or a company seeking to build a strong Elixir team, this episode offers essential knowledge from an industry insider. Don't miss this opportunity to gain a competitive edge in the Elixir job market from a recruiter at the forefront of the field. Greg's unique perspective as part of SR2 Recruitment, a B Corp Certified company, also sheds light on ethical hiring practices in tech.

#ElixirLang #TechJobs #ElixirCareers #EthicalRecruitment

Connect with Greg:
X: https://x.com/FunctionalUs
Linkedn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregmedlandg2/

SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR
🌐🌐 My website: https://elixirmentor.com/
Hired Gun Apps - Custom Software & Web Design: https://www.hiredgunapps.com

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German Velasco on PhoenixTest

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 15 Mar 2025 16:45:24 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, I chat with German Velasco, creator of Elixir Streams and Phoenix Test. We explore test-driven development practices, the benefits of pair programming, and consulting experiences within the Elixir ecosystem.

German shares his journey into Elixir development and discusses how adopting test-driven development has improved his coding workflow. He explains the philosophy behind Phoenix Test and demonstrates how proper testing can lead to more maintainable applications while reducing regression bugs.

The conversation covers the important distinction between testing behavior versus implementation, practical approaches to achieving meaningful code coverage, and the collaborative benefits of pair and ensemble programming methodologies.

We also discuss content creation for the Elixir community and how AI tools are changing programming workflows. This episode provides valuable insights for Elixir developers looking to improve their testing practices and team collaboration.

Resources Mentioned:
- Elixir Streams:https://elixirstreams.com
- Phoenix Test:https://github.com/germsvel/phoenix_test
- TDD Phoenix:https://tddphoenix.com

Connect with German:
- Twitter/X:https://x.com/germsvel
- Website:https://www.germanvelasco.com/

SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR
- Elixir Mentor:https://elixirmentor.com

Michael Lubas on Securing & Deploying Elixir Apps

Jacob Luetzow — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 14:13:29 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, your go-to source for All Things Elixir, I'm thrilled to welcome back Michael Lubas, CEO of Paraxial.io. This special episode explores the powerful combination of Paraxial.io's security solutions and Elixir-focused hosting platforms like Gigalixir.

We'll dive into how these services complement each other to provide a robust, secure environment for deploying Elixir applications. Michael will share insights from his recent blog post about integrating Paraxial.io with Elixir deployments, covering topics such as preventing SQL injection, remote code execution, and cross-site scripting. The discussion will also touch on how platforms like Gigalixir optimize Elixir app hosting and scaling.

Whether you're a seasoned Elixir developer or just starting out, this episode offers valuable knowledge on securing and deploying your Elixir projects effectively. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from an industry leader about elevating your Elixir deployment strategy.

#ElixirLang #Paraxial #AppSecurity #CloudHosting

Connect with Michael Lubas:
X: Follow Paraxial.io on X (Twitter)
Paraxial.io: Visit Paraxial.io Website

Wout De Puysseleir on Svelte inside Phoenix LiveView

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 06 Apr 2024 14:16:52 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, your go-to source for All Things Elixir, I'm excited to welcome Wout De Puysseleir, a full-stack web developer with over 8 years of professional experience and a passion for remote work. 🌍💻

Born and raised in Belgium and currently residing in Vancouver, Canada, Wout's sharpest tools in his toolbox include Python, Django, Elixir, Phoenix, Svelte, and Docker. 🛠️✨

We'll dive into Wout's fascinating open-source project, LiveSvelte, a package that seamlessly integrates Svelte with Phoenix LiveView, delivering end-to-end reactivity inspired by Ryan Cooke's work on E2E reactivity. 🚀⚡

Wout will share his insights on how LiveSvelte combines the best of both worlds, offering developers a powerful tool for building interactive and responsive web applications. 🌐💡

We'll also explore Wout's experience cleaning up and modernizing legacy systems, discussing the challenges and rewards of tackling such projects. 🧹🆕

Join us for an engaging discussion on the future of web development, the benefits of combining Elixir and Svelte, and Wout's ongoing experiments with named slot support in Svelte. 🔍🧩

This episode is a must-listen for developers looking to stay ahead of the curve and embrace cutting-edge technologies. 📈🔧

#ElixirMentor #LiveSvelte #SvelteIntegration #PhoenixLiveView #E2EReactivity #WebDevelopment #LegacySystemModernization #SlotSupport #InnovativeTechnologies

Connect with Wout:
X: Follow Wout on X (Twitter)
LiveSvelte: Explore LiveSvelte on GitHub
Website: Visit Wout's Website

Join this channel to get access to perks: YouTube Channel Membership

Filipe Cabaco on Supabase

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 21 Sep 2024 14:09:19 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, your go-to source for All Things Elixir, I'm excited to welcome Filipe Cabaco, a talented Elixir developer at Supabase, an open-source real-time database platform. Filipe has been key in enhancing Supabase's real-time capabilities, particularly Broadcast and Presence Authorization.

We'll explore Supabase's Elixir-powered real-time engine, discussing how Filipe leveraged Elixir's strengths to build scalable solutions for data synchronization and user presence management. We'll examine the challenges of implementing these features in a distributed system, the role of Elixir's concurrency model and OTP, and how Supabase's offerings fit into the landscape of real-time databases.

Whether you're an Elixir enthusiast, a developer considering Supabase, or curious about Elixir in production, this episode offers valuable insights into Elixir and modern database technologies. Join us for an informative conversation on the exciting developments in Elixir and real-time data management.

#ElixirLang #Supabase #RealTimeData #OpenSource #DatabaseTech

Connect with Filipe:
X: Follow Filipe on X (Twitter)
Website: Visit Filipe's Website

Michael Frew on the Tech Acquisition Blueprint

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 16 Mar 2024 15:03:56 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, your go-to source for All Things Elixir, I sit down with Michael Frew, an online business acquisitions expert. 🚀

We'll dive into his journey from corporate consulting to acquiring online companies, including Gigalixir, Elixir's Platform as a Service. Discover why IT professionals should consider buying instead of starting businesses, and learn about Michael's 8-step framework for acquiring online companies.

We'll discuss the advantages of investing in online businesses, particularly in the Elixir ecosystem, and explore the future of Gigalixir. Don't miss this chance to gain valuable insights into online business acquisitions and the Elixir ecosystem.

Join us for an engaging discussion! 🎙️

#ElixirMentor #DigitalBusiness #OnlineAcquisitions #CareerShift #Entrepreneurship #TechIndustry #BusinessOperations #TechCommunity

Connect with Michael:
X: Follow Michael on X (Twitter)
Website: Visit Michael's Website

Join this channel to get access to perks: YouTube Channel Membership

Daniil Popov on Embedded Analytics

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 05 Oct 2024 15:30:06 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, your go-to source for All Things Elixir, I'm excited to welcome Daniil Popov, creator of an innovative embedded analytics tool for Phoenix projects.

We'll explore Daniil's journey developing this tool, which seamlessly integrates analytics capabilities into Phoenix applications. Daniil will share his experiences, challenges, and the advantages of using Elixir and Phoenix for this project.

We'll discuss how his tool enhances the Elixir development experience and its potential impact on analytics in Elixir applications. This episode offers valuable insights for Phoenix developers, Elixir enthusiasts, and tech leaders interested in advanced analytics solutions within the Elixir ecosystem.

#ElixirLang #PhoenixFramework #EmbeddedAnalytics #WebDevelopment

Connect with Daniil:
X: Follow Daniil on X (Twitter)
Website: Visit Daniil's Website
Phoenix Analytics: Explore Phoenix Analytics on GitHub

SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR
🌐 My website: Visit Elixir Mentor Website
🆘 NEED HELP?? Join our Discord Server
🔗 Get in touch: Connect with Jacob on Linktree

Daniil Popov on CyanView

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 18 Oct 2025 14:27:17 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, I sit down with Daniil Popov to discuss CyanView, a system that brings Phoenix LiveView to embedded devices for professional video production. We examine the challenges of creating unified camera control systems that work across 27+ different protocols from manufacturers like Sony, Canon, and RED.

Daniil shares how CyanView enables real-time camera shading for major broadcast events including the Olympics, Super Bowl, and Le Mans races. We discuss the technical implementation of LiveView on resource-constrained 32-bit ARM processors, managing distributed systems with MQTT, and solving complex problems like socket reconnection and performance optimization on embedded devices.

Our conversation covers the unique advantages of using Elixir for embedded systems, from binary pattern matching for protocol reverse engineering to supervision trees for fault tolerance. Daniil explains how they utilize nearly 80% of Elixir's capabilities—far more than typical web applications—including NIFs for C integration, custom FPGA modules for color correction, and practical approaches to creating responsive interfaces on limited hardware.

The episode wraps up with discussion of the future of camera control technology, the challenges of working with proprietary protocols, and why Elixir's actor model and distributed computing capabilities make it uniquely suited for this complex problem space. Whether you're interested in embedded systems, LiveView applications, or the intersection of hardware and software, this conversation offers valuable perspectives on pushing Elixir beyond traditional web development.

Resources Mentioned:
- CyanView:https://cyanview.com/
- Phoenix LiveView Documentation
- MQTT Protocol and Mosquitto
- Burrito and Tauri for Binary Compilation

Connect with Daniil:
- X/Twitter:https://x.com/mrpopov_com

SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR
- Elixir Mentor:https://elixirmentor.com/?utm_source=elixir-mentor

José Valim on Elixir's 12th Birthday

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 25 May 2024 13:54:26 GMT

In this special episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, your go-to source for all things Elixir, we celebrate Elixir's 12th birthday with none other than its creator, José Valim! 🎉💻

We'll have an in-depth conversation about the evolution of Elixir, its current state, and what the future holds. 🌟 José will share his journey, insights, and thoughts on Elixir's impact over the past 12 years. 🚀

Don't miss this unique opportunity to hear directly from José Valim and celebrate the success of Elixir. This is a must-watch for all Elixir enthusiasts and developers. 🎙️

#ElixirMentor #JoséValim #Elixirs12thBirthday #BEAM #FunctionalProgramming

Key Links:
The first commit: View on GitHub
Design Pattern in Elixir - José's keynote: Watch on YouTube

Connect with José:
Twitter: Follow José on Twitter
Website: Visit Dashbit
Elixir: Official Elixir Website

Join this channel to get access to perks: YouTube Channel Membership

Mark Cotner on Scaling Telecom

Jacob Luetzow — Sun, 29 Mar 2026 13:54:13 GMT

Mark Cotner is a DBA managing around a thousand databases by day and a telecom CTO by night — building hospitality cable networks for RV parks, nursing homes, and apartment complexes at 100% annual growth. In this episode, he walks through the infrastructure, the business, and the two-year project that just landed on Hex: Timeless, an embedded observability suite for Elixir built on Rust NIFs, hitting 3 million metric inserts per second with 14:1 compression.

We get into what a hospitality network actually looks like — branded cable hardware, DOCSIS provisioning, and mesh Wi-Fi across dispersed sites — and how Mark's team handles monitoring across thousands of cable modems using a full Elixir stack (DHCP, TFTP, NTP, and Ash). He also shares how a frustrating Ansible setup led him to build something he thought should exist: a lightweight, embeddable observability backend that drops into a Phoenix app in under five minutes via Igniter, with less than 5% CPU overhead.

The technical core of the conversation covers the Timeless architecture in depth — PCO compression for metrics, OpenZL for logs and traces, 15 rounds of iteration before landing on a single consolidated Rust NIF, and why the Elixir-to-Rust translation layer ended up being the real bottleneck. Mark also talks benchmarking against Victoria Metrics on a 192-core AWS ARM instance, the custom C web server (Rocket) he built to cut HTTP latency 30x below Bandit, and how supervision trees let him pack an entire DOCSIS provisioning stack into one Elixir app without worrying about cascading failures.

Whether you're curious about Elixir in telecom, Rust NIF development, time series database internals, or just want to hear what 30 years of observability experience looks like applied to the BEAM, this one is packed.

Resources Mentioned:
- Timeless on Hex: https://hex.pm/packages/timeless_phoenix

- Timeless website): https://timelessmetrics.com

Connect with Mark:
- X/Twitter: https://x.com/awksedgreep

SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR
- Elixir Mentor: https://elixirmentor.com

Sponsored by BEAMOps — scalable Elixir deployments and infrastructure migrations, authors of Engineering Elixir Applications: https://beamops.co.uk
Elixir AI Collective Discord — your community for coding Elixir with AI: https://agentjido.xyz/discord

Owen Bickford on Passwordless auth

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 23 Nov 2024 14:27:57 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, I'm joined by Owen Bickford, a Software Engineer at SmartLogic and co-host of the Elixir Wizards podcast. Owen shares his journey developing webauthn_components, an innovative library that brings passwordless authentication to Phoenix applications using WebAuthn standards. We dive deep into the technical challenges of implementing secure, passwordless login flows, and how Phoenix LiveView makes it possible to create seamless user experiences.

Owen explains the benefits of WebAuthn over traditional authentication methods, common implementation pitfalls, and best practices for deploying passwordless auth in production. Our conversation also explores his experiences in the broader Elixir community, insights gained from co-hosting Elixir Wizards, and his perspective on the evolution of authentication in web applications. This episode offers practical knowledge for developers interested in modern authentication solutions and the growing ecosystem of security-focused libraries in Elixir.

#ElixirLang #WebAuthn #PhoenixLiveView #Authentication #SecurityEngineering

Connect with Owen:
X: https://x.com/owenbickford
webauthn_components GitHub: https://github.com/liveshowy/webauthn_components

SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR
Elixir Mentor: https://elixirmentor.com/
siteBrains: https://sitebrains.io

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Join the Discord Server: https://discord.gg/HcnjPsWATg

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Peter Ullrich & Alex Koutmos on Building in Elixir

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 15 Feb 2025 17:10:16 GMT

In this laid-back episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, Alex Koutmos and Peter Ullrich return for another engaging conversation. The discussion covers various topics, including Alex's recently completed Elixir Patterns book, experiences with AI tools in development, and their thoughts on different CI/CD platforms. They share their experiences using tools like Broadway, GitHub Actions, and ObanPro, while also discussing the challenges and benefits of various development workflows.

The conversation takes entertaining detours into cultural differences between Europe and America, from banking systems to education, and includes amusing anecdotes about Peter's new Labrador puppy and temperature measurement systems. The hosts also discuss the evolution of development tools, particularly focusing on the impact of AI on coding practices and their experiences with tools like Claude and ChatGPT.

Alex shares exciting news about his upcoming financial analytics book project, collaborating with his brother who has a Ph.D. in finance and economics. The episode provides a perfect blend of technical discussion and casual conversation, demonstrating the community-driven nature of the Elixir ecosystem.

Connect with Peter:
- X: https://x.com/PJUllrich
- BSky: https://bsky.app/profile/peterullrich.com
- Website: https://peterullrich.com/

Connect with Alex:
- X: https://x.com/akoutmos
- BSky: https://bsky.app/profile/akoutmos.bsky.social
- Website: https://akoutmos.com/

Check out:
- EZSuite: https://ezsuite.dev/
- Elixir Patterns: https://elixirpatterns.dev/

SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR
- Elixir Mentor: https://elixirmentor.com

#ElixirLang #SoftwareDevelopment #TechPodcast #Programming

Mike Hostetler on ReqLLM

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 11 Oct 2025 14:03:01 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, I chat with Mike Hostetler, creator of the Jido agent framework and ReqLLM library. Mike shares his journey building a unified interface for calling multiple LLM providers in Elixir, addressing the frustrating inconsistencies between different AI APIs.

We dive into ReqLLM's architecture, exploring how it normalizes the differences between providers like OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, and more. Mike explains his decision to build a lightweight alternative to existing libraries like Instructor and LangChain, creating something that handles streaming, tool calling, and structured outputs with simple one-line function calls.

Mike demonstrates the library live, showing how to test 112+ models across different providers, handle streaming responses, and calculate token usage costs. We discuss the challenges of supporting multiple providers, from handling deprecated models to dealing with provider-specific headers and parameter variations.

The conversation also covers Jido's evolution, the upcoming Phoenix dashboard for managing agents, and Mike's vision for hierarchical agent systems in Elixir. We explore how ReqLLM fits into the broader Elixir AI ecosystem and discuss future plans for local LLM support and integration with frameworks like Ash.

Resources Mentioned:
- ReqLLM GitHub: https://github.com/agentjido/req_llm
- Jido Framework: https://agentjido.xyz
- models.dev: https://models.dev

Connect with Mike:
- GitHub: https://github.com/agentjido
- Website: https://mike-hostetler.com

SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR
- Elixir Mentor: https://elixirmentor.com

Levi Robertson on building double-zero

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 28 Sep 2024 22:35:18 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, your go-to source for All Things Elixir, I'm excited to welcome Levi Robertson, CEO and founder of double-zero (00). Levi's company offers a unique, self-hosted email monitoring service that integrates with Amazon SES, allowing users to take full control of their email platform.

We'll explore Levi's journey as he built double-zero using Elixir, a language he was new to when he started this venture. Levi will share his experiences navigating the learning curve of a new programming language while developing a complex platform. We'll discuss the challenges he faced, his strategies to overcome them, and the unexpected benefits he discovered.

Our conversation will cover why Levi chose Elixir, how it proved to be the right choice, and how Elixir's strengths benefit an email monitoring service. Whether you're an experienced Elixir developer, a newcomer to the language, or an entrepreneur considering Elixir for your next project, this episode offers valuable insights into building a business with Elixir.

#ElixirLang #EmailMonitoring #SelfHosted #Entrepreneurship #TechStartups

Connect with Levi:
X: Follow Levi on X (Twitter)
Website: Visit Levi's Website
00: Explore double-zero (00)

Greg Medland on Elixir Careers and Market Trends

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 21 Jun 2025 13:53:32 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, I welcome back Greg Medland, a recruiter who specializes in connecting talented developers with companies seeking expertise in the Elixir ecosystem. We dive deep into the current state of the Elixir job market and explore what developers can expect in 2025.

Greg shares valuable insights on how the market has evolved since the post-COVID correction, revealing encouraging signs of recovery and continued Elixir adoption. We discuss the most in-demand skills including Ash Framework experience, full-stack capabilities with React, and AI/ML integration. The conversation explores how companies like Apple, BBC, and numerous startups are successfully leveraging Elixir at scale.

We tackle the elephant in the room - AI's impact on developer roles. Greg provides a balanced perspective on how AI tools are changing the hiring landscape, what employers expect regarding AI proficiency, and how developers can leverage these tools while maintaining their value. He emphasizes the importance of using AI as a productivity enhancer rather than a replacement for critical thinking.

The episode concludes with practical career advice including resume tips, interview strategies, and how to stand out in a competitive market. Greg shares his unique perspective from reviewing more Elixir developer resumes than perhaps anyone else, offering actionable insights for developers at all levels.

Resources Mentioned:
- Elixir Remote US Jobs Channel (Elixir Slack)
- I Ask.ai: https://iask.ai

Connect with Greg:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregmedlandg2/

SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR
- Elixir Mentor: https://elixirmentor.com

Adolfo Neto on Sharing Knowledge

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 17 Aug 2024 15:39:46 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, your go-to source for All Things Elixir, join me and Adolfo Neto as we explore the importance of knowledge exchange in the software engineering community. We'll discuss how podcasts, conferences, and other mediums help share valuable insights and foster collaboration.

Adolfo will share his experiences as a researcher and educator, highlighting the role of education in building strong tech communities. Whether you're a software developer or an educator, this episode offers practical advice on fostering a culture of continuous learning and knowledge sharing.

#SoftwareEngineering #KnowledgeSharing #TechCommunity #ElixirLang #EducationInTech

Connect with Adolfo:

X: Follow Adolfo on X (Twitter)

Website: Explore Adolfo's Links

SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR

🌐 My website: Visit Elixir Mentor Website

🎙 Check out my podcast: Listen to Hired Gun Apps Podcast

🆘 NEED HELP?? Join our Discord Server

🔗 All my Links: Connect with Jacob on Linktree

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Andrea Leopardi on Network Programming

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 19 Apr 2025 15:12:38 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, I chat with Andrea Leopardi, Elixir core team member and author of "Network Programming in Elixir and Erlang." We dive deep into the fundamentals of network programming and how the BEAM's process model is perfectly suited for building robust networking applications.

Andrea breaks down complex concepts like the TCP protocol, the OSI model, and the acceptor pool pattern in clear, understandable terms. We explore how Elixir's message-passing paradigm naturally maps to the world of network communications, making it an excellent choice for building high-performance servers and clients.

Our conversation covers the evolution of HTTP protocols from version 1 to 3, the differences between libraries like Mint and GenTCP, and how to approach scalability challenges in network-intensive applications. Andrea shares insights from his experience creating networking libraries and writing technical books that make these advanced topics accessible.

Whether you're building web servers, API clients, or custom TCP/UDP applications with Elixir, this episode provides valuable perspective on the underlying networking concepts that will help you write more efficient and reliable code.

Resources Mentioned:
- Network Programming in Elixir and Erlang: https://pragprog.com/titles/alnpee/network-programming-in-elixir-and-erlang/

Connect with Andrea:
- Website: https://andrealeopardi.com/

SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR
- Elixir Mentor: https://elixirmentor.com

Michael Lubas on AI, Attack, and Defense

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 16 May 2026 14:38:48 GMT

Michael Lubas, CEO of Paraxial.io and my first-ever guest, returns to talk about AI's dual role in cybersecurity: finding vulnerabilities and writing the code that creates them.

We open with the Hex package manager penetration test Paraxial ran under the Erlang Ecosystem Foundation's Aegis initiative, funded through Alpha Omega. Michael caught a remote code execution bug before it shipped. From there we cover GitHub Actions supply chain attacks, why every maintainer should run zizmor, and campaigns that target release pipelines instead of application source.

Then the AI inflection point. The EEF's CNA issued nine CVEs in all of 2025 and is on track for well over a hundred in 2026, driven by researchers like Peter Ullrich using AI to find bugs already sitting in source code. Firefox went from about 20 valid bug reports a month to over 400 in April 2026. Michael argues defenders without state-of-the-art models are at a structural disadvantage, and we get into why bug bounty programs are collapsing under AI-generated noise, something I saw firsthand with Killswitch.

We close with the practical side: what a real pentest costs, when Claude Code helps solo developers, and the common Elixir gotchas, including binary term deserialization, SSRF, dynamic atom creation, and staying inside Ecto's default query syntax. Plus Paraxial vs. Sobelow and what SOC 2 actually covers.

Resources Mentioned:

- Securing Hex (Paraxial blog): https://paraxial.io/blog/hex-pentest?utm_source=elixir-mentor

- Hex security audit report: https://hex.pm/reports/2026/paraxial.pdf?utm_source=elixir-mentor

- EEF CNA: https://cna.erlef.org/?utm_source=elixir-mentor

- Hardening Firefox with Claude: https://hacks.mozilla.org/2026/05/behind-the-scenes-hardening-firefox/?utm_source=elixir-mentor

- What the CVE? (Peter Ullrich): https://peterullrich.com/what-the-cve?utm_source=elixir-mentor

Connect with Michael:

- Website: https://paraxial.io/?utm_source=elixir-mentor

- X/Twitter: https://x.com/paraxialio

Sponsors:

- BEAMOps: https://beamops.co.uk/?utm_source=elixir-mentor

- Paraxial.io: https://paraxial.io/?utm_source=elixir-mentor

- Jido, Elixir AI Collective Discord: https://agentjido.xyz/discord?utm_source=elixir-mentor

Support Elixir Mentor: https://elixirmentor.com/?utm_source=elixir-mentor

Peter Ullrich on Getting Started with Elixir

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 12 Oct 2024 14:13:54 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, your go-to source for All Things Elixir, I'm excited to welcome back Peter Ullrich, a returning guest and passionate Elixir advocate. We'll dive into Peter's latest project, runelixir.com, a free resource designed to help newcomers get started with Elixir. Peter will share insights on best practices for learning Elixir, common pitfalls to avoid, and why he believes Elixir is an excellent choice for developers. We'll explore the features of runelixir.com and how it aims to simplify the learning process for beginners. Additionally, we'll touch on indiecourses.com, another platform Peter built for hosting video courses. This episode is perfect for those curious about Elixir, developers looking to expand their skill set, and anyone interested in the future of functional programming and online learning. #ElixirLang #LearnElixir #FunctionalProgramming #OnlineLearning

Connect with Peter:
Run Elixir: https://runelixir.com
Indie Courses: https://indiecourses.com
X: https://twitter.com/pjullrich
Website: https://peterullrich.com

SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR
🌐 My website: https://elixirmentor.com/

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🆘 NEED HELP?? Join the Discord Server: https://discord.gg/HcnjPsWATg

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https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChbS_z6KHQiIu9et38O37eQ/join

Amos King on sharing knowledge

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 21 Feb 2026 16:28:52 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, I sit down with Amos King, Senior Staff Backend Engineer at Adobe, founder of Binary Noggin, and longtime Elixir community contributor. We dig into mentorship, knowledge sharing, and the team dynamics that make software organizations actually thrive.

Amos traces his non-traditional path into software — from structural engineering to manufacturing automation to Erlang on Navy submarines — and explains how that background shapes how he thinks about building reliable systems. We talk about his decade running Binary Noggin, why he ultimately made the move to Adobe, and the hard lessons learned when the consulting market shifted. From there the conversation goes deep on team composition, why diverse backgrounds matter more than uniform credentials, and the mindset shift from object-oriented to functional programming.

We also get into the practical side of Elixir: when GenServers are the right tool and when they're not, why vibe coding worries him from an engineering quality standpoint, and why teaching is actually a selfish act that benefits the teacher most. We close out with what separates a real staff engineer from a senior one, a call for the Elixir community to revive local meetups, and a real-world database query optimization story that reframes how to think about performance problems.

Resources Mentioned:
- Binary Noggin: https://binarynoggin.com

Connect with Amos:
- X/Twitter: https://x.com/Adkron
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amosking/

SPONSORS
- BEAMOps: https://beamops.co.uk
- Paraxial.io: https://paraxial.io
- Jido: https://agentjido.xyz/discord

SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR
- Elixir Mentor: https://elixirmentor.com

José Valim on Tidewave

Jacob Luetzow — Sat, 06 Dec 2025 18:08:38 GMT

In this episode of the Elixir Mentor Podcast, I chat with Elixir creator José Valim about Tidewave, the AI coding agent that lives inside your web framework. José shares the journey from falling in love with MCP to discovering its limitations, and how Tidewave solves the copy-paste problem that plagues AI-assisted development.

We explore how Tidewave integrates directly with your browser to eliminate tedious workflows, automatically detecting exceptions and validating changes without manual intervention. José explains why the tool now supports Phoenix, Rails, Django, FastAPI, Flask, and Next.js, and how building one feature benefits all frameworks simultaneously. The conversation covers prompting strategies, context management, and the unique challenges of building Tidewave with Tidewave.

José offers candid insights on why MCP has fundamental limitations for user experience, the security concerns around AI agents, and why Elixir's message-passing architecture makes it ideal for building agentic systems. We discuss the evolving type system in Elixir, code review workflows with AI, and the upcoming Tidewave features including multi-element inspection and symbol search.

The episode concludes with José's perspective on transitioning from open source maintainer to product owner, collecting user feedback through Discord, and exciting developments with Tauri for building desktop applications with Elixir. This conversation provides valuable insights for developers interested in AI-powered tooling and the future of web development.

Resources Mentioned:
- Code Benchmark: https://github.com/Tencent-Hunyuan/AutoCodeBenchmark

Connect with José:
- X: https://x.com/josevalim
- Tidewave: https://tidewave.ai
- Dashbit: https://dashbit.co

SUPPORT ELIXIR MENTOR
- Elixir Mentor: https://elixirmentor.com