Exploring Interoperability Options for Elixir in 2025

The article explores the advancements in interoperability for Elixir and the Erlang VM as of 2025. It details three traditional methods: NIFs for performance-critical integration, Ports for process isolation, and Distributed nodes for communication with other runtimes. Additionally, it introduces new developments like AtomVM for microcontrollers and web environments, along with projects such as Popcorn for running Elixir in browsers with JavaScript interoperability and Hologram for full-stack applications. The article also covers the modern use of NIFs with languages such as C++, Rust, Zig, and Python, showcasing libraries that ease integration while highlighting their respective advantages and considerations. Finally, it underlines the built-in support for distributed systems, allowing Elixir to communicate with various programming languages through established protocols.