Exploring Nerves for IoT and Embedded Systems in Elixir

Lars Wikman delves into an exploration of The Nerves Project, an Elixir-centric toolset for IoT and embedded systems development. They highlight how Elixir, traditionally seen in the context of web development, is also a strong contender for hardware-intensive projects. The article outlines the history of Erlang in embedded Linux and the seamless transition of Frank Hunleth, and others, into the Elixir universe with the emergence of Nerves. The Nerves framework abstracts underlying Linux complexities, provides robust tools for development, and is adaptable for various hardware platforms, particularly Raspberry Pi computers. It simplifies development processes and deployment strategies such as A/B partition updates and network firmware pushes, making it an attractive proposition for developers familiar with Elixir and newcomers alike. Further, NervesHub, a complementary tool, is presented as an effective solution for managing fleets of IoT devices. The article also discusses the community and opportunities that the Nerves Project provides, citing examples of companies and long-term projects leveraging Nerves, yet often keeping a low profile, especially in the realm of industrial automation. The comprehensive Elixir tooling for hardware interaction and the promotion of best practices for embedded system development are highlighted. For those interested in beginning with Nerves, the article suggests starting with Nerves Livebook and even provides a demo video for guidance. Underjord's article is filled with enthusiasm for the possibilities that this convergence of Elixir and hardware bring, urging readers to explore Nerves and Elixir for their projects.