Introducing Igniter: A New Approach to Code Generation in Elixir

Zach Daniel introduces Igniter, a tool designed to address the pitfalls of traditional code generators in the Elixir ecosystem. Igniter emphasizes modifying Abstract Syntax Trees (ASTs) rather than text files to achieve greater consistency and simplicity in generated code. Traditional generators often lead to stale configuration files, manual resolution of security updates, and a complex decision-making process for developers at project outset. Igniter aims to solve these problems with a new methodology: project patching. This approach involves creating or modifying modules, adding dependencies, and ensuring that configuration changes are manageable and clear. Daniel illustrates the benefits of Igniter through examples and discusses its implementation using a builder pattern and a high-level project API. The tool seeks to improve the developer experience by making it easier to add features to an existing project, reducing the complexity and maintenance burden of code generation.