Managing external assets in Elixir applications using the @external_resource attribute

The article explains the challenges of integrating external CSS and JavaScript resources into the ErrorTracker, a web dashboard made with Phoenix LiveView, which operates within a larger Phoenix application. It details how the static assets are embedded by reading the CSS and JavaScript files at compile time, creating functions that return their contents. A key issue arises when changes to these assets do not trigger a recompilation unless the related Elixir module code is altered. The piece introduces the @external_resource attribute in Elixir, which helps flag external resources for the module, ensuring that the module recompiles whenever the assets change. This resolution allows developers to see updates in their browser immediately after modifying styles or scripts, improving development efficiency. It encourages readers to consult additional documentation and articles on the topic.