Simplifying BEAM Clustering for Global Distribution

Fly.io provides an optimal platform for running Elixir and Phoenix applications, offering a global server network connected through WireGuard networking. This feature greatly simplifies the use of Erlang Distribution, a BEAM capability critical for handling concurrent connections, particularly in a globally distributed cloud environment. With a straightforward `Node.connect/1` call, Elixir developers can easily connect nodes and send messages across them. The article explains how Fly.io leverages `AAAA` DNS queries against `app_name.internal` to discover machine addresses for tunnelling. Additionally, scaling up within a region or adding new regions is made simple through Fly.io's cloning features. The Phoenix Team's `dns_cluster` project is offered as a way to streamline clustering when using DNS for discovery. The article suggests reading the code for its simplicity and how a few modifications to configuration files can get a clustering setup up and running. For more complex setups, the `libcluster` library is mentioned as a respected tool. Looking beyond the basics, the article mentions various elements of OTP for distributed computing, including the `global` and `erpc` modules, the `mnesia` distributed DBMS, `Fly.RPC`, and Phoenix PubSub. Fly.io's support for Elixir highlights its commitment to the language and framework, emphasizing its ecosystem's suitability for deploying interactive web applications.