The journey of the short_maps library and its retirement decision

The article recounts the author’s experience with the short_maps library, which was created to introduce a new feature in Elixir for map destructuring. Initially embraced, the library faced challenges over time as users requested new features leading to a fork called shorter_maps. The author realized that short_maps added unnecessary complexity and reduced code clarity, making it difficult for developers to understand. After thoughtful consideration, the author made the decision to retire short_maps from Hex while acknowledging the existence of shorter_maps as a viable alternative. The retrospective emphasizes the importance of clarity over conciseness in code and the need for simplicity in the Elixir ecosystem.