Using Zig for Elixir Native Implemented Functions

The article, written by Allan MacGregor, explores the concept of Native Implemented Functions (NIFs) in Elixir and demonstrates how to write and use NIFs using Zig. Elixir is a dynamic, functional language known for scalability and maintainability, but there are times when it's not the best fit for specific tasks like direct system interaction. That's where NIFs come in, allowing Elixir to call functions written in languages like C, Rust, or Zig, which offer better performance for certain operations. Zig is highlighted as a suitable choice due to its simplicity and safety features. The tutorial details setting up Zig for Elixir NIF development, understanding how NIFs work in Elixir, and writing a NIF function in Zig. It concludes by integrating this function into an Elixir app and discussing some core advantages of using Zig for NIFs, including performance gains, safety due to strong typing and compile-time checks, and simplicity in learning and use.