Metaprogramming in Elixir

Takeaway Skills

Understand the basic concepts of metaprogramming in Elixir

Learn about macros and the abstract syntax tree

Create an HTML Domain-Specific Language

Learn to properly test meta-programming based code

Understand the basic concepts of metaprogramming in Elixir

Learn about macros and the abstract syntax tree

Create an HTML Domain-Specific Language

Learn to properly test meta-programming based code

Course Overview

Get introduced to the concept of metaprogramming. Learn how to level up your programming skills by discovering the full potential of the macro system in Elixir. Understand the ins and outs of metaprogramming at a fundamental level and write incredible libraries by doing more with less ... See More

How You'll Learn

Hands-on coding environments

You don’t get better at swimming by watching others. Coding is no different. Practice as you learn with live code environments inside your browser.

Faster than videos

Videos are holding you back. The average video tutorial is spoken at 150 words per minute, while you can read at 250. That‘s why our courses are text-based.

No set-up required

Start learning immediately instead of fiddling with SDKs and IDEs. It‘s all on the cloud.

Progress you can show

Built in assessments let you test your skills. Completion certificates let you show them off.

Hands-on coding environments

You don’t get better at swimming by watching others. Coding is no different. Practice as you learn with live code environments inside your browser.

Faster than videos

Videos are holding you back. The average video tutorial is spoken at 150 words per minute, while you can read at 250. That‘s why our courses are text-based.

No set-up required

Start learning immediately instead of fiddling with SDKs and IDEs. It‘s all on the cloud.

Progress you can show

Built in assessments let you test your skills. Completion certificates let you show them off.

Course Contents

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1. Introduction

Getting Started

Course Overview

2. The Language of Macros

Introduction to Metaprogramming

Tying AST and Macros Together

The Abstract Syntax Tree

Macros: The Building Blocks

Code Injection and the Caller’s Context

Try It Out

Try It Out: Solution

Test Your Knowledge!

3. Extending Elixir with Metaprogramming

Custom Language Constructs

Smarter Testing with Macros

Leveraging the Virtual Machine’s Pattern Matching Engine

Extending Modules

Using Module Attributes for Code Generation

Compile-Time Hooks

Try It Out

Try It Out: Solution

Test Your Knowledge!

4. Advanced Compile-Time Code Generation

Generating Functions from External data

MIME-Type Conversion

Building an Internationalization Library

Finalize Building Our Internationalization Library

The Complete Translator Module

Introduction to Macro.escape

Code Generation from Remote APIs

Try It Out

Try It Out: Solution

Test Your Knowledge!

Mini Project

Code Generation from Git API

5. How to Test Macros

Setting Up Your Test Suite

Deciding What to Test

Integration Testing

Unit Tests

Test Simple and Test Fast

Test Your Knowledge!

6. Create an HTML Domain-Specific Language

Getting Domain Specific

Defining Minimum Viable API

Keeping State With Elixir Agents

Supporting the Entire HTML Spec with Macros

Enhancing API with HTML Attribute Support

Generating Less Code by Walking the AST

To DSL or Not to DSL?

Try It Out

Try It Out: Solution

Test Your Knowledge!

7. With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility (and Fun!)

When and Where to Use Macros

Avoiding Common Pitfalls

Kernel.SpecialForms: Know the Environment and Limitations

Bending the Rules

Build the Future!

Test Your Knowledge!