Skip to content
Permalink

Comparing changes

Choose two branches to see what’s changed or to start a new pull request. If you need to, you can also or learn more about diff comparisons.

Open a pull request

Create a new pull request by comparing changes across two branches. If you need to, you can also . Learn more about diff comparisons here.
base repository: NixOS/nixpkgs
Failed to load repositories. Confirm that selected base ref is valid, then try again.
Loading
base: eef03f8965c7
Choose a base ref
...
head repository: NixOS/nixpkgs
Failed to load repositories. Confirm that selected head ref is valid, then try again.
Loading
compare: cb6b28f87e3a
Choose a head ref
  • 2 commits
  • 3 files changed
  • 2 contributors

Commits on Nov 26, 2020

  1. Copy the full SHA
    2bb9e7c View commit details
  2. Merge pull request #105007 from wayofthepie/beam-to-commonmark

    doc: convert beam docs to commonmark (see #104962)
    ryantm authored Nov 26, 2020
    Copy the full SHA
    cb6b28f View commit details
Showing with 85 additions and 160 deletions.
  1. +84 −0 doc/languages-frameworks/beam.section.md
  2. +0 −159 doc/languages-frameworks/beam.xml
  3. +1 −1 doc/languages-frameworks/index.xml
84 changes: 84 additions & 0 deletions doc/languages-frameworks/beam.section.md
Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
# BEAM Languages (Erlang, Elixir & LFE) {#sec-beam}

## Introduction {#beam-introduction}

In this document and related Nix expressions, we use the term, *BEAM*, to describe the environment. BEAM is the name of the Erlang Virtual Machine and, as far as we're concerned, from a packaging perspective, all languages that run on the BEAM are interchangeable. That which varies, like the build system, is transparent to users of any given BEAM package, so we make no distinction.

## Structure {#beam-structure}

All BEAM-related expressions are available via the top-level `beam` attribute, which includes:

- `interpreters`: a set of compilers running on the BEAM, including multiple Erlang/OTP versions (`beam.interpreters.erlangR19`, etc), Elixir (`beam.interpreters.elixir`) and LFE (`beam.interpreters.lfe`).

- `packages`: a set of package builders (Mix and rebar3), each compiled with a specific Erlang/OTP version, e.g. `beam.packages.erlangR19`.

The default Erlang compiler, defined by `beam.interpreters.erlang`, is aliased as `erlang`. The default BEAM package set is defined by `beam.packages.erlang` and aliased at the top level as `beamPackages`.

To create a package builder built with a custom Erlang version, use the lambda, `beam.packagesWith`, which accepts an Erlang/OTP derivation and produces a package builder similar to `beam.packages.erlang`.

Many Erlang/OTP distributions available in `beam.interpreters` have versions with ODBC and/or Java enabled or without wx (no observer support). For example, there's `beam.interpreters.erlangR22_odbc_javac`, which corresponds to `beam.interpreters.erlangR22` and `beam.interpreters.erlangR22_nox`, which corresponds to `beam.interpreters.erlangR22`.

## Build Tools {#build-tools}

### Rebar3 {#build-tools-rebar3}

We provide a version of Rebar3, under `rebar3`. We also provide a helper to fetch Rebar3 dependencies from a lockfile under `fetchRebar3Deps`.

### Mix & Erlang.mk {#build-tools-other}

Both Mix and Erlang.mk work exactly as expected. There is a bootstrap process that needs to be run for both, however, which is supported by the `buildMix` and `buildErlangMk` derivations, respectively.

## How to Install BEAM Packages {#how-to-install-beam-packages}

BEAM builders are not registered at the top level, simply because they are not relevant to the vast majority of Nix users. To install any of those builders into your profile, refer to them by their attribute path `beamPackages.rebar3`:

```ShellSession
$ nix-env -f "<nixpkgs>" -iA beamPackages.rebar3
```

## Packaging BEAM Applications {#packaging-beam-applications}

### Erlang Applications {#packaging-erlang-applications}

#### Rebar3 Packages {#rebar3-packages}

The Nix function, `buildRebar3`, defined in `beam.packages.erlang.buildRebar3` and aliased at the top level, can be used to build a derivation that understands how to build a Rebar3 project.

If a package needs to compile native code via Rebar3's port compilation mechanism, add `compilePort = true;` to the derivation.

#### Erlang.mk Packages {#erlang-mk-packages}

Erlang.mk functions similarly to Rebar3, except we use `buildErlangMk` instead of `buildRebar3`.

#### Mix Packages {#mix-packages}

Mix functions similarly to Rebar3, except we use `buildMix` instead of `buildRebar3`.

Alternatively, we can use `buildHex` as a shortcut:

## How to Develop {#how-to-develop}

### Creating a Shell {#creating-a-shell}

Usually, we need to create a `shell.nix` file and do our development inside of the environment specified therein. Just install your version of erlang and other interpreter, and then user your normal build tools. As an example with elixir:

```nix
{ pkgs ? import "<nixpkgs"> {} }:
with pkgs;
let
elixir = beam.packages.erlangR22.elixir_1_9;
in
mkShell {
buildInputs = [ elixir ];
ERL_INCLUDE_PATH="${erlang}/lib/erlang/usr/include";
}
```

#### Building in a Shell (for Mix Projects) {#building-in-a-shell}

Using a `shell.nix` as described (see <xref linkend="creating-a-shell"/>) should just work.
159 changes: 0 additions & 159 deletions doc/languages-frameworks/beam.xml

This file was deleted.

2 changes: 1 addition & 1 deletion doc/languages-frameworks/index.xml
Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
</para>
<xi:include href="agda.section.xml" />
<xi:include href="android.section.xml" />
<xi:include href="beam.xml" />
<xi:include href="beam.section.xml" />
<xi:include href="bower.xml" />
<xi:include href="coq.xml" />
<xi:include href="crystal.section.xml" />