The Power of Green Coding: Erlang and Elixir Leading the Charge

In the era of the green revolution, industries across the board are gravitating towards sustainable solutions. The software realm is no exception, striving for efficient code that optimises resource utilisation. This not only conserves energy but also minimises the environmental impact of server farms and data centres. Leading the charge in this green coding initiative are Erlang and Elixir.

These two languages, both running on the BEAM virtual machine, are renowned for:

– Superior concurrency

– Fault tolerance

– Real-time system capabilities

By leveraging these features, numerous companies have successfully reduced server consumption, paving the way for green coding solutions.

However, it’s worth noting that some existing literature doesn’t place Erlang and Elixir at the top regarding energy efficiency. Such research oftenmeasures programming language efficiency in running various algorithms such as binary-trees or fannkuch-redux, which may not accurately represent industry usage patterns. Future studies will likely employ simulated environments that better mirror real-world scenarios, aligning more closely with the data we observe in practice.

In this post, we will delve into industry examples showcasing how the adoption of Erlang and Elixir has effectively cut down server usage.

WhatsApp

This globally recognised messaging appused Erlang to achieve high scalability. The power of Erlang allowed WhatsApp to handlemillions of concurrent connections with a surprisingly small server cluster back in 2012. 

Pinterest

Harnessing the power of Elixir, Pinterest efficiently manages around 30 thousand events every second from its 200 million active users. Thanks to the BEAM VM, they’ve streamlined their code, reducing server needs by 50%to only 15.

Bleacher Report

Originally built on Ruby on Rails, the sports news siteBleacher Report transitioned to Elixir, resulting in substantial server reduction. From150 servers down to just 5, Bleacher Report achieved greater efficiency to the benefit of their profits and the environment

Discord

Discord, the favourite communication hub for gamers, opted for Elixir to manage its real-time communication layer from day one. This strategic choice allowed Discord to serve millions of users, reducing the need for a larger server infrastructure.

AdRoll

In the world of real-time bidding where speed and efficiency are paramount, AdRoll utilised Erlang. This enabled them to handle a staggering1.5 million bid actions per second, processing thousands of bid requests per machine. Reducing the number of servers needed with more efficient software is a prime example of green coding.

Bet365

As one of the globe’s most significant online gambling companies, Bet365 faced the herculean task of managing countless live betting scenarios. Their green solution? Erlang. This allowed them to support ten times the number of users on a single node – a win-win for the company and our planet.

In conclusion

Green coding is about harnessing technology responsibly, ensuring we make efficient use of our planet’s resources without sacrificing speed or scalability. With languages like Erlang and Elixir, we’ve seen numerous companies demonstrate that it’s possible to “have one’s cake and eat it too” in the realm of coding. 

In a world grappling with climate change, every step towards sustainability counts. So the next time you embark on a coding project, remember: code not just for function, but also for the environment.

Embracing Green Coding

Witnessing the power of Erlang and Elixir in driving sustainability and efficiency, are you ready to transform your digital infrastructure? Join the ranks of industry leaders who are coding not just for performance, but for the planet.

Let’s collaborate to make your project eco-friendly without compromising on its capabilities.Reach out to us and start your journey towards greener coding today.

Together, we can code a better future!