Erlang: Build robust, scalable, and concurrent systems
Erlang is a powerful programming language designed for building highly scalable, fault-tolerant, and concurrent systems. It's particularly well-suited for applications requiring high availability, real-time performance, and massive concurrency, such as telecommunications, gaming, financial trading, and distributed systems. Hiring a skilled Erlang freelancer can significantly accelerate your project development and ensure a robust and reliable final product.
What to look for in an Erlang freelancer
When searching for an Erlang freelancer, consider the following key aspects:
- Proven Erlang experience: Look for a portfolio showcasing successful Erlang projects, ideally in a domain similar to yours.
- Understanding of OTP: The Open Telecom Platform (OTP) is a crucial part of the Erlang ecosystem. A strong grasp of OTP principles and best practices is essential for building robust and maintainable applications.
- Concurrency and distribution expertise: Erlang excels at handling concurrent processes and distributed systems. Ensure the freelancer has a solid understanding of these concepts.
- Problem-solving skills: Look for evidence of strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, as Erlang development often involves tackling complex technical challenges.
- Communication and collaboration: Effective communication is vital for any freelance engagement. Ensure the freelancer can clearly articulate technical concepts and collaborate effectively within a team.
Main expertise areas within Erlang
Clients often require Erlang expertise in the following areas:
- Real-time systems: Building applications that require immediate responses to events, such as online gaming or financial trading platforms.
- Distributed systems: Creating systems that operate across multiple interconnected nodes, ensuring high availability and fault tolerance.
- Telecommunications: Developing robust and scalable telecommunications infrastructure, including messaging systems and call routing applications.
- Concurrency and parallelism: Leveraging Erlang's strengths in handling concurrent processes to build highly performant applications.
- Embedded systems: Developing Erlang applications for embedded devices, often requiring specific expertise in resource management and optimisation.
Relevant interview questions
Here are some interview questions to help assess an Erlang freelancer's skills:
- Describe your experience with OTP and how you've used it in previous projects.
- Explain how Erlang handles concurrency and what are the benefits of its approach.
- What are the key differences between processes and threads in Erlang?
- How would you approach building a fault-tolerant system in Erlang?
- Describe your experience with debugging and troubleshooting Erlang applications.
Tips for shortlisting candidates
When shortlisting, focus on:
- Relevant portfolio projects: Prioritise candidates with demonstrable experience in projects similar to your requirements.
- Strong technical skills: Assess their understanding of core Erlang concepts and OTP principles.
- Clear communication: Choose candidates who communicate effectively and can understand your project needs.
- Positive client reviews: Look for positive feedback from previous clients regarding their work ethic and professionalism.
Potential red flags
Be mindful of the following:
- Lack of demonstrable Erlang experience: Be wary of candidates who cannot showcase concrete examples of their Erlang work.
- Limited understanding of OTP: A weak grasp of OTP is a significant concern for building robust Erlang applications.
- Poor communication skills: Difficulty in understanding technical concepts or explaining their approach can hinder project success.
- Negative client reviews: Pay attention to any negative feedback regarding communication, reliability, or quality of work.
Typical complementary skills
Erlang skills often complement other expertise, such as:
- Elixir
- Relational databases (e.g., PostgreSQL)
- NoSQL databases (e.g., Riak, CouchDB)
- Cloud computing platforms (e.g., AWS, Google Cloud)
- DevOps practices
What problems an Erlang freelancer can solve for you
An experienced Erlang freelancer can help you:
- Build highly scalable and fault-tolerant systems: Ensure your application can handle increasing traffic and remain operational even in the face of failures.
- Develop real-time applications: Create systems that respond instantly to events, crucial for applications like online gaming or financial trading.
- Improve system performance and reliability: Optimise your existing systems for better performance and reduce downtime.
- Integrate with other systems: Connect your Erlang application with other services and platforms seamlessly.
- Reduce development time and costs: Leverage a freelancer's expertise to accelerate development and deliver your project efficiently.
Examples of real-world Erlang applications include:
WhatsApp's messaging platform, which handles billions of messages daily, and RabbitMQ, a widely used message broker known for its reliability and performance. Erlang is also used in various financial systems for high-frequency trading and risk management.
