Introducing Erlang: Getting Started in Functional Programming, 2nd Edition

If you’re new to Erlang, its functional style can seem difficult, but with help from this hands-on introduction, you’ll scale the learning curve and discover how enjoyable, powerful, and fun this language can be.

In this updated second edition, author Simon St. Laurent shows you how to write simple Erlang programs by teaching you one basic skill at a time. You’ll learn about pattern matching, recursion, message passing, process-oriented programming, and establishing pathways for data rather than telling it where to go. By the end of your journey, you’ll understand why Erlang is ideal for concurrency and resilience.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1. Getting Comfortable
Chapter 2. Functions and Modules
Chapter 3. Atoms, Tuples, and Pattern Matching
Chapter 4. Logic and Recursion
Chapter 5. Communicating with Humans
Chapter 6. Lists
Chapter 7. Higher-Order Functions and List Comprehensions
Chapter 8. Playing with Processes
Chapter 9. Exceptions, Errors, and Debugging
Chapter 10. Storing Structured Data
Chapter 11. Getting Started with OTP
Chapter 12. Next Steps Through Erlang
Appendix A. An Erlang Parts Catalog
Appendix B. OTP Templates