What is Gleam? A Quick Guide for Beginners
Are you looking for a type-safe programming language to build scalable software? Gleam can be a great choice. The number of Gleam programmers has grown significantly in recent months. Let us explore what sets Gleam apart from Rust and Java. Gleam Overview Initially released in 2019, Gleam is a type-safe programming language. Its latest version v1.0.0 was rolled out in March 2024. Designed and developed by Louis Pilfold, Gleam is both user-friendly and powerful. Gleam operates on the BEAM virtual machine, which also powers Elixir. It makes Gleam highly scalable and offers a seamless developer experience. Let us get to know some interesting features of Gleam. Features of Gleam Beginner-friendly Gleam language is easy to learn. Its algebraic data types let you write clear and powerful codes. It uses readable syntaxes that naturally reduce cognitive overhead. You save time by typing fewer characters in place of entire words. For example, you can use fn instead of function. Similarly, for the public, you can write pub. The programming language also provides clear and actionable error messages. Therefore, developers detect and resolve errors quickly. Additionally, Gleam has various tools for building, testing, and deploying web applications. You do not need to buy third-party tools for these jobs. Cross Platform Deployment Cross-platform deployment is a revolutionary feature. It allows you to build highly concurrent apps running across multiple platforms. Gleam lets you employ the same code on different platforms. You can use the same code for the Erlang VM, JavaScript, and native applications. Language Server The Gleam language server makes coding exceptionally easy by suggesting how to finish a code. It also points out code errors and provides quick fixes for them. You also get errors for style issues and unused bits of code. Additionally, the language server automatically handles the code formatting. Since Gleam automates many tasks, you can concentrate on solving problems. Developer-friendly Gleam is a developer-friendly language in many ways. If you have used Rust or JavaScript before, you can easily use its syntax because they are similar. Besides this, catching errors is straightforward in Gleam. Its static type system helps you detect errors while compiling code. Gleam also has tools like todo and @deprecated that significantly enhance the developer experience. Todo helps you define unfinished parts of code, whereas @deprecated annotation makes you aware of outdated features/functions. Gleam also has a standard library covering numerous use cases. It has ready-to-use functions for various programs. It also has packages for databases like MongoDB, Kafka, PostgreSQL, etc. Powerful Type System The Gleam has a robust type system. You can write and edit codes with the help of this static-type framework. As you write codes, it gives you smart tips. Moreover, it eliminates the entire class of runtime errors by enforcing type safety at compile time. You can also use a type system to analyze data concisely. Gleam Type System also supports the building of custom types. You can make domain-specific programs. Scope of Gleam Gleam is a versatile programming language. It can build different web applications, including large-scale distributed systems. Developers can use Gleam for both client-side and server-side development. Web developers also use Gleam to build microservices, thanks to the concurrency model of BEAM VM. In addition to this, Gleam can also perform data transformation and analytical jobs. Community Support The Gleam community has been continuously growing. Regardless of your skill level, you can find a wealth of resources to support your development effort. The gleam community gives you access to numerous tutorials and forums. Also, you can explore its official guides and community-authored blogs. Its active forums and chats allow developers to ask questions and share knowledge. Conclusion Considering everything, it would be right to mention that Gleam is more than just a programming language. It is a powerful tool that helps developers to build, scale, and maintain applications. Its cross-platform capabilities, powerful type system, and user-friendliness make it suitable for modern web development. All in all, this functional programming language is an excellent choice for building reliable and scalable apps. So, whether you are planning to build an application or just an API, you should give Gleam a try.
