6 ms·

Lumen: Alternative BEAM implementation, designed for WebAssembly

148 points by brainless 5y ago

sheepdestroyer 5y ago
Not related to https://docs.unrealengine.com/5.0/en-US/RenderingFeatures/Lumen/ https://docs.unrealengine.com/5.0/en-US/RenderingFeatures/Lu...
- Dragory 5y ago
  Likewise not related to https://lumen.laravel.com/ https://lumen.laravel.com/
cercatrova 5y ago
See also Gleam, a statically typed functional programming language for the BEAM: https://gleam.run/ https://gleam.run/
- bbzealot 5y ago
  How is this related? I mean I get it targets the BEAM, but Gleam is a programming language, Lumen is a VM.
  - marci 5y ago
    (Not parent) maybe losely related to: https://gleam.run/news/v0.16-gleam-compiles-to-javascript/ https://gleam.run/news/v0.16-gleam-compiles-to-javascript/
- AlchemistCamp 5y ago
  The vast majority if code that gets used on this will be Erlang and Elixir. At least for now, those are the two languages on the BEAM with traction. It's interesting to see how Caramel, Gleam, LFE, etc, will develop, though.
max_ 5y ago
What are the technical advantages of having a Wasm based BEAM implementation?
- codetrotter 5y ago
  From pretty far down in the README: > The primary motivator for Lumen's development was the ability to compile Elixir applications that could target WebAssembly, enabling use of Elixir as a language for frontend development.
- tluyben2 5y ago
  BEAM is also a very nice VM if you are thinking of a target for your own language. It is easy to learn and use. And this adds more freedom.
- bcardarella 5y ago
  We are hoping for several outcomes. The first is web wasm compilation. We have some ideas on what architectural advantages can come from having BEAM controlled UI. The second is a WASI compilation. So targeting stand alone binaries. This is different than other "compile BEAM to binary" implementations. We are targeting a footprint size of 200kb (web and wasi) which gives Erlang and Elixir an opening to targeting more IoT devices.
cycomanic 5y ago
I think it would be really nice to have some description what BEAM actually is. I don't think this is so common knowledge. The issue is also that there are no links even and it's not like BEAM is a very google friendly term. Currently the readme simply assumes that one already knows what lumen is about.
- johnisgood 5y ago
  Search for "BEAM Erlang". https://blog.erlang.org/a-brief-BEAM-primer/ https://blog.erlang.org/a-brief-BEAM-primer/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Pwlvy3zz9M https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Pwlvy3zz9M (Robert Virding - Hitchhiker's Tour of the BEAM)
- brainless 5y ago
  I found this video really good introduction to what BEAM is and allows for programmers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvBT4XBdoUE&pp=sAQA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvBT4XBdoUE&pp=sAQA
brainless 5y ago
If I am learning Rust (having a Python, JS/TS background) and am interested in the fault tolerant execution model of BEAM (cheap micro, pre-emptive, "processes"), what Rust crates (libraries) would anyone suggest to get a similar execution model?
- nesarkvechnep 5y ago
  The `actix` crate.
- praveenperera 5y ago
  act-zero - https://github.com/Diggsey/act-zero https://github.com/Diggsey/act-zero
- alpaca128 5y ago
  Bastion is aiming for exactly that
- sealeck 5y ago
  Lunatic? https://lunatic.solutions https://lunatic.solutions
cryo 5y ago
Wod, running Erlang/Elixir in the browser would be super awesome.

148 points by brainless 5y ago

Not related to https://docs.unrealengine.com/5.0/en-US/RenderingFeatures/Lumen/ https://docs.unrealengine.com/5.0/en-US/RenderingFeatures/Lu...

Dragory 5y ago
Likewise not related to https://lumen.laravel.com/ https://lumen.laravel.com/

cercatrova 5y ago

See also Gleam, a statically typed functional programming language for the BEAM: https://gleam.run/ https://gleam.run/

bbzealot 5y ago
How is this related? I mean I get it targets the BEAM, but Gleam is a programming language, Lumen is a VM.
- marci 5y ago
  (Not parent) maybe losely related to: https://gleam.run/news/v0.16-gleam-compiles-to-javascript/ https://gleam.run/news/v0.16-gleam-compiles-to-javascript/
AlchemistCamp 5y ago
The vast majority if code that gets used on this will be Erlang and Elixir. At least for now, those are the two languages on the BEAM with traction. It's interesting to see how Caramel, Gleam, LFE, etc, will develop, though.

max_ 5y ago

What are the technical advantages of having a Wasm based BEAM implementation?

codetrotter 5y ago
From pretty far down in the README: > The primary motivator for Lumen's development was the ability to compile Elixir applications that could target WebAssembly, enabling use of Elixir as a language for frontend development.
tluyben2 5y ago
BEAM is also a very nice VM if you are thinking of a target for your own language. It is easy to learn and use. And this adds more freedom.
bcardarella 5y ago
We are hoping for several outcomes. The first is web wasm compilation. We have some ideas on what architectural advantages can come from having BEAM controlled UI. The second is a WASI compilation. So targeting stand alone binaries. This is different than other "compile BEAM to binary" implementations. We are targeting a footprint size of 200kb (web and wasi) which gives Erlang and Elixir an opening to targeting more IoT devices.

cycomanic 5y ago

I think it would be really nice to have some description what BEAM actually is. I don't think this is so common knowledge. The issue is also that there are no links even and it's not like BEAM is a very google friendly term. Currently the readme simply assumes that one already knows what lumen is about.

johnisgood 5y ago
Search for "BEAM Erlang". https://blog.erlang.org/a-brief-BEAM-primer/ https://blog.erlang.org/a-brief-BEAM-primer/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Pwlvy3zz9M https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Pwlvy3zz9M (Robert Virding - Hitchhiker's Tour of the BEAM)
brainless 5y ago
I found this video really good introduction to what BEAM is and allows for programmers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvBT4XBdoUE&pp=sAQA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvBT4XBdoUE&pp=sAQA

brainless 5y ago

If I am learning Rust (having a Python, JS/TS background) and am interested in the fault tolerant execution model of BEAM (cheap micro, pre-emptive, "processes"), what Rust crates (libraries) would anyone suggest to get a similar execution model?

nesarkvechnep 5y ago
The `actix` crate.
praveenperera 5y ago
act-zero - https://github.com/Diggsey/act-zero https://github.com/Diggsey/act-zero
alpaca128 5y ago
Bastion is aiming for exactly that
sealeck 5y ago
Lunatic? https://lunatic.solutions https://lunatic.solutions

cryo 5y ago

Wod, running Erlang/Elixir in the browser would be super awesome.