Build a Binary Clock with Elixir and Nerves

To improve coding skills in Elixir, write a hardware project with Nerves. This project will build a binary clock using OTP, a layered approach, and debugging skills. By the end, you will have a working binary clock and a better understanding of the work that goes into a hardware system.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 108 pages
Publication date: 12 August 2022
Publisher: The Pragmatic Programmers

Want to get better at coding Elixir? Write a hardware project with Nerves!

As you build this binary clock, you'll build in resiliency using OTP, the same libraries powering many commercial phone switches. You'll attack complexity the way the experts do, using a layered approach. You'll sharpen your debugging skills by taking small, easily verified steps toward your goal.

When you're done, you'll have a working binary clock and a good appreciation of the work that goes into a hardware system. You'll also be able to apply that understanding to every new line of Elixir you write.

Combining software with hardware can be frustrating, but you can become proficient in no time by taking a simple, logical approach. Blinking a single LED is the traditional hello-world of embedded systems. Building your own binary clock is the logical next step. It blinks groupings of LEDs based on the system time.

This guide walks you through a working project using the techniques used by experts who build software for hardware every day.

This common sense project moves forward in tiny, logical steps. As you progress, you can verify each step before moving on to the next. You don't have to be a Nerves novice to benefit from this project. Become a better Elixir programmer as you build your own desktop showpiece.

With a layered approach to software design, you'll learn to control the complexity of your programs the way the experts do by focusing on one small slice of your system at a time.

When you're done, you'll have your own binary clock, and also more of the tools you need to design and build your own Nerves and Elixir projects. You'll also be a better programmer with a deeper appreciation of layering techniques for controlling complexity.

What You Need:

This project is for Elixir developers who want to learn more about hardware and software integration. You should have a basic understanding of Elixir and Nerves, as well as some experience with embedded systems programming.

You'll need a Raspberry Pi 3 or 4, a breadboard, a few LEDs, a resistor, and a jumper wire. You can also use a USB-C power supply and a microSD card for storage.

To get started, download and install the Nerves System Software (NSS) from the Nerves website. You'll also need to install the Elixir programming language on your computer.

Once you have your hardware set up, follow the steps in this guide to build your own binary clock. You'll learn how to use Nerves to manage your hardware, write Elixir code to control the LEDs, and test your project to make sure it's working correctly.

By the end of this guide, you'll have a working binary clock and a deeper understanding of the techniques used by experts to build software for hardware. You'll also be ready to take on more complex projects and apply your knowledge to your own Elixir code.

So, what are you waiting for? Start building your own binary clock today and become a better Elixir programmer!

ISBN-13: 9781680509236