The Elixir Parser Under the Microscope

The Elixir parser can be used for purposes other than compiling code — for example, to transform the AST into SQL fragments, or to build a basic interpreted "Elixir-ish" programming language in a few hundred lines of code. However, using the built-in parser has drawbacks: it creates atoms, and the AST is non-reversible.

Arjan zooms in on the inner workings of the Elixir parser and his efforts to create a non-destructive, "atom-safe" Elixir parser.