Erlang's original domain: Difference between revisions
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The original domain for Erlang was | {{subpages}} | ||
The original domain for Erlang was [[circuit switching]] systems in the [[Public Switched Telephone Network]]. The nature of the original domain is presented here since it describes the kind of problems that Erlang is well suited for. | |||
=Däcker's 10 requirements= | =Däcker's 10 requirements= | ||
In Bjarne Dacker's licentiate thesis <ref name=BjarneDis>http://www.erlang.se/publications/bjarnelic.pdf Bjarne Däcker's licentiate thesis </ref> a list of the 10 key requirements for programming | In Bjarne Dacker's licentiate thesis <ref name=BjarneDis>http://www.erlang.se/publications/bjarnelic.pdf Bjarne Däcker's licentiate thesis </ref> a list of the 10 key requirements for programming telephone circuit switches. | ||
# Handling of a very large number of concurrent activities | # Handling of a very large number of concurrent activities | ||
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# Fault tolerance both to hardware failures and software errors | # Fault tolerance both to hardware failures and software errors | ||
Erlang was specifically designed to make it easier to implement telecoms switching systems, but the requirements are also true for a number of other domains such as web | Erlang was specifically designed to make it easier to implement telecoms switching systems, but the requirements are also true for a number of other domains such as [[web server]]s<ref>http://yaws.hyber.org/ The Yaws web server written in Erlang</ref>, [[instant messaging]]<ref>http://www.ejabberd.im/ Instant messaging server <code>ejabbered</code> is written in Erlang</ref> and enterprise messaging<ref>http://www.rabbitmq.com/ The AMQP implementation RabbitMQ is written in Erlang.</ref>. | ||
In Joe Armstrong's dissertation <ref Name=ArmDis>[http://www.erlang.org/download/armstrong_thesis_2003.pdf Armstrong Dissertation]</ref> there is an elaboration of the rationale for these requirements in section 2.2. | In Joe Armstrong's dissertation <ref Name=ArmDis>[http://www.erlang.org/download/armstrong_thesis_2003.pdf Armstrong Dissertation]</ref> there is an elaboration of the rationale for these requirements in section 2.2. | ||
Revision as of 11:48, 12 May 2009
The original domain for Erlang was circuit switching systems in the Public Switched Telephone Network. The nature of the original domain is presented here since it describes the kind of problems that Erlang is well suited for.
Däcker's 10 requirements
In Bjarne Dacker's licentiate thesis [1] a list of the 10 key requirements for programming telephone circuit switches.
- Handling of a very large number of concurrent activities
- Actions to be performed at a certain point in time or within a certain time
- Systems distributed over several computers
- Interaction with hardware
- Very large software systems
- Complex functionality such as feature interaction
- Continuous operation for many years
- Software maintenance (reconfiguration et cetera) without stopping the system
- Stringent quality and reliability requirements
- Fault tolerance both to hardware failures and software errors
Erlang was specifically designed to make it easier to implement telecoms switching systems, but the requirements are also true for a number of other domains such as web servers[2], instant messaging[3] and enterprise messaging[4].
In Joe Armstrong's dissertation [5] there is an elaboration of the rationale for these requirements in section 2.2.
References
- ↑ http://www.erlang.se/publications/bjarnelic.pdf Bjarne Däcker's licentiate thesis
- ↑ http://yaws.hyber.org/ The Yaws web server written in Erlang
- ↑ http://www.ejabberd.im/ Instant messaging server
ejabberedis written in Erlang - ↑ http://www.rabbitmq.com/ The AMQP implementation RabbitMQ is written in Erlang.
- ↑ Armstrong Dissertation