Pros of OTP

• Mature and battle-tested ecosystem with extensive libraries and tools
• Excellent support for distributed systems and fault-tolerance
• Robust standard library with comprehensive documentation

Cons of OTP

• Steeper learning curve due to unique syntax and concepts
• Less familiar to developers coming from mainstream programming languages
• Limited support for certain programming paradigms (e.g., object-oriented programming)

Code Comparison

LFE (Lisp Flavoured Erlang):

(defun factorial (n)
  (if (=< n 1)
      1
      (* n (factorial (- n 1)))))

Erlang (OTP):

factorial(N) when N =< 1 -> 1;
factorial(N) -> N * factorial(N - 1).

Summary

OTP is a mature and powerful platform for building scalable, fault-tolerant systems, while LFE offers a Lisp-like syntax on top of the Erlang VM. OTP provides a more extensive ecosystem and better documentation, but LFE may be more appealing to developers familiar with Lisp-like languages. Both share the same underlying runtime, allowing interoperability between Erlang and LFE code. The choice between them often depends on personal preference and specific project requirements.

Pros of Elixir

• More modern syntax and features, making it easier for developers coming from other languages
• Larger and more active community, resulting in better documentation and more libraries
• Built-in support for concurrent and distributed programming with the actor model

Cons of Elixir

• Steeper learning curve for developers unfamiliar with functional programming concepts
• Less direct access to Erlang's features and libraries compared to LFE
• Slightly slower compilation times due to additional language features

Code Comparison

LFE (Lisp Flavored Erlang):

(defun factorial (n)
  (if (=< n 1)
      1
      (* n (factorial (- n 1)))))

Elixir:

def factorial(n) do
  if n <= 1, do: 1, else: n * factorial(n - 1)
end

Both LFE and Elixir are functional programming languages that run on the Erlang VM (BEAM). LFE provides a Lisp-like syntax and direct access to Erlang features, while Elixir offers a more Ruby-inspired syntax with additional language features. Elixir has gained more popularity and has a larger ecosystem, but LFE remains an excellent choice for Lisp enthusiasts who want to leverage the power of the Erlang ecosystem.

Pros of Gleam

• Modern type system with type inference, providing better safety and developer experience
• Compiles to Erlang bytecode, allowing seamless integration with existing BEAM ecosystem
• Designed with a focus on developer ergonomics and productivity

Cons of Gleam

• Younger project with a smaller community and ecosystem compared to LFE
• Less direct compatibility with Erlang/OTP idioms and patterns
• Steeper learning curve for developers already familiar with Lisp-like syntax

Code Comparison

Gleam:

pub fn factorial(n: Int) -> Int {
  case n {
    0 | 1 -> 1
    _ -> n * factorial(n - 1)
  }
}

LFE:

(defun factorial
  ((0) 1)
  ((1) 1)
  ((n) (* n (factorial (- n 1)))))

Summary

Gleam offers a more modern, type-safe approach to BEAM languages, while LFE provides a Lisp-like syntax familiar to some developers. Gleam focuses on developer ergonomics and safety, whereas LFE offers closer alignment with Erlang/OTP patterns. Both compile to Erlang bytecode, enabling interoperability with the BEAM ecosystem. The choice between them often depends on personal preference, team expertise, and specific project requirements.

Pros of Alpaca

• Designed for modern functional programming with a focus on type safety
• Offers a more Haskell-like syntax, which may be familiar to some developers
• Includes built-in support for algebraic data types and pattern matching

Cons of Alpaca

• Smaller community and ecosystem compared to LFE
• Less mature and potentially less stable than LFE
• Limited documentation and learning resources available

Code Comparison

Alpaca:

module Hello
let main = 
  io.println "Hello, World!"

LFE:

(defmodule hello
  (export (start 0)))

(defun start ()
  (io:format "Hello, World!~n"))

Summary

Alpaca is a newer language that focuses on modern functional programming concepts and type safety, while LFE (Lisp Flavored Erlang) is more established and closely tied to the Erlang ecosystem. Alpaca may appeal to developers familiar with Haskell-like syntax, while LFE offers a Lisp-based approach to Erlang programming. The choice between the two depends on specific project requirements, team expertise, and desired language features.