Erlang -- Introduction

User's Guide
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Interoperability Tutorial
User's Guide
Version 5.8.3

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Chapters

- Introduction
  - Top of chapter
  - Purpose
  - Prerequisites
- Overview
  - Top of chapter
  - Built-In Mechanisms
  - C and Java Libraries
  - Standard Protocols
  - IC
  - Old Applications
- Problem Example
  - Top of chapter
  - Description
- Ports
  - Top of chapter
  - Erlang Program
  - C Program
  - Running the Example
- Erl_Interface
  - Top of chapter
  - Erlang Program
  - C Program
  - Running the Example
- Port drivers
  - Top of chapter
  - Port Drivers
  - Erlang Program
  - C Driver
  - Running the Example
- C Nodes
  - Top of chapter
  - Erlang Program
  - C Program
  - Running the Example
- NIFs
  - Top of chapter
  - NIFs
  - Erlang Program
  - NIF library code
  - Running the Example

# 1 Introduction

### 1.1 Purpose

The purpose of this tutorial is to give the reader an orientation of the different interoperability mechanisms that can be used when integrating a program written in Erlang with a program written in another programming language, from the Erlang programmer's point of view.

### 1.2 Prerequisites

It is assumed that the reader is a skilled Erlang programmer, familiar with concepts such as Erlang data types, processes, messages and error handling.

To illustrate the interoperability principles C programs running in a UNIX environment have been used. It is assumed that the reader has enough knowledge to be able to apply these principles to the relevant programming languages and platforms.

Note

For the sake of readability, the example code has been kept as simple as possible. It does not include functionality such as error handling, which might be vital in a real-life system.