Editing
Interactive Shell (IEx)
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Warning:
You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you
log in
or
create an account
, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.
Anti-spam check. Do
not
fill this in!
== Introduction == The '''Interactive Shell''' or '''IEx''' is an essential tool for '''Elixir''' programmers. It provides a command-line interface to interact with the Elixir runtime system. IEx allows developers to write, execute, and test code in an interactive manner, making it easier to explore and understand the language and its capabilities. This article explores the various features and functionalities of IEx. == Starting IEx == To start IEx, open a terminal and enter the command: {{code|elixir $ iex }} == Basic Usage == Once inside the IEx shell, you can execute Elixir code directly in the prompt. Here are some basic commands: * Evaluate an expression: {{code|iex|2 + 2}} * Define a variable: {{code|iex|x = 10}} * Print the value of a variable: {{code|iex|x}} * Load and execute a file: {{code|iex|c("filename.ex")}} * Exit IEx: {{code|iex|ctrl + C twice}} == Shell Features == === Help === IEx provides a built-in help system to assist with usage and understanding of Elixir features. To access help, use the following command: {{code|iex|h Module.function/arity}} === Tab Completion === IEx supports tab completion, allowing you to quickly navigate and explore available modules, functions, and variables. Pressing the tab key will display available completions. === Shell Commands === IEx provides various shell commands to enhance productivity and control the environment: * {{code|iex|ls}}: List all available functions and modules. * {{code|iex|pid}}: Display the current process ID. * {{code|iex|processes}}: List all running processes. * {{code|iex|flush}}: Flush the message inbox of the current process. * {{code|iex|recompile}}: Recompile Elixir code. * {{code|iex|clear}}: Clear the shell screen. === History === IEx keeps a history of executed commands. You can access previous commands by pressing the ''up'' and ''down'' arrow keys or by using the ''h'' command. === Configuration === IEx allows customization through its configuration file. You can modify the behavior, colors, and even add custom commands. The configuration file is located at: ''~/.iex.exs''. === Breakpoints === IEx supports breakpoints to assist with debugging. By using the ''require'' command, you can access the ''IEx.pry'' function and set breakpoints within your code. {{code|iex|require IEx; IEx.pry}} == Conclusion == The IEx shell is an invaluable tool for Elixir developers. Its interactive nature allows for experimentation, testing, and debugging of code. Understanding the features and functionalities of IEx is crucial for mastering the Elixir programming language. See Also: * [[Modules in Elixir]] * [[Pattern Matching in Elixir]] * [[Concurrency in Elixir]] * [[Elixir Data Types]] * [[Elixir Standard Library]]
Summary:
Please note that all contributions to Elixir Wiki may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here.
You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see
Elixir Wiki:Copyrights
for details).
Do not submit copyrighted work without permission!
Cancel
Editing help
(opens in new window)
Template used on this page:
Template:Code
(
edit
)
Navigation menu
Personal tools
Not logged in
Talk
Contributions
Create account
Log in
Namespaces
Page
Discussion
English
Views
Read
Edit
View history
More
Navigation
Main page
Recent changes
Random page
Help about MediaWiki
Tools
What links here
Related changes
Special pages
Page information