beam_languages lists languages designed to run on the BEAM (Erlang virtual machine). This resource aims to be comprehensive, documenting languages, associated documentation, and implementation projects. The BEAM allows for the creation of custom programming languages, and this document compiles a list of those successfully targeting this platform.
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Comprehensive catalog of languages targeting the BEAM.
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Includes both established languages (like Clojure and Elixir) and experimental projects.
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Provides links to language websites, documentation, and source code repositories.
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Covers a variety of language paradigms, including functional, imperative, and statically-typed languages.
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Includes information on language design decisions and implementation details.
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Erlang: The foundational language for the BEAM virtual machine.
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Clojure: A dynamic, functional dialect of Lisp running on Erlang.
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Statically-typed languages: Diverse languages like Alpaca, Cure, and Gleam offering strong type systems.
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Language implementations: Covers various languages (e.g., F#, Haskell, Idris, PureScript) compiled or interpreted on the BEAM.
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Erlang-based languages: Explores languages building upon Erlang's core features and concurrency model (e.g., Erlang2, Sesterl).
The repository is actively maintained, with numerous languages continuously being added or updated. Many projects have active development communities, while others are experimental or maintenance-only. The number of projects listed (currently over 54) suggests sustained interest in language implementation on the BEAM. Documentation quality varies significantly across projects.
This repository benefits developers interested in exploring novel programming language designs or extending the capabilities of the Erlang virtual machine. It's valuable for researchers, language designers, and anyone involved in building domain-specific languages. It provides a consolidated resource for discovering existing BEAM languages, understanding their features, and accessing relevant resources.