Expert: Lsp for Elixir
Key topics
The Elixir community is abuzz about Expert, a new Language Server Protocol (LSP) implementation, and the discussion quickly veers into a lively debate about the merits of `just` versus `make` as a task runner. Some commenters, like mtndew4brkfst and 0x457, argue that `just` is a superior choice for generic tasks due to its language-agnostic nature and improved UX, while others, like MangoToupe, defend `make` as a reliable, if imperfect, tool. Meanwhile, sorentwo praises the architecture of Expert, highlighting its impressive approach to language version compatibility and namespace protection.
Snapshot generated from the HN discussion
Discussion Activity
Very active discussionFirst comment
1h
Peak period
24
12-24h
Avg / period
9
Based on 45 loaded comments
Key moments
- 01Story posted
Aug 28, 2025 at 5:36 PM EDT
4 months ago
Step 01 - 02First comment
Aug 28, 2025 at 6:49 PM EDT
1h after posting
Step 02 - 03Peak activity
24 comments in 12-24h
Hottest window of the conversation
Step 03 - 04Latest activity
Sep 3, 2025 at 1:15 PM EDT
4 months ago
Step 04
Generating AI Summary...
Analyzing up to 500 comments to identify key contributors and discussion patterns
Want the full context?
Jump to the original sources
Read the primary article or dive into the live Hacker News thread when you're ready.
That said, I consider `just` very language-agnostic and useful because of that, and I consider mix pretty bad at any workflow needs that isn't directly concerned with BEAM.
Website: https://just.systems
Previous HN discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42351101
https://github.com/elixir-lang/expert/blob/main/pages/archit...
https://elixir-lang.org/blog/2024/08/15/welcome-elixir-langu...
IMO that contributes powerfully to the quality of the experiences of using any of the options.
1. too many layers and worse DX
2. harder realtime updates
https://hexdocs.pm/tidewave/mcp.html
That said, the only thing that feels a bit off to me is the name “Expert.” It comes across slightly arrogant or presumptuous—like it’s implying it’s the only “expert” in the room. Maybe something more neutral would’ve been better?
Still, excited to see what the official tooling brings!
FKAHRLO for short.
Elixir has more contributors than just Jose (though he is the OG / creator / leader)
https://dashbit.co/#team https://elixir-lang.org/development.html#team https://github.com/elixir-lang/expert/graphs/contributors
Any news on when we can start to use it in our editors?
https://github.com/elixir-lang/expert/blob/main/pages/instal...
Can't wait to try it out!