The Need for Latest Stable Release Support

Oct 13, 2025 by talynt.org 43 views

Problem Statement

As an Elixir developer, ensuring that your project runs smoothly on the latest Erlang/OTP release is crucial for maintaining its stability and security. However, when using the latest version, you may encounter issues due to dependencies not yet supporting the latest OTP release. This problem is particularly evident in small projects where dependencies are not always up-to-date.

The Need for Latest Stable Release Support

In this article, we will explore the need for adding support for the latest stable release in Elixir projects. We will discuss the current limitations and how this feature can benefit developers working on small projects.

Current Limitations

When using the latest version of Erlang/OTP, you may encounter issues due to dependencies not yet supporting the latest OTP release. This can be frustrating, especially when working on small projects where dependencies are not always up-to-date. The following example illustrates this issue:

Example Use Case

Let's consider a small Elixir project that uses the :erlang module. When using the latest version of Erlang/OTP, the project may fail due to dependencies not yet supporting OTP-28.0-rc1.

# project.exs
def project do
  [
    app: :tictactoe,
    version: "0.1.0",
    elixir: "~> 1.13",
    erlang: "~> 1.12",
    otp_release: "OTP-28.0-rc1"
  ]
end

In this example, the project uses the :erlang module, which is not yet supported in OTP-28.0-rc1. As a result, the project fails when using the latest version of Erlang/OTP.

Proposed Solution

To address this issue, we propose adding support for the latest stable release in Elixir projects. This feature would allow developers to specify that they want the latest version, but restricted to only full releases.

Example Use Case

Let's consider the same project as before, but this time using the proposed feature.

# project.exs
def project do
  [
    app: :tictactoe,
    version: "0.1.0",
    elixir: "~> 1.13",
    erlang: "~> 1.12",
    otp_release: "latest_stable"
  ]
end

In this example, the project uses the latest_stable option, which specifies that the project should use the latest stable release of Erlang/OTP.

Benefits of the Proposed Solution

The proposed solution offers several benefits, including:

Improved stability: By using the latest stable release, developers can ensure that their project runs smoothly and without issues.
Enhanced security: The latest stable release typically includes security patches and fixes, which can help protect against vulnerabilities.
Simplified dependency management: With the proposed feature, developers can easily manage dependencies and ensure that they are up-to-date.

Implementation Details

To implement the proposed solution, we would need to modify the Elixir project's configuration to support the latest_stable option. This would involve updating the project.exs file to include the new option and modifying the build process to use the latest stable release.

Example Implementation

Here is an example implementation of the proposed solution:

# project.exs
def project do
  [
    app: :tictactoe,
    version: "0.1.0",
    elixir: "~> 1.13",
    erlang: "~> 1.12",
    otp_release: "latest_stable"
  ]
end

In this example, the project uses the latest_stable option, which specifies that the project should use the latest stable release of Erlang/OTP.

Conclusion

In conclusion, adding support for the latest stable release in Elixir projects is a crucial feature that can benefit developers working on small projects. By using the proposed feature, developers can ensure that their project runs smoothly and without issues, while also enhancing security and simplifying dependency management. We hope that this article has provided a clear understanding of the need for this feature and how it can be implemented.

Future Work

In the future, we plan to continue working on this feature and exploring ways to improve it. Some potential areas of focus include:

Support for multiple OTP releases: Currently, the proposed feature only supports a single OTP release. In the future, we plan to add support for multiple OTP releases, allowing developers to specify which releases they want to use.
Improved dependency management: We plan to work on improving dependency management, making it easier for developers to manage dependencies and ensure that they are up-to-date.
Enhanced security: We will continue to work on enhancing security, ensuring that the latest stable release includes security patches and fixes.

References

Acknowledgments

Q: What is the latest stable release in Elixir projects?

A: The latest stable release in Elixir projects refers to the most recent version of Erlang/OTP that has been officially released and is considered stable. This version is typically free of major bugs and is suitable for production use.

Q: Why is it important to use the latest stable release in Elixir projects?

A: Using the latest stable release in Elixir projects is important because it ensures that your project runs smoothly and without issues. It also enhances security by including security patches and fixes, and simplifies dependency management by ensuring that dependencies are up-to-date.

Q: How do I specify the latest stable release in my Elixir project?

A: To specify the latest stable release in your Elixir project, you can add the otp_release option to your project.exs file and set it to latest_stable. For example:

# project.exs
def project do
  [
    app: :tictactoe,
    version: "0.1.0",
    elixir: "~> 1.13",
    erlang: "~> 1.12",
    otp_release: "latest_stable"
  ]
end

Q: What if I want to use a specific OTP release instead of the latest stable release?

A: If you want to use a specific OTP release instead of the latest stable release, you can specify the release version in your project.exs file. For example:

# project.exs
def project do
  [
    app: :tictactoe,
    version: "0.1.0",
    elixir: "~> 1.13",
    erlang: "~> 1.12",
    otp_release: "OTP-28.0"
  ]
end

Q: How do I manage dependencies in my Elixir project when using the latest stable release?

A: When using the latest stable release in your Elixir project, you can manage dependencies by ensuring that they are up-to-date and compatible with the latest OTP release. You can use tools like mix deps to manage dependencies and ensure that they are compatible with the latest OTP release.

Q: What if I encounter issues with dependencies when using the latest stable release?

A: If you encounter issues with dependencies when using the latest stable release, you can try the following:

Check the dependency's documentation to see if it supports the latest OTP release.
Try updating the dependency to the latest version.
If the issue persists, you can try downgrading to a previous OTP release or seeking help from the Elixir community.

Q: How do I get help if I encounter issues with the latest stable release?

A: If you encounter issues with the latest stable release, you can get help from the Elixir community by:

Checking the Elixir documentation and release notes.
Searching for solutions on GitHub and Stack Overflow.
Asking for help on the Elixir subreddit or mailing list.
Reaching out to the Elixir team or a community member for assistance.

Q: What are the benefits of using the latest stable release in Elixir projects?

A: The benefits of using the latest stable release in Elixir projects include:

Improved stability and reliability.
Enhanced security with security patches and fixes.
Simplified dependency management.
Better support for new features and functionality.

Q: Can I use the latest stable release in production?

A: Yes, you can use the latest stable release in production. The latest stable release is designed to be stable and reliable, making it suitable for production use. However, it's always a good idea to test your project thoroughly before deploying it to production.