# Elm

> functional reactive programming language

**Wikidata**: [Q5366250](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5366250)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elm_(programming_language))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/elm

## Summary
Elm is a functional reactive programming language designed for building reliable web front-ends. Created in 2012 by Evan Czaplicki, it emphasizes strong static typing, immutability, and compilation to JavaScript to eliminate runtime errors.

## Key Facts
- **Inception**: 2012  
- **Creator**: Evan Czaplicki  
- **License**: BSD licenses  
- **File extension**: `.elm`  
- **Typing discipline**: Static, strong, with type inference  
- **Official website**: https://elm-lang.org/  
- **Stable version**: 0.19.1 (released 2019-10-21)  
- **Paradigms**: Functional, reactive, purely functional programming  
- **Influenced by**: Standard ML, OCaml, F#  

## FAQs  
### Q: What is Elm primarily used for?  
A: Elm is designed for building reliable and maintainable web front-ends, particularly for browser-based applications, with a focus on eliminating runtime errors through strong type safety.  

### Q: When was Elm created?  
A: Elm was created in 2012 by Evan Czaplicki.  

### Q: How does Elm handle type safety?  
A: Elm uses static typing, strong typing, and type inference to enforce rules at compile time, preventing runtime errors such as null references.  

### Q: What languages influenced Elm?  
A: Elm was influenced by Standard ML, OCaml, and F#, adopting functional programming paradigms from these languages.  

## Why It Matters  
Elm addresses critical challenges in web development by prioritizing reliability through its purely functional reactive model. Its compile-to-Javascript approach enables seamless browser integration while maintaining a robust type system that catches errors early. This focus on immutability and predictable state management has set industry standards for safer front-end development, influencing modern frameworks and encouraging a shift toward more resilient web architectures.  

## Notable For  
- First major language to popularize functional reactive programming for browser applications.  
- Zero runtime errors in practice due to exhaustive type checking and enforced immutability.  
- Whitespace-sensitive syntax (off-side rule) that enforces code consistency.  
- Dedicated community on Reddit (since 2013) and Twitter (18,895 followers as of 2023).  
- Influenced subsequent languages like PureScript and TypeScript’s functional features.  

## Body  
### Overview  
Elm is a functional reactive programming language created in 2012 by Evan Czaplicki. It compiles to JavaScript and prioritizes reliability through strong static typing, immutability, and simplified syntax. The language adheres to the off-side rule (whitespace-sensitive indentation) and targets web front-end development.  

### Technical Specifications  
- **Typing**: Static, strong, and supports type inference.  
- **Paradigms**: Functional, reactive, purely functional, and functional reactive programming.  
- **File extensions**: `.elm` for source files, with "Elm file" as the readable/writable format.  
- **Instance of**: Functional reactive programming language (preferred), programming language, purely functional programming language, off-side rule language.  

### Development and Ecosystem  
- **Influences**: Standard ML, OCaml, F#.  
- **GitHub**: Repository at https://github.com/elm/compiler (username: "elm").  
- **Community**:  
  - Subreddit: r/elm (since March 2013).  
  - Twitter: @elmlang (18,895 followers as of February 2023).  
  - Stack Exchange tag: https://stackoverflow.com/tags/elm.  
- **Versions**:  
  - Stable releases include 0.17 (2016-05), 0.18 (2016-11), 0.19 (2018-08), and 0.19.1 (2019-10).  
  - Version 0.19.1 is the latest preferred stable version as of the provided data.  

### Deployment and Integration  
- **JavaScript Compilation**: Transpiles to JavaScript for browser execution.  
- **Official Demo**: https://elm-lang.org/try (interactive web-based IDE).  
- **Package Management**: Available as "elm-platform" in Chocolatey community repository.  

### Presence and Accessibility  
- **Wikipedia**: Documented in 10 languages (ca, de, en, eo, es, fa, fr, he, it, ja).  
- **Sitelink count**: 18 across Wikipedia.  
- **AlternativeTo**: Listed under software ID "elm".  

### Notable Contributors  
- **Théo Zimmermann**: Researcher (born 2000), computer scientist, French citizen, associated with Elm.

## References

1. [Source](https://github.com/elm/compiler)
2. [Release 0.16.0. 2020](https://github.com/elm/compiler/releases/tag/0.16.0)
3. [Release 0.17.0. 2020](https://github.com/elm/compiler/releases/tag/0.17.0)
4. [Release 0.17.1. 2020](https://github.com/elm/compiler/releases/tag/0.17.1)
5. [Release 0.18.0. 2020](https://github.com/elm/compiler/releases/tag/0.18.0)
6. [Release 0.19.0. 2018](https://github.com/elm/compiler/releases/tag/0.19.0)
7. [Source](https://elm-lang.org/docs/syntax)