How to use the command "iex" (with examples)

Code

iex

Motivation

The command iex is used to start an interactive session in the Elixir language. This allows developers to execute Elixir code and interact with the system in real-time.

Explanation

Running iex without any arguments will start an interactive session where you can execute Elixir code and see the results immediately. This is useful for testing code snippets, exploring libraries, or experimenting with language features.

Example Output

Interactive Elixir (1.11.4) - press Ctrl+C to exit (type h() ENTER for help)
iex(1)>

Using command “iex –erl “-kernel shell_history enabled””

Code

iex --erl "-kernel shell_history enabled"

Motivation

When working with iex, it can be helpful to have a history of previously executed commands. This allows you to easily recall and reuse commands that were previously entered.

Explanation

By using the --erl "-kernel shell_history enabled" argument, the iex command enables the shell history feature. This feature records all the commands entered in the interactive session, allowing you to navigate and reuse them using keyboard shortcuts.

Example Output

Interactive Elixir (1.11.4) - press Ctrl+C to exit (type h() ENTER for help)
iex(1)>

Using command “iex -S mix”

Code

iex -S mix

Motivation

In Elixir, Mix is a build tool that helps in creating, compiling, and managing projects. By starting an iex session with the -S mix argument, you can load the Mix project files and have access to the project’s modules, dependencies, and configuration.

Explanation

The -S mix argument is used with the iex command to start an interactive session while loading the Mix project files. This allows you to interact with the project-specific code and dependencies.

Example Output

Compiling 1 file (.ex)
Generated my_app app
Interactive Elixir (1.11.4) - press Ctrl+C to exit (type h() ENTER for help)
iex(1)>

Conclusion

In this article, we explored different use cases of the iex command in Elixir. We demonstrated how to start an interactive session, enable the shell history feature, and load Mix project files. These examples showcase the versatility of the iex command and how it can be used for different purposes in Elixir development.