Kiex

Kiex allows you to easily build and switch between different Elixir versions.

It supports setting the default (global) Elixir version as well as per shell/project versions.

Everything is self-contained under ~/.kiex.

Usage is based lightly on RVM, kerl, and rbenv.

Install

Prereqs: bash

Run the following to get up and running:

curl -Lqs https://raw.githubusercontent.com/taylor/kiex/master/install | bash -s

which will install in $HOME/.kiex.

Usage

List installed versions

• kiex list

List known releases

• kiex list known (or kiex list releases)

Install a known release

• kiex install 0.11.2

Use specific elixir version

• kiex use 0.11.2 -- Sets the elixir version for current shell.

Use sub-shell with specific elixir version

• kiex shell 0.11.2 -- Starts sub-shell with given elixir version. Exiting shell goes to default.

Set default elixir version

• kiex default 0.11.2

Uninstall kiex and elixirs

• kiex implode -- This removes all versions of elixir installed by kiex as well as all kiex components

Upgrade kiex

• kiex selfupdate -- pull down latest updates for kiex
  • Can also re-curl

Design philosophy

• KISS
• Sane defaults
• Self-contained
• Single-purpose

Comparison Q&A

How is it like exenv (rbenv)?

• Super light and simple
• Focus on installing & managing one piece of software: Elixir

How is it not like exenv?

• Does not use shims
• Includes elixir build component

How is it like Kerl?

• Minimal command set
• Retrieves, builds, installs and manages different releases

How is it not like Kerl?

• Not as flexible on install path
• Dynamically get's release list instead of caching
• Build and install actions are not separated

How is it like RVM?

• Sane defaults
• Uses Unix PATH to manage binary to use

How is it not like RVM?

• No function over-loading
• Does not manage/install extra software and prereqs

Platforms/Shells tested

Operating Systems:

• Arch
• CentOS
• Debian
• FreeBSD
• OS X/Darwin
• Ubuntu

Shells:

• bash
• csh
• tcsh
• zsh

Erlang installs:

• erlang-solutions
• erlang.org
• kerl
• Debian apt, FreeBSD pkg, OS X brew

Alternatives and References

Alternatives:

• exenv + elixir-build
• edwb

Related tools:

• kerl - Easy building and installing of Erlang/OTP instances
• kex - Build any tagged release of Erlang/OTP or Elixir from git
• heroku-buildpack-elixir - Elixir buildpack for Heroku
  • heroku-buildpack-erlang - Erlang/OTP buildpack for Heroku
• erln8 - Erlang/OTP version manager (builds from git source)
• robisonsantos/evm - Erlang Version Manager (from erlang.org tarballs)

Limitations

• Does not build erlang
• Does not build Dynamo or any other elixir app
• Same build directory used for every build (saving space vs keeping build env around)
• No uninstall option for installed elixir versions
• No per-directory/project config file.
  • You can hack it in by adding kiex use to .rvmrc or friends ;P

TODO

• Maybe print source line with use command
• Add active command (or similar) to show current elixir
  • Already in list command - this would be the single version
  • Maybe show source line?
• Add sourceline or similar command to show source line to use?
• Add uninstall option for installed elixirs
• Maybe add dynamo install and setup for MIX_PATH
  • how to tie to elixir used? gemset like?
  • use dynamo tags?
• Look at elixir-build for ideas, collaboration

License

MIT License... See LICENSE file