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For comments or questions about this site, contact webmaster@erlang.org |
| Starting erlang |
If you are running a unix system type "erl" or, if you are running on windows-95 or NT start Erlang by clicking on the Erlang start icon. You should see something like this:
os prompt > erl
Erlang (JAM) emulator version 4.7.3.3
Eshell V4.7.3.3 (abort with ^G)
1>
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The ">" prompt means the system is waiting for input.
| Using Erlang as a calculator |
1> 2131836812671*12937192739173917823.
27579983733990928813319999135233
2>
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Remember to terminate every expression with a DOT followed by a whitespace!
| Editing previous expressions |
Previous expressions can be retrieved and edited using simple emacs line editing commands. The most common of these are:
- ^P fetch the previous line.
- ^N fetch the next line.
- ^A Go to the beginning of the current line.
- ^E Go to the end of the current line.
- ^D Delete the character under the cursor.
- ^F Go forward by one character.
- ^B Go Back by one character.
- Return Evaluate the current command.
Note: ^X means press Control + X
Try typing Control+P to see what happens.
| Compiling your first program |
Type the following into a file using your favorite text editor:
-module(test).
-export([fac/1]).
fac(0) -> 1;
fac(N) -> N * fac(N-1).
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Store this in a file called test.erl The file name must be the same as the module name.
Compile the program by typing c(test) then run it:
3> c(test).
{ok,test}
30> test:fac(20).
2432902008176640000
4> test:fac(40).
815915283247897734345611269596115894272000000000
32>
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Now go and write some games!
| Digging deeper |