Gleam

Friendly functional language on the BEAM VM with static types and Erlang interoperability.

Overview

Gleam is a functional programming language designed for building type-safe, scalable systems. It combines the power of a strong type system with the reliability of the Erlang virtual machine, which powers planet-scale systems like WhatsApp and Ericsson. The language features a modern, familiar syntax and comes with an integrated compiler, build tool, formatter, editor integrations, and package manager.

Gleam supports multiple compilation targets: it runs natively on the Erlang/BEAM runtime for server-side applications and can compile to JavaScript for browser and cross-platform use. It integrates seamlessly with the broader BEAM ecosystem, allowing developers to use thousands of existing packages written in Gleam, Erlang, or Elixir. The language emphasizes developer experience with clear error messages, no null values, and practical type safety.

Key features

Strong static type system
Erlang/BEAM runtime for concurrency and scalability
Integrated compiler, build tool, and formatter
JavaScript compilation support with TypeScript definitions
Interoperability with Erlang and Elixir packages
Actor-based concurrency with green threads
Clear error messages and practical error handling
Package manager and ecosystem integration

Pros

Battle-tested Erlang runtime powers massive systems
Excellent type safety prevents entire classes of bugs
Can run millions of concurrent green threads efficiently
Compiles to both Erlang and JavaScript
Integrated tooling reduces setup friction
Access to thousands of BEAM ecosystem packages
Friendly community and welcoming culture

Cons

Smaller ecosystem compared to mainstream languages
Functional programming paradigm has a learning curve for imperative developers
Less industry adoption than established languages
Fewer job opportunities in the market

Use this if

You need a type-safe language for building reliable, concurrent systems; you want to leverage the Erlang ecosystem; or you need to compile code to both server and browser environments.

Skip this if

You require a language with massive industry adoption; you prefer imperative or object-oriented programming; or you need extensive third-party library support outside the BEAM ecosystem.

Best for

Building type-safe backend systemsScalable concurrent applicationsCross-platform development with JavaScript targetsTeams familiar with functional programmingProjects requiring high reliability and fault tolerance

Alternatives

RustElixirErlangGoTypeScript

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