Elixir in Docker

The elixir image

The official elixir image lets you try Elixir without a local install. The elixir:1 tag tracks the latest stable 1.x line for general use.

The image bundles Erlang/OTP together with Elixir, so one pull gives you both runtimes. You only need a working Docker setup on your machine.

Run one-liners

Start with a version check inside a throwaway container. The container is removed at once after the command ends.

docker run --rm elixir:1 elixir --version

Erlang/OTP 27 [erts-15.2] [64-bit]

Elixir 1.18.2 (compiled with Erlang/OTP 27)

Mount your project

To test your own code, map the current folder into the container and set it as the work folder. Then run the normal Mix test task inside.

The volume flag links your local files to /app in the container, and the work flag makes that folder active for Mix.

docker run --rm -v "$PWD":/app -w /app elixir:1 mix test

iex inside

For interactive work, start iex inside a container with a terminal attached. You get the same shell as a local install, but isolated by Docker.

docker run --rm -it elixir:1 iex

Use Ctrl plus D to leave the shell. The container stops and is removed, while your local files stay in place.

Next: Elixir course

Article author: Arthur Isaev