Reasons and Resources for Learning The Gleam Programming Language

TL;DR: This article introduces five reasons to learn the Gleam programming language (cross-platform compatibility, type safety, clean design, functional paradigm, active ecosystem) along with practical getting-started resources from the official tour to Exercism and beyond. ## Introduction: My Encounter with Gleam Gleam 1.0.0 was officially released on March 4, 2024. I first noticed it because of a “perfect storm”—at the time I was digging deeper into languages running on the BEAM (especially Elixir) while also keeping an eye on new programming languages reaching interesting milestones. Gleam just happened to appear on my radar. I intended to explore it further, but then I fell down another rabbit hole with small local LLM models and haven't come out yet. Still, it’s fascinating to look back at languages I “almost delved into but never did.” ## Five Reasons to Learn Gleam ### 1. Cross-Platform Compatibility Gleam runs on the BEAM virtual machine, just like Erlang and Elixir, inheriting Erlang’s mature cross-platform capabilities. Moreover, studying different languages that compile to the same VM (like the BEAM or JVM) reveals many interesting connections between programming languages. ### 2. Strong Type Safety and Reliability Gleam’s type system, combined with modern pattern matching, makes it very difficult to write code that compiles but crashes at runtime. Immutable data handling and algebraic data types make programs more robust, especially suited for building high-reliability applications. ### 3. Clean and Compact, Gentle Learning Curve The language is deliberately kept simple, with low cognitive load. There aren’t multiple ways to accomplish the same goal—the philosophy leans toward “one best or better way.” This means faster onboarding, readable code, and quicker compilation. For someone who has long struggled with cognitive overload, this is a relief. ### 4. Modern Functional Paradigm + Familiar Syntax Gleam’s syntax is influenced by languages like Elm and OCaml, but retains common C-style brackets and keywords, making it quickly accessible even for developers not familiar with purely functional languages. At the same time, you can deeply experience modern functional features like pattern matching and algebraic data types, feeling the language’s “evolutionary DNA.” ### 5. Growing Ecosystem and Contribution Opportunities As a relatively new language, Gleam’s package manager, toolchain, and frameworks are maturing rapidly. The Discord community is very active and welcoming, and you can contribute to libraries, tools, or even the core language on GitHub. Conference recordings, official documentation, and multiple learning paths (detailed below) make it easy to get started. ## Data Snapshot: Gleam’s Place in the Developer Landscape - **Stack Overflow 2024 Survey**: At that time Gleam had just released 1.0. It did not appear in any lists like “most loved,” “most wanted to learn,” or “highest paid.” - **2025 Survey (when I recorded the video)**: Gleam had started appearing in edge data, being noticed alongside languages like Mojo and Zig. Over time, it is gradually entering the collective developer consciousness. - **ThoughtWorks Technology Radar**: I also first noticed this resource through a Gleam link. I encourage readers to explore it on their own. ## Recommended Learning Resources ### First Choice: Official Language Tour The Gleam website (https://gleam.run) offers a beautifully interactive language tour that gradually introduces syntax and concepts. This is my top recommendation for a starting point. ### Official Resource Bundle - **Installation documentation**: Covers multiple operating systems. - **Package management**: Check out Gleam packages on Hex.pm (https://hex.pm). - **Community**: Join the Discord (https://discord.gg/gleam) channel (very active and friendly). - **GitHub**: The main repository at gleam-lang/gleam (https://github.com/gleam-lang/gleam). ### Videos and Talks - **A talk from about 5 years ago (around 2020)**: Presented by Louie (one of Gleam’s authors) describing the language’s state at that time—very interesting. - **2024 video “Gleam’s Past, Present, and Future”**: Reviews the timeline and looks ahead. - **Gleam playlist**: A series of follow-along videos, made by the same presenter. ### Interactive Practice Platforms - **Exercism**: The Gleam track (https://exercism.org/tracks/gleam) starts from basics and gradually deepens, providing feedback after each exercise. - **Code Crafters**: Offers “build your own X” challenges, suitable for advanced practice. ### Cheatsheet and Deployment Guide The official website provides a cheatsheet and deployment guide for quick reference when going to production. ### Deep Dive into History If you are interested in the language’s origins, you can check the timeline tag on Stack Overflow and the historical talk mentioned earlier. ## Conclusion Gleam is a “small but beautiful” language, ideal for developers who want to experience the strong-typed functional paradigm without being overwhelmed by complex syntax. Whether you are an existing user of the BEAM ecosystem or a language enthusiast looking to try a new paradigm, you can start with the official tour and then deepen your understanding through Exercism or videos. Remember, contributing to the ecosystem is also a great way to learn—the Discord community always welcomes new faces. Goodbye, and see you in the next episode. --- **Source**: YouTube video: Reasons and Resources for Learning The Gleam Programming Language (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCNtPZBu-ho)