Elixir is (Still) Safe

In this article, the author addresses a recent paper that challenges the claims made in Nathan Long's article, "Elixir is Safe." The paper, titled "Vision for a Secure Elixir Ecosystem: An Empirical Study of Vulnerabilities in Elixir Programs," questions the perception of Elixir as a safe language and suggests that empirical evidence is needed to validate its security benefits.

However, the author argues that the paper's claims are misleading and misrepresent the original article. While the paper focuses on vulnerabilities found in Elixir programs, it fails to acknowledge the specific security benefits highlighted by Long, such as memory safety and thread safety. These benefits are crucial in eliminating vulnerabilities like data races, which can have severe consequences in sensitive applications like banking and medical portals.

The author compares Elixir to asphalt, explaining that while it may not completely eliminate potholes, it significantly reduces their occurrence. Similarly, Elixir may still have vulnerabilities, but it offers important security advantages compared to other languages.

It's important for developers to understand the distinction between the paper's findings and the original article's claims. While empirical studies can provide valuable insights, they should not overshadow the recognized benefits of Elixir in terms of memory safety and thread safety.

Overall, this article serves as a response to the paper and reinforces the notion that Elixir remains a safe and secure programming language for developers to consider.