OTP is made up of:

1. Elxir Tool Set

• mix: a build tool
• application: sets the other independent Modules that will run

2. Erlang OTP Features

• ETS : Erlang Term Storage
• mnesia : Database Management System
• crypto

3. Behaviors

• GenServer: has client and server
• Supervisor: manages workers in a GenServer
• Protocols: allows polymorphism. An example of a bult-in protocol is String.Chars

OTP Processes and State Management

This allows functions to hold data independent of the function which is really held through the Genserver. This makes the OTP a real app.

Processes

• runs the actual functions and modules in memory
• has PID

Tasks: Start-Stops a Function or Module on a Process

• Runs a single process such as polling
• 1 task : 1 process
• has no state

Task.start(function_name)

Agents: Adds Lightweight State management on a Process

Only gets and updates single states. This makes it faster.

Genservers: Adds Heavy Duty State management on a Process

Gets, manipulates, and updates states by allowing “messages”.