What is Erlang written in?
The Erlang compiler is written in Erlang (well-documented). Its runtime is implemented in C (well-documented). Erlang is self-hosting.
Relationship Graph
All directly connected languages. Click any node to navigate to its page.
Compiler Implementation
| Language | Confidence | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Erlang | 95% | Erlang compiler is self-hosting | Source |
Runtime Implementation
| Language | Confidence | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | 95% | Erlang VM (BEAM) written in C | Source |
Influenced By
- Prolog — Erlang originally implemented in Prolog, shares its sequential subset
Languages Erlang Influenced
- Elixir — Elixir runs on BEAM and uses Erlang semantics
- Gleam — Gleam runs on Erlang VM
- Rust — Erlang influenced Rust's actor-style concurrency model
Frequently Asked Questions
What language is Erlang written in?
Erlang is primarily implemented in Erlang and C. See the implementation section above for details and source references.
What languages influenced Erlang?
Erlang was influenced by Prolog among others. See the influence section above for the full list.
Which languages did Erlang influence?
Erlang influenced Elixir, Rust, Gleam among others.
Is Erlang self-hosting?
Yes, Erlang is self-hosting — its compiler can compile itself.
Evidence Sources
- https://github.com/erlang/otp
- https://elixir-lang.org/
- https://elixir-lang.org/blog/2013/08/08/elixir-design-goals/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rust_(programming_language)
- https://gleam.run/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erlang_(programming_language)
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elixir_(programming_language)