Gleam is a statically typed, functional programming language designed for building scalable and maintainable applications. It operates as a cross-platform development ecosystem that compiles source code to run on the Erlang virtual machine or within JavaScript environments. The language integrates a package manager and build system that automates dependency resolution, project compilation, and the generation of software bills of materials.
The language distinguishes itself through a focus on type-driven domain modeling and a robust foreign function interface framework. By encoding business rules into custom type definitions, it prevents the representation of invalid data states at compile time. The foreign function interface allows for the integration of external code from other languages while enforcing strict type safety and explicit interface declarations across boundaries, ensuring consistency even when interacting with foreign runtimes.
The project provides a comprehensive suite of tools for managing the software supply chain, including automated dependency analysis, metadata scanning for licensing information, and compliance reporting. It supports complex system design through result-based error handling, custom type state modeling, and the builder pattern. These features collectively facilitate the creation of reliable, multi-target applications that maintain transparency and security throughout the development lifecycle.
