Why I’m Leaving Elm
Why I can't use Elm, and can't recommend it to others.
My main, personal software projects are listed on my development work page . I have a few projects hosted here:
Visit lukeplant.me.uk → On Hacker News Dec 2008 – Dec 2025
Software Engineering 8Programming Languages 4Web & Frontend 2Society, Policy & Culture 2AI & Machine Learning 2Life, Learning & Writing 1
Why I can't use Elm, and can't recommend it to others.
A list of some exceptions to the principle of “You Ain't Gonna Need It” – that is, times when doing a bit more up front usually pays off.
We need languages and systems that are less powerful, not more powerful, and easy ways to create and use such languages.
We think we do, but in fact every web developer will happily sacrifice simplicity to the first shiny thing promising them relief from the mildest of ailments.
A response to Hillel Wayne’s “I am disappointed by dynamic typing”
Analysis and examples of the popular high-level pattern of making all the things in your system conform to a common interface.
An attempt to debunk some of the '20 minute web app' hype that is so prevalent at the moment, and present a more realistic and balanced account of the Django site I have just finished.
A rant about how annoying programming in C# is, really.