from
The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)
Erlang
1. <person> {Agner Krarup Erlang}. (The other senses were
named after him).
2. <language> A concurrent {functional language} for large
industrial {real-time} systems by Armstrong, Williams and
Virding of Ellemtel, Sweden.
Erlang is untyped. It has {pattern matching} syntax,
{recursion equations}, explicit {concurrency}, {asynchronous
message passing} and is relatively free from {side-effects}.
It supports transparent cross-{platform} distribution. It has
primitives for detecting run-time errors, real-time {garbage
collection}, {modules}, {dynamic code replacement} (change
code in a continuously running real-time system) and a
{foreign language interface}.
An unsupported free version is available (subject to a
non-commercial licence). Commercial versions with support are
available from {Erlang Systems AB}. An {interpreter} in
{SICStus Prolog} and compilers in {C} and Erlang are available
for several {Unix} {platforms}.
{Open Telecom Platform} (OTP) is a set of {libraries} and
tools.
Commercial version (http://erlang.se/) - sales, support,
training, consultants. Open-source version
(http://erlang.org/) - downloads, user-contributed
software, mailing lists.
Training and consulting (http://erlang-consulting.com/).
E-mail: <[email protected]>.
[Erlang - "Concurrent Programming in Erlang", J. Armstrong, M.
& Williams R. Virding, Prentice Hall, 1993. ISBN 13-285792-8.]
3. <unit> 36 {CCS} per hour, or 1 call-second per second.
Erlang is a unit without dimension, accepted internationally
for measuring the traffic intensity. This unit is defined as
the aggregate of continuous occupation of a channel for one
hour (3600 seconds). An intensity of one Erlang means the
channel is continuously occupied.
(2003-03-25)