Home>Courses>Building Database Applications in Elixir with Ecto

Building Database Applications in Elixir with Ecto

Gain insights into building efficient database applications with Ecto in Elixir. Learn about repos, queries, schemas, changesets, and transactions, and master Ecto syntax to create robust applications.

Intermediate

164 Lessons

60h

Certificate of Completion

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Explanations

AI-POWERED

Explanations

This course includes

92 Playgrounds

17 Quizzes

Course Overview

What You'll Learn

Course Content

Apply Your Skills

Course Overview

Ecto is a database library that ships natively with Phoenix, and is an important component of the Elixir ecosystem. This course is both an introduction and a comprehensive guide into the functionality of Ecto. You’ll start with the basic functions of relational databases—repos, queries, schemas, changesets, and transactions—to build your knowledge of Elixir and Ecto. You’ll apply these concepts on increasingly complex challenges to master Ecto’s syntax, and consequently build a sample application. You’ll t...Show More

Ecto is a database library that ships natively with Phoenix, and is an important component of the Elixir ecosystem. This course...Show More

What You'll Learn

Learn to connect your Elixir applications with relational databases using Ecto

Gain mastery over core modules of Ecto

Learn to speed up your test suite by writing concurrent tests

Learn the use of nested associations to handle complex table relationships

Learn to add streams to handle large result sets with ease

Learn to connect your Elixir applications with relational databases using Ecto

Course Content

Introduction to This Course

2 Lessons

Get familiar with Ecto, a powerful library for simplifying Elixir database access.

Why Ecto?

Course Plan

Part I: Ecto Fundamentals

1 Lessons

Look at the fundamental features of Ecto, including schemas, queries, changesets, and transactions.

Overview of Part I

Get Started with Repo

16 Lessons

Explore using Ecto in Elixir for database applications with hands-on examples and Repo module setup.

Ecto and Elixir

Characteristics of Ecto

Ecto Modules

Set Up the Sample Application

Running the Examples

Data Model of the Sample Application

The Repository Pattern

Wrapping Up: Get Started with Repo

Exercise: Customize Your Repo Module

Solution: Customize Your Repo Module

Quiz: Get Started with Repo

Query Your Database

19 Lessons

Enhance your skills in writing efficient and secure queries using Ecto in Elixir.

Introduction to the Query Module

Query Basics

Refine Our Results with the Where Expression

Protect Against SQL Injection

Dynamic Values and Their Types

Query Bindings

Insert Raw SQL

Combine Results with union and union_all Options

Order and Group

Work With Joins

Why Use the Composing Queries

Named Bindings

Compose Queries with Functions

Combine Queries with or_where

Other Ways to Use Queries

Wrapping Up: Query Your Database

Exercise: Create Queries in Ecto

Solution: Create Queries in Ecto

Quiz: Query Your Database

Connect Tables to Elixir Structs with Schemas

15 Lessons

Take a closer look at efficiently integrating Elixir structs with database tables using Ecto schemas.

Introduction to Schemas

Create Schemas

How to Write Queries with Schemas

Insert with Schemas

Delete with Schemas

Add Associations to Schemas

Many-to-Many Associations

Work with Associations in Queries

Optimize Associations With Embedded Schemas

Delete Records With Associations

Use Schemas to Seed a Database

Wrapping Up: Connect Tables to Elixir Structs with Schemas

Exercise: Create Schemas in Ecto

Solution: Create Schemas in Ecto

Quiz: Connect Tables to Elixir Structs with Schema

Make Changes with Changesets

15 Lessons

Investigate creating and managing Changesets in Ecto for data integrity and efficient updates.

Introduction to Changesets

Cast and Filter

Validate Your Data

Work with Constraints

Capture Errors

Use Changesets Without Schemas

Work with Associations

Associations Using Internal Data

Associations Using External Data

Update Records with Associations

Best Practices for Associations

Wrapping Up: Make Changes with Changesets

Exercise: Create Changesets in Ecto

Solution: Create Changesets in Ecto

Quiz: Make Changes with Changesets

Make Multiple Changes with Transactions and the Multi Module

12 Lessons

Master the steps to handle multiple database changes with Ecto transactions and the Multi module.

Introduction to Transactions and the Multi Module

Run Transactions with Functions

Force a Rollback Within a Transaction

Execute Non-Database Operations Within a Transaction

Drawbacks of Using Functions

Run Transactions and Capturing Errors with Ecto.Multi

Optimize Multi with Changesets

Execute Non-Database Operations with Multi

Wrapping Up: Make Multiple Changes with Transactions

Exercise: Work with Transactions and the Multi Module

Solution: Work with Transactions and the Multi Module

Quiz: Make Multiple Changes

Make Changes to the Database

13 Lessons

Sharpen your skills in managing Ecto database migrations, including creating, running, and reversing changes effectively.

Change Data and Table Structure Simultaneously

Specify Up and Down Operations

Change Default Behaviors

Change Timestamps

Run Migrations Outside of a Transaction

Wrapping Up: Make Changes to Your Database

Exercise: Create Migrations

Solution: Create Migrations

Quiz: Make Changes to your Database

Part II: Ecto Applied

1 Lessons

Walk through advanced Ecto topics, including performance tuning, sandbox testing, and Phoenix integration.

Overview of Part II

10.

Add Ecto to an Elixir Application Without Phoenix

8 Lessons

Work your way through adding Ecto to Elixir applications, creating repos, and managing databases.

Ecto in Elixir Applications: An Introduction

Create a New Project

Create Your Repo Module

Add Ecto to the Supervision Tree

Use Multiple Ecto Repos

Start Your App

Wrapping Up: Add Ecto to an Elixir Application Without Phoenix

Quiz: Add Ecto to an App without Phoenix

11.

Work with Changesets and Phoenix Forms

7 Lessons

Utilize Ecto changesets within Phoenix forms for efficient parameter validation and management.

Ecto and Phoenix Forms: An Introduction

Generate a Form for a Single Schema

Display Changeset Errors

Create a Form with an Association

Create a Form with Multiple Associations

Wrapping Up: Work Changesets and Phoenix Forms

Quiz: Work with Changesets and Phoenix Forms

12.

Test with Sandboxes

6 Lessons

Take a closer look at sandboxed testing to enhance efficiency and concurrency in Elixir.

Introduction to Sandboxes

Set Up an Async Test

Change the Ownership Mode

Safely Share Connections with Allowances

Wrapping Up: Test with Sandboxes

Quiz: Test with Sandboxes

13.

Create and Use Custom Types

5 Lessons

Tackle building and using custom types in Ecto for enhanced data handling.

Introduction to Custom Types in Ecto

Building on Top of Ecto’s Types

Adding Custom Types Without the Built-In Types

Wrapping Up: Creating and Using Custom Types

Quiz: Creating and Using Custom Types

14.

Inserting and Updating with Upserts

7 Lessons

Master the steps to efficiently manage data using upserts with Ecto.

Introduction to Upserts

Perform Upserts Without Schemas

Perform Upserts with Schemas

Wrapping Up: Insert and Update with Upserts

Exercise: Use Ecto's Upsert Feature

Solution: Use Ecto's Upsert Feature

Quiz: Insert and Update with Upserts

15.

Optimizeing Your Application Design

6 Lessons

Step through best practices for optimized Elixir application design with Ecto.

Introduction to Optimized Application Design

Separate the Pure Code from the Impure Code

Work with Context

Work with Umbrella Applications

Wrapping Up: Optimize Your Application Design

Quiz: Optimize Your Application Design

16.

Work with Embedded Schemas

6 Lessons

Unpack the core of creating and managing embedded schemas for efficient data handling in Ecto.

Introduction to Embedded Schemas

Create Embedded Schemas

Make Changes

Choose Between Embedded Schemas and Associations

Wrapping Up: Work with Embedded Schemas

Quiz: Work with Embedded Schemas

17.

Creating Polymorphic Associations

7 Lessons

Explore creating polymorphic associations in Ecto using multiple strategies and their implications.

Introduction to Polymorphic Associations

Polymorphism in Other Frameworks

Approach #1: Multiple Foreign Keys

Approach #2: Use an Abstract Schema

Approach #3: Use many_to_many

Wrapping Up: Create Polymorphic Associations

Quiz: Creating Polymorphic Associations

18.

Optimize IEx for Ecto

5 Lessons

Enhance your skills in optimizing IEx for Ecto through imports, aliases, and helper functions.

Introduction to Optimizing IEx for Ecto

Add Imports and Aliases

Add Helper Functions

Wrapping Up: Optimize IEx for Ecto

Quiz: Optimize IEx for Ecto

19.

Use Schemas Without Tables

6 Lessons

Dig deeper into creating flexible, table-less schemas in Ecto for better data handling.

Introduction to Schemas Without Tables

Schemas and Tables

Create Table-less Schemas

Save the Table-less Structs

Wrapping Up: Use Schemas Without Tables

Quiz: Use Schemas Without Tables

20.

Tune for Performance

6 Lessons

Simplify complex topics in Ecto performance tuning, optimization techniques, bulk operations, and streaming large datasets.

Introduction to Performance Tuning

Optimization

Execute Bulk Operations

Fetch Large Datasets With Streams

Wrapping Up: Tune for Performance

Quiz: Tune for Performance

21.

Conclusion

1 Lessons

Approach the closing thoughts with feedback, engagement, and a collaborative learning mindset.

Closing Thoughts

Course Author

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