Question 1

How does Aja compare to Erlang's :array for vectors?

Accepted Answer

Aja.Vector is a pure Elixir implementation that's easier to use and often faster than :array, especially for appends and random access. Benchmarks show it outperforms :array in most cases and benefits more from OTP's JIT compiler.

Question 2

How to install Aja in an Elixir mix project?

Accepted Answer

Add {:aja, "~> 0.7.4"} to your mix.exs deps, run mix deps.get, and you can start using modules like Aja.Vector. For quick testing, use Mix.install([:aja]) in an iex session or script.

Question 3

Is Aja stable for production Elixir applications?

Accepted Answer

Not yet—the FAQ warns of breaking changes until maturity, so it's best for experimental or performance-critical non-production code. Its standard-library-based APIs offer some stability, but caution is advised.

Question 4

When should I use Aja ordered maps vs regular maps?

Accepted Answer

Use Aja.OrdMap when insertion order matters for non-atom keys, like in UI rendering or logging. Regular maps are better if order isn't needed, as they have lower memory and write overhead.

Question 5

How to pattern match with Aja vectors in Elixir?

Accepted Answer

Import Aja and use the vec/1 macro, e.g., vec([a, b]) = Aja.Vector.new([1,2]). This allows concise matching similar to lists, but with vector performance benefits for large data.

Question 6

What are real-world performance benchmarks for Aja?

Accepted Answer

Check the bench folder in the repository for detailed figures. Aja.Enum on vectors can beat Enum on lists for operations like map and sum, especially with JIT-enabled OTP, but always benchmark your specific use case.

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