"Erlang, huh? Isn't that Swedish for 'You're screwed?'" - Myths and Facts About Erlang and Startups

Since Basho Technologies was founded back in mid-2007, we have been the recipients of a fair amount of (often unsolicited) advice regarding our business. No single facet of our business has prompted more commentary than the early decision to build our products using predominantly Erlang. From hiring to funding to adoption, otherwise smart people have predicted that Erlang would prove to be an Achilles heel for Basho. Not a single person outside the Erlang community -- with one notable exception -- saw Erlang as a strategic advantage.

In this talk, I will objectively consider the challenges and advantages we have faced over the past four years. I will share lessons learned seeking funding, recruiting, bui lding a Riak-oriented community, and driving adoption inside some of the world's largest enterprises. I will also talk about overcoming challenges our advocates have faced getting Erlang-based initiatives adopted in the enterprise.

Finally, I will discuss the role the Erlang community has played in our success and what I think the future can be for commercial and open-source projects that happen to be built on "that Swedish boutique language."