Elm Town

Elm Camp organizers Katja Mordaunt and Tomáš Látal share details about the June 15th-18th, 2026 event in Olomouc, Czech Republic, and extend an open invitation to Elm-curious folks in the broader community. Tickets on sale as of publishing! Thanks to our sponsor, Logistically. Email: elmtown@logisticallyinc.com. Music by Jesse Moore. Edited by Toni Cañete. Recording date: 2026.01.28 Guests Katja Mordaunt Tomáš Látal Show notes [00:00:33] Sponsored by Logistically [00:00:54] Introducing Katja Mordaunt & Tomáš Látal Elm Town 59 – Elm Camp with Katja Mordaunt Elm Town 78 – Elm Camp 2024 with Katja Mordaunt and Wolfgang Schuster Scrive [00:06:22] Elm Camp Info elm.camp [00:07:33] The town of Olomouc Elm Camp Discord [00:13:28] The venue: Park Hotel Prachárna Hotel Prachárna [00:19:50] Unconference format Elm Town 85 – Wander: Elm Camp 2025 [00:27:16] Intentionally Elm-curious Elm Town 81 – Inspired: Bubble Tea with Christian Rocha Lambda Days [00:34:16] The beauty of Elm Camp [00:39:41] Picks Katja's pick "Teaching Haskell to Kids" Tomáš' picks Coderetreat Darknet Diaries Kagi Small Web "The Small Web is Beautiful" by Ben Hoyt Jujutsu

Felienne Hermans, a professor of computer science education and the creator of the Hedy programming language, explores the nuances of programming culture. She reveals her personal journey through computing, discussing biases in language design that affect inclusivity. Felienne highlights the importance of community support in overcoming misconceptions and the impact of localization on programming education. The conversation also touches on the implications of AI on attention and the value of deep reading in today's tech-driven world.

Sophie Collard, an energy engineer turned software developer, shares her incredible journey into programming. She discusses transitioning from environmental work to backend coding and her discovery of Elm. Sophie dives into building a robust 10k-line app and the benefits of mob programming as a teaching method. She shares insights on integrating Leaflet.js with Elm for interactive maps and introduces her rail-focused travel search app, Railpackers. Plus, she talks about creating a JSONPath library, showcasing her passion for functional programming.

Joël Quenneville, a software crafter at ThoughtBot, shares his enlightening journey from wedding photography to tech wizardry. He delves into the intricacies of Elm programming, explaining the critical role of JSON decoders in maintaining data integrity. Joël also reveals his creative note-taking techniques, showcasing how systems like Zettelkasten can foster personal growth. He discusses turning experiences into active learning opportunities and emphasizes the importance of mentorship and community engagement in honing one's skills.

John Pavlick, a well-connected member of the Elm community, shares insights about organizing Elm Camp 2025. Tristan Pendergrass, a front-end developer at Dropbox, discusses engaging activities in the unconference format that promoted meaningful connections. Wolfgang Schuster talks about using Elm for TUIs and reflects on the vibrant Elm community. The trio emphasizes the importance of experimentation in programming and explores the potential for more regional Elm events, showcasing their appreciation for collaboration and the supportive nature of their network.

Justin Lubin, a PhD student at UC Berkeley, discusses his research journey in programming languages and human-computer interaction. He shares insights on his work with Sketch-n-Sketch, exploring how statically-typed functional programmers code. The conversation highlights the challenges of adapting to Elm, the potential of graphical programming, and the emotional hurdles faced by beginners. Additionally, Justin addresses the need for programming tools that cater to biologists, and offers thought-provoking book recommendations that inspire innovative thinking.

Ryan Haskell, a senior software engineer at Brilliant and creator of the 'Welcome to Elm' YouTube series, shares insights on teaching the Elm programming language. He recounts his gap year adventures and the development of his game, 'Turbo Champ,' using the Godot engine. Haskell emphasizes the importance of accessible learning materials and relatable language in programming. He also explores how interactivity can enhance learner engagement, and he shares resources that facilitate a deeper understanding of Elm.

Dillon Kearns, a developer focused on Elm-inspired tools, and Jeroen Engels, co-host of Elm Radio and an Elm philosophy advocate, delve into what it means to be inspired by Elm tools. They explore the balance of simplicity and user feedback in design. The duo discusses tools as contracts and their roles in enhancing user experience. They also reflect on Elm's culture and its emphasis on community and responsibility, while speculating on future innovations like AI in the Elm ecosystem.

Christian Rocha, founder of Charm and creator of the Bubble Tea TUI framework, dives into his journey with functional programming and the impact of mentorship. He discusses the challenges and opportunities of incorporating design into tech, particularly in developing user-friendly interfaces. They explore the open-source community's role in projects like Glow and the Gum library. The conversation also touches on exciting advancements in terminal technologies and recommendations for indie games and media that inspire creativity.

Richard Feldman, Elm pioneer and creator of the Roc programming language, discusses his motivations for developing Roc as an evolution of Elm. He shares insights on governance models, emphasizing simplicity and user feedback in programming design. The conversation dives into how teaching Elm shaped Roc’s features, and how it aims to integrate seamlessly with existing systems. Additionally, Richard highlights the unique role of platforms in Roc, setting it apart from traditional languages and enhancing development experiences.