Erlang for Dummies

Alright, so let's talk about the word "Erlang." It's a bit of a tricky word, but I think I can make it easy for you to understand. You see, "Erlang" can mean a few different things, but I'll break it down for you.

First off, "Erlang" can refer to a unit of telecommunications traffic measurement. It's a way to measure how much use a telecommunications system is getting. It's kind of like how you measure how much water flows through a pipe – in this case, it's how much information is flowing through the phone lines or internet connections. So, when people talk about "Erlangs" in telecommunications, they're talking about how busy the system is and how much use it's getting.

Secondly, "Erlang" can also refer to a programming language. Now, this might sound a bit intimidating, but think of it like learning a new way to talk to a computer. Just like how you might learn French or Spanish to talk to people from different countries, learning a programming language like Erlang is a way to communicate with computers and tell them what to do. So, when people talk about "Erlang" in the context of programming, they're talking about a specific way of writing instructions for computers to follow.

Now, I know that's a lot to take in, but don't worry. Understanding new words can be tough, but I'm here to help make it easier for you. And remember – it's okay to ask questions and take your time to understand. We'll get there together, one step at a time.

So, in simple terms, "Erlang" can mean a way to measure telecommunications traffic or a programming language used to talk to computers. It's like knowing how busy a road is or learning a new way to speak with a friend – just in the context of telecommunications or computer programming. I hope that makes sense to you!