Ash Framework
Build Fast, Model Right

Master Ash Framework with 150+ hands-on lessons, exercises, and real-world examples.

Preorder Now for $23.95 $39.95

Save 40%. Releasing on 30 April, 2025.

Meet the Author:
Shankar Dhanasekaran

I'm Shankar Dhanasekaran, the Founder & CTO of Talam, Auroville, with over 18 years of experience in web technologies. I am the author of the Phoenix Inside Out book series, which consists of four books.

As an Elixir trainer, I conduct educational programs that range from community-based learning for young adults to corporate trainings. Over the years, I've spoken at international conferences, led workshops at ElixirConf and ElixirConfEU, and had the honor of being a keynote speaker at ElixirConfEU 2023.

My teaching style is grounded in the belief that "Learning the hard way is the easy way." I emphasize hands-on, active learning, breaking down complex concepts into simple, digestible steps.

My Keynote in ElixirConfEU 2023

Testimonials

What Other Developers Are Saying

about my books and trainings in the past.

I’m an early buyer of Shankar’s books. First of all, he made me understand what “context” is all about. Garuda was a real surprise and quite enlightening. Ecto, clarifies a lot of things. And Phoenix book has every little detail about developing an ecommerce site. I bought the “Coach Edition” and get excellent support from him. Highly recommended, 5 stars.

sinanto

for Phoenix Inside Out Book Series

I learnt a lot from Shankar, especially the insights on how to manage and optimise memory in LiveView. I can't wait to use it at a hackathon next weekend.

DonkWook Lee

for ElixirConf Phoenix LiveView Training

I read only some pages from the first book and skim through the other books, and I can bet it's a great resource for learning Phoenix framework, and it will teach you the framework inside out (as the name says).

pillaiindu

for Phoenix Inside Out Book Series

I just picked up your books today and I wanted to thank you. I’ve only been reading for a couple of hours, but I’ve learned at least 5 things I didn’t know about Phoenix before. Well done!

Clinton

for Phoenix Inside Out Book Series

Going through the book feels like sitting next to a colleague, who is introducing you to Phoenix and is really knowledgeable in the topic. The book is full of interesting tidbits and explanations about Phoenix internals without getting in the way. I also appreciate the TDD approach including both acceptance and unit testing.

ezero

for Phoenix Inside Out Book Series

This book is probably the best book on phoenix right now.

_russellb

for Phoenix Inside Out Book Series

The demonstration of link_navigate versus link_patch made it clear to me for the first time and the security hole demo -- that occurs when logging out from one live view tab while others are still left open -- was super.

JMarfugi

for ElixirConf Phoenix LiveView Training

He also acted as a great mentor for the more junior members of the team.

Harry Keen, CEO

for my work at Hazy UK

What will you learn?

The book contains 10 different chapters with over 150+ learning objectives.

Ash Domain & Resources: Learn how to define structured data models using Ash. You’ll set up resources, organize data, and understand how Ash simplifies domain modeling.
Attributes: Define and manage data fields with type safety, default values, and constraints like required fields or unique values.
Relationships: Learn all the standard one-to-one, one-to-many, and many-to-many relationships, polymorphic associations the Ash way.
Aggregates: Fetch summarized data like counting tasks in a project or calculating averages without writing complex queries.
Calculations: Compute dynamic values, such as formatting names, calculating totals, or deriving statuses based on other fields.
Validations: Ensure data integrity by enforcing rules, like checking email formats, preventing empty fields, or restricting input ranges.
Identities: Set up unique identifiers like emails or usernames to prevent duplicate records and improve data consistency.
Actions: Learn to define how data is created, updated, deleted, or retrieved, using meaninful business-model related action names.
Changes & Preparations: Learn how to use Changes and Preparations to modify data before saving or modify how the data is fetched.
Notifiers: Trigger real-time updates, send emails, or call webhooks when data changes, making your app more interactive.

Who is this for?

do you identify with the developer described below? If so, then this book is for you.

I'm already using Phoenix. Will this book help me?: Absolutely! While the book doesn’t cover Phoenix directly, all examples are designed for Phoenix applications. You’ll learn how to model domains efficiently with Ash, making your Phoenix apps more structured and maintainable.
Will this book help me if I’m new to Ash Framework?: If you’ve spent hours piecing together outdated blog posts, broken tutorials, or sample projects that don’t work anymore, this workshop offers a structured, up-to-date solution. No more wasting time on irrelevant content.Yes! The book is structured to take you from zero to mastery in Ash Framework, guiding you through core concepts, relationships, queries, and best practices step by step.
Is this book suitable for experienced developers?: Yes! If you’re an experienced developer looking to speed up domain modeling, reduce boilerplate, and enforce best practices, this book will help you leverage Ash’s powerful features effectively including built-in support for multi-tenancy, authorization, and policies in complex use case scenarios.
I don’t want to use Ash with Phoenix. Will this book still be useful?: Yes! Ash Framework itself is backend-agnostic, and you can apply its principles to any Elixir project, with or without Phoenix.
Does this book cover only simple use cases?: No, it covers both simple and complex scenarios. The book includes 150+ lessons and exercises, helping you tackle real-world challenges using Ash.
Looking for practical, hands-on experience?: If you want to learn by building something real, not just reading about theory, this book is for you. We focus on teaching you how to build apps that work in the real world, not just in a controlled tutorial environment.

Love it or it’s free

I want you to feel confident when you purchase this book. If, for any reason, it doesn’t meet your expectations or feels like the wrong fit, just let me know within 30 days. I’ll issue a full refund, no questions asked, and you can still keep everything you’ve learned.

Gratitude Overflow - It’s my turn to pass on

I believe this book offers a good value for the price, but I understand that "affordable" is a relative term that depends on individual circumstances. If you have to think twice about whether you'd be financially comfortable with purchasing the book please email me requesting a discounted or free access. I will happily give you discounted/free access to my books with no questions asked.

Like the millions who contribute to open-source software, I’ve been CrowdTaught by countless people who freely shared their knowledge or made it accessible to those who couldn’t afford it. This offer is my small way of giving back to the community that shaped me.