I have played with Elixir, and it is certainly gaining in popularity I believe due to its rubiness and web dev. Personally, I prefer LFE, but that's because I am a Lisper and love parentheses. I am reading 'The Handbook of Neuroevolution through Erlang'. It is a great use for Erlang. I am hoping somebody will work on the LFE translation of it. Good article.