processes_answer.ex

defmodule Cats do

  @base_dir "cats"

  def run() do
    pid = start()
    send pid, {self, "Virginia", "Felix"}
    receive do
      resp -> IO.puts "Virginia/Felix: #{inspect resp}"
    after 5000 ->
      IO.puts "Timed out waiting for Virginia/Felix"
    end
    send pid, {self, "Michigan", "Thomas"}
    receive do
      resp -> IO.puts "Michigan/Thomas: #{inspect resp}"
    after 5000 ->
      IO.puts "Timed out waiting for Michigan/Thomas"
    end
  end

  def start() do
    spawn &cat_message/0
  end

  def cat_message() do
    receive do
      {from, state, cat} ->
        send from, find_cat(state, cat)
        cat_message
      :quit -> :ok
    end
  end

  def find_cat(state, cat) do
    [@base_dir, String.downcase(state), String.downcase(cat) <> ".cat"]
    |> Path.join()
    |> File.read!()
  end

end