cider

Pros of Conjure

• Language-agnostic: Supports multiple Lisp dialects and other languages
• Lightweight and fast: Minimal setup required, quick startup time
• Vim/Neovim native: Seamlessly integrates with Vim workflows

Cons of Conjure

• Less feature-rich: Fewer built-in debugging and inspection tools
• Smaller community: Less extensive documentation and user support
• Limited IDE-like features: Lacks some advanced development environment capabilities

Code Comparison

CIDER (Emacs):

(cider-connect '(:host "localhost" :port 7000))
(cider-eval-buffer)
(cider-find-var)

Conjure (Vim/Neovim):

:ConjureConnect localhost:7000
:ConjureEval (+ 1 2 3)
:ConjureFindVar

Both CIDER and Conjure are popular tools for Clojure development, but they cater to different editor ecosystems. CIDER is deeply integrated with Emacs and provides a comprehensive development environment with extensive features. Conjure, on the other hand, focuses on providing a lightweight and flexible solution for Vim and Neovim users, supporting multiple languages beyond just Clojure.

CIDER offers more advanced debugging capabilities, richer documentation integration, and a larger ecosystem of plugins. Conjure emphasizes simplicity and speed, making it easier to set up and use across different projects and languages. The choice between the two largely depends on the user's preferred editor and specific development needs.

Pros of Babashka

• Fast startup time for scripting and CLI applications
• Native executables for easy distribution and deployment
• Supports a subset of Clojure, making it lightweight and portable

Cons of Babashka

• Limited functionality compared to full Clojure ecosystem
• Not suitable for large-scale application development
• Lacks advanced REPL-driven development features

Code Comparison

Babashka script example:

#!/usr/bin/env bb
(require '[babashka.cli :as cli])

(defn greet [name]
  (println (str "Hello, " name "!")))

(cli/parse-opts *command-line-args* {:coerce {:name :string}})
(greet (:name (cli/parse-opts *command-line-args*)))

CIDER REPL interaction example:

;; In Emacs CIDER REPL
(defn greet [name]
  (str "Hello, " name "!"))

(greet "World")
;; => "Hello, World!"

Summary

Babashka excels in scripting and CLI applications with its fast startup time and native executables. It's ideal for small to medium-sized tasks and automation. CIDER, on the other hand, provides a rich interactive development environment for Clojure, offering advanced REPL features and deep integration with Emacs. CIDER is better suited for large-scale application development and projects requiring a full Clojure environment.

Pros of clojure-lsp

• Language-server protocol support, enabling integration with various editors and IDEs
• Faster startup time and lower memory footprint
• More comprehensive static analysis and refactoring capabilities

Cons of clojure-lsp

• Less mature and potentially less stable than CIDER
• Smaller community and ecosystem compared to CIDER
• May require additional setup and configuration for optimal performance

Code Comparison

CIDER (nREPL-based):

(cider-connect '(:host "localhost" :port 7888))
(cider-eval-buffer)
(cider-doc 'clojure.core/map)

clojure-lsp:

;; No direct REPL interaction, relies on editor integration
(ns my-namespace
  (:require [my-library.core :as lib]))
;; LSP provides auto-completion, diagnostics, and refactoring

clojure-lsp focuses on static analysis and editor integration, while CIDER provides a more interactive development experience with direct REPL integration. clojure-lsp offers broader editor support and potentially faster performance, but CIDER has a more established ecosystem and deeper Clojure-specific features. The choice between them depends on individual preferences and development workflows.

Pros of vim-fireplace

• Lightweight and fast, with minimal setup required
• Seamless integration with Vim's ecosystem and keybindings
• Works well with other Vim plugins for a customized Clojure development environment

Cons of vim-fireplace

• Less feature-rich compared to CIDER's extensive toolset
• Limited debugging capabilities
• Smaller community and fewer resources for support and documentation

Code Comparison

vim-fireplace:

:Require
:Eval (+ 1 2 3)
:FireplaceConnect

CIDER:

cider-jack-in
cider-eval-buffer
cider-debug-defun-at-point

Summary

vim-fireplace is a lightweight Clojure development plugin for Vim users, offering quick setup and seamless integration with the Vim ecosystem. It provides essential features for Clojure development but lacks some of the more advanced tools found in CIDER.

CIDER, on the other hand, is a comprehensive Clojure Interactive Development Environment for Emacs. It offers a wider range of features, including advanced debugging capabilities, extensive documentation, and a larger community for support.

The choice between vim-fireplace and CIDER often comes down to personal preference for the editor (Vim vs. Emacs) and the desired level of feature complexity. vim-fireplace is ideal for those who prefer a minimalist approach and are comfortable with Vim, while CIDER caters to developers seeking a more feature-rich and integrated Clojure development experience within Emacs.