Why Is Editor Integration So Important?
Web Development with Clojure, Third Edition — by Dmitri Sotnikov, Scot Brown (87 / 107)
👈 Appendix 2 Editor Configuration | TOC | General Configuration Tips 👉
In other (non-Lisp) languages, it’s common to work with any text editor of choice or with a language-specific IDE. But with Clojure and most other Lisps, having an editor integrated REPL along with structural editing is invaluable.
The Clojure REPL
You may be familiar with the concept of a REPL if you’ve used languages such as Ruby or Python. But REPL environments in these languages function differently from the Clojure REPL. Typically, the REPL is used as a stand-alone toy as opposed to an integral part of the development process. The REPL in such languages doesn’t connect to the runtime of the application you’re developing or provide any meaningful integration with your editor.
By contrast, the REPL is a central tool for developing Clojure applications. The REPL is typically used by connecting your editor to the application runtime and sending code for evaluation directly from the editor. This approach allows developing applications interactively and creates a tight feedback loop where you can see the changes that you make in code immediately reflected in your application.
