Product Overview: Cursive (Clojure IDE)
Introduction
Cursive is a sophisticated Integrated Development Environment (IDE) specifically designed for Clojure and ClojureScript development, built on the robust IntelliJ framework. Unlike many other Clojure development environments that rely heavily on the REPL (Read-Eval-Print Loop), Cursive leverages static analysis of the source code to provide a comprehensive and feature-rich development experience.
Key Features
Static Analysis and Indexing
Cursive utilizes static analysis of the source code, combined with IntelliJ’s advanced indexing infrastructure. This approach enables features such as:
- Find Usages: Quickly locate where specific code elements are used across the project.
- Refactorings: Perform operations like renaming with precision and safety.
- Code Inspections: Identify errors and potential issues directly in the editor, similar to tools like Kibit and Eastwood.
Advanced Navigation and Project Management
Cursive benefits from IntelliJ’s strong project model, allowing for full project-wide indexing. This facilitates:
- Project-wide Navigation: Efficiently navigate through code using features like speed search in the Project window.
- Documentation Lookup: Access documentation and other project-related information seamlessly.
REPL Integration
While Cursive does not rely solely on the REPL, it still offers robust REPL integration:
- Local and Remote REPLs: Easily test Clojure functions in local or remote REPLs, including the ability to connect to a running server or a live Single-Page Application (SPA) in the browser.
- Top-Level Form Sending: Send top-level forms to the REPL, ignoring comments, which is particularly useful for debugging.
Debugging
Cursive integrates IntelliJ’s debugger, allowing for advanced debugging capabilities:
- Step Through Code: Use standard IDE keybindings (F8-F10) to step over, into, or out of functions in debug mode.
Mixed Clojure/Java Projects
Cursive is particularly adept at handling mixed Clojure and Java projects, making it an excellent choice for developers working in hybrid environments.
Customization and UI
The IDE offers a highly customizable interface:
- Minimal UI: Configure the UI to be more minimalistic, suitable for advanced users.
- Dark Theme: Enable the native dark color scheme (Darcula) for a more comfortable coding environment.
- Keyboard-Centric: Perform most actions without needing the mouse, using shortcuts like Ctrl Shift A to search for commands.
Additional Benefits
Automatic Setup and Dependencies
Cursive can use the JRE installed with IntelliJ by default, and it will automatically download the Leiningen uberjar if needed, making setup straightforward.
Future Development
The developers of Cursive are continuously working on new features and improvements, addressing the unique challenges of developing an IDE for a flexible language like Clojure.
In summary, Cursive offers a powerful, feature-rich environment for Clojure and ClojureScript development, combining the strengths of static analysis, advanced indexing, and robust REPL integration, making it an ideal choice for both novice and experienced developers.