Cursive (Clojure) - Detailed Review
Coding Tools
Cursive (Clojure) - Product Overview
Introduction to Cursive
Cursive is a specialized Integrated Development Environment (IDE) designed specifically for Clojure and ClojureScript development. It is built on the IntelliJ platform, leveraging the sophisticated features and infrastructure of JetBrains products.Primary Function
The primary function of Cursive is to provide a comprehensive development environment that leverages static analysis of the source code, rather than relying solely on the REPL (Read-Eval-Print Loop) like many other Clojure IDEs. This approach enables advanced code analysis and inspection capabilities, making it easier for developers to identify and fix issues directly within the editor.Target Audience
Cursive is targeted at developers who work with Clojure and ClojureScript. This includes professional developers, open-source contributors, personal project enthusiasts, and students. The IDE is particularly useful for those who value advanced code inspections, refactorings, and integration with version control systems.Key Features
Static Analysis and Code Inspections
Cursive uses static analysis to provide immediate feedback on code issues, similar to tools like Kibit and Eastwood, directly within the editor.Advanced Refactorings
It offers features like Find Usages and Rename, which are typically challenging to achieve in REPL-based environments.IntelliJ Integration
Built on the IntelliJ framework, Cursive inherits features such as project management, version control integrations, and sophisticated indexing infrastructure. This allows for seamless Java integration and advanced code navigation tools.Structural Editing
Cursive supports advanced structural editing, which is particularly beneficial for the unique syntax of Clojure and ClojureScript.REPL Integration
Despite its focus on static analysis, Cursive also integrates with the REPL, allowing developers to evaluate code and see results directly within the IDE.Version Control and Project Management
It includes comprehensive support for version control systems and project management, making it a complete development environment.Early Access Program
Cursive offers an Early Access Program, allowing users to engage with development builds and provide feedback, which helps in shaping the product. Overall, Cursive is a powerful tool that combines the strengths of IntelliJ with the specific needs of Clojure and ClojureScript development, making it an invaluable resource for developers working with these languages. Cursive (Clojure) - User Interface and Experience
The User Interface and Experience of Cursive
Cursive, a Clojure IDE built on top of IntelliJ, is characterized by several key features that make it both intuitive and powerful.
Installation and Setup
Installing Cursive is relatively straightforward. You start by installing IntelliJ IDEA, and then you can easily add the Cursive plugin from the IntelliJ marketplace. This process is simple and requires minimal setup, making it accessible even for those who are new to IDEs.
Interface and Features
Cursive offers a clean and intuitive interface. Here are some of the notable features:
- Intelligent Editor: Cursive provides code completion, syntax highlighting, and real-time error highlighting, which helps in writing and debugging code efficiently.
- REPL Integration: It has full integration with nREPL and `clojure.main` style REPLs, allowing you to evaluate code directly within the IDE. You can send forms to the REPL for evaluation using hotkeys, and the results are displayed in a dedicated output window.
- Code Navigation: The IDE includes project and structure views, navigation to symbols, namespaces, classes, and a “Find Usages” feature, making it easy to explore and manage your codebase.
- Debugging: Cursive includes a Clojure debugger with features like expression evaluation and debug REPLs. You can use standard IDE keybindings (e.g., F8-F10) to step over, into, or out of functions.
- Test Integration: It supports interactive running of `clojure.test` tests, with failures marked in the editor and visual diffs.
- Structural Editing: Cursive supports paredit style editing, which is particularly useful for Lisp-like languages such as Clojure.
Ease of Use
One of the standout aspects of Cursive is its ease of use. Unlike some other Clojure IDEs, Cursive is known for being user-friendly and requiring minimal maintenance. It integrates seamlessly with IntelliJ, leveraging its robust features while providing a simple and intuitive interface for Clojure development.
User Experience
The overall user experience with Cursive is positive, especially for those who prefer a GUI over a text-based editor like Emacs. Here are a few points that highlight the user experience:
- Just Works: Cursive is often praised for its “just works” approach. It requires minimal setup and configuration, allowing you to focus on coding rather than maintaining your editor.
- High-Quality Static Analysis: Cursive provides high-quality static analysis, which helps in identifying errors and improving code quality.
- Customizable: The IDE allows for easy customization of keyboard shortcuts and other settings, making it adaptable to various coding styles.
Conclusion
In summary, Cursive offers a user-friendly interface with powerful features that make it an excellent choice for Clojure and ClojureScript development. Its ease of installation, intuitive interface, and comprehensive set of features contribute to a positive user experience.
Cursive (Clojure) - Key Features and Functionality
Cursive Overview
Cursive, the IDE for Clojure and ClojureScript, offers a wide range of features that make it a powerful tool for developers. Here are the main features and how they work:Intelligent Editor
Cursive features an intelligent editor with code completion, syntax highlighting, and real-time error highlighting. This means that as you type, the IDE suggests completions, highlights your code for readability, and immediately flags any errors, making the coding process more efficient and error-free.Code Navigation
The IDE includes project and structure views, allowing you to easily navigate to symbols, namespaces, classes, and other elements within your project. This feature helps in quickly locating specific parts of your codebase.REPL Integration
Cursive has full integration with nREPL and `clojure.main` style REPLs for both Clojure and ClojureScript. You can start REPLs using run configurations, and the IDE supports various types of REPLs, including streaming and RPC (Remote Procedure Call) styles. This integration allows for interactive coding and testing directly within the IDE.Test Integration
Cursive supports interactive running of `clojure.test` tests. Test failures are marked in the editor, and visual diffs are provided, making it easier to identify and fix issues in your code.Leiningen Support
The IDE offers full support for Leiningen, including support for large multi-module projects. This ensures that you can manage your dependencies and project structure seamlessly within Cursive.Structural Editing
Cursive supports paredit style editing, which is a set of keybindings and editing commands that help maintain the structure of your code. This feature is particularly useful for Lisp-like languages such as Clojure.Code Formatting
The IDE provides smart and customizable code formatting. You can configure the formatting rules to fit your coding style, ensuring that your code remains consistent and readable.Clojure Debugger
Cursive includes a debugger specifically for Clojure, allowing you to evaluate expressions and use debug REPLs. This feature is crucial for debugging and troubleshooting your code.Refactorings
The IDE offers various refactorings such as seamless rename, extract let, automatic imports, and requires. These features help in maintaining clean and organized code.Interop Support
Cursive provides best-in-class support for Java interop, including smart completion using type inference. This makes it easier to work with Java code from within your Clojure projects.Version Control Integration
Built on IntelliJ, Cursive inherits advanced version control integrations, allowing you to manage your codebase using tools like Git directly from the IDE.User Interface
The user interface is highly customizable, with features like speed search functionality that allows you to find actions and items quickly. You can also configure the UI to be more minimalistic if preferred.AI Integration
While the provided resources do not explicitly mention AI-driven features, Cursive’s intelligent editor and code completion capabilities are likely enhanced by sophisticated algorithms and possibly machine learning techniques, similar to those used in other JetBrains products. However, there is no specific information available on how AI is integrated into Cursive beyond these general capabilities.Conclusion
In summary, Cursive is a comprehensive IDE that leverages the strengths of IntelliJ to provide a rich set of features tailored for Clojure and ClojureScript development, making it an indispensable tool for developers working with these languages. Cursive (Clojure) - Performance and Accuracy
Performance of Cursive
Cursive, an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for Clojure, leverages the IntelliJ framework to offer several performance advantages, but it also has some limitations.Advantages
- Static Analysis: Unlike many other Clojure development environments that rely on the REPL (Read-Eval-Print Loop), Cursive uses static analysis of the source code. This approach, combined with IntelliJ’s sophisticated indexing infrastructure, enables features like code inspections, error marking, and refactorings such as Rename and Find Usages. These features provide a shorter feedback loop and more accurate code analysis.
- Indexing and Scoping: Cursive’s indexing system allows for querying code based on various scopes, such as production code, test code, or specific project libraries. This indexing is automatically updated as you edit your program, ensuring that the information remains accurate and up-to-date.
- Test Integration: Cursive supports running tests with immediate feedback in the editor, using the `clojure.test` framework. This integration allows for a tight feedback loop during test development, with test results annotated directly in the editor.
Limitations
- CPU Usage: There have been reports of high CPU usage, particularly when working on ClojureScript projects. This issue can lead to significant performance degradation, making the editor nearly unusable due to frequent delays and high power consumption.
- ClojureScript REPL: Cursive still lacks a seamless ClojureScript REPL experience, which is a significant pain point for users. This is an area that the developers are working to improve.
- Error Messages: While Cursive uses advanced parsing techniques to improve error messages, some errors, especially those related to Clojure macro forms, can still be impenetrable. The IDE does not yet mark all possible errors in the editor, although this is a planned improvement.
Accuracy
Advantages
- Accurate Code Analysis: The use of static analysis and IntelliJ’s indexing infrastructure ensures that Cursive provides very accurate code analysis and feedback. This includes accurate documentation lookup and context-sensitive completion based on the abstract representation of the grammar.
- Error Detection: Cursive aims to mark as many errors as possible directly in the editor, including issues like function invocations with the wrong number of arguments and non-gensym’ed variables inside syntax-quote. This helps in detecting problems early and accurately.
Limitations
- Error Reporting: Despite the advanced parsing techniques, some error messages can be confusing, especially for new users. For example, errors in Clojure macro forms might be attributed to the wrong namespace, which can be discouraging.
- Default Keybindings and Paredit: New users might find the default keybindings and the enabled paredit mode confusing. However, these can be easily toggled, and default keybindings have been improved in recent releases.
Cursive (Clojure) - Pricing and Plans
Pricing Structure for Cursive
The pricing structure for Cursive, the Clojure IDE, is straightforward and catered to different user needs.Commercial License
Cursive is a commercial product, which means it requires a license for commercial use. The specifics of the commercial licensing, such as the cost and any tiered pricing, are not detailed on the publicly available pages of the website. For precise commercial pricing, you would need to contact the Cursive team or visit their website for more detailed information.Free Non-Commercial License
Cursive offers a free non-commercial license, which is available for open-source work, personal hacking, and student projects. This license allows users to utilize the full features of Cursive without any cost, as long as it is not used for commercial purposes.Features Across All Plans
Regardless of the license type, Cursive provides a wide range of features, including:Key Features
- Intelligent Editor with code completion, syntax highlighting, and real-time error highlighting.
- First-class ClojureScript support.
- Code Navigation and structure views.
- REPL Integration with nREPL and clojure.main style REPLs.
- Test Integration with interactive running of clojure.test tests.
- Leiningen Support for large multi-module projects.
- Structural Editing with paredit style editing.
- Code Formatting with smart, customizable options.
- Clojure Debugger with expression evaluation and debug REPLs.
- Refactorings such as seamless rename, extract let, and automatic imports.
- Interop Support for Java interop with smart completion using type inference.
Early Access Program (EAP)
In addition to the standard licensing, Cursive also offers an Early Access Program (EAP) for users who want to try out the latest features before they are released in the stable version. This program is optional and can be opted into during the installation process or later through the settings.Contact Information
If you need more specific details on commercial pricing or have other questions, it is best to contact the Cursive team directly or check their official website for updates. Cursive (Clojure) - Integration and Compatibility
Cursive: A Versatile IDE for Clojure and ClojureScript
Cursive, the IDE for Clojure and ClojureScript, integrates seamlessly with a variety of tools and offers broad compatibility across different platforms, making it a versatile and powerful development environment.Integration with IntelliJ
Cursive is built on top of IntelliJ, one of the most sophisticated Java IDEs. This integration allows Cursive to leverage all the functionality you would expect from JetBrains products, including project management, version control integrations, and in-editor inspections. This foundation also provides seamless Java integration, which is particularly useful for projects that involve Java interop.REPL and Testing Integration
Cursive offers full integration with nREPL and `clojure.main` style REPLs for both Clojure and ClojureScript. This allows for interactive development and testing, including the ability to run `clojure.test` tests directly within the IDE, with failures marked in the editor and visual diffs available.Leiningen and Project Management
Cursive provides full support for Leiningen, which is a popular build tool for Clojure projects. This support extends to large multi-module projects, making it easier to manage complex project structures.Code Editing and Formatting
The IDE features an intelligent editor with code completion, syntax highlighting, and real-time error highlighting. It also supports structural editing in the style of Paredit and offers smart, customizable code formatting.Debugging and Refactoring
Cursive includes a Clojure debugger with features like expression evaluation and debug REPLs. Additionally, it offers various refactorings such as seamless rename, extract let, automatic imports, and requires, among others.Cross-Platform Compatibility
Cursive is compatible with IntelliJ versions from the previous year and works on Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux. This makes it a reliable choice across different operating systems. You can use either the free Community Edition or the Ultimate Edition of IntelliJ to run Cursive.Plugin Installation and Management
Installing Cursive is straightforward; you simply need to download and install IntelliJ, then install the Cursive plugin from the IntelliJ Marketplace. You can manage plugins through the Settings menu, disabling any unnecessary plugins to improve performance.Conclusion
In summary, Cursive integrates well with a range of tools essential for Clojure development, such as REPLs, Leiningen, and Java, while offering broad compatibility across various platforms and devices. This makes it an excellent choice for developers looking for a comprehensive and integrated development environment for Clojure and ClojureScript. Cursive (Clojure) - Customer Support and Resources
Support Channels
For any issues or feedback, you can contact the Cursive team directly via email at cursive@cursive-ide.com. This is a great way to report bugs, ask questions, or provide feedback on your experience with the IDE.
Issue Tracker
If you encounter a bug, it’s recommended to check the issue tracker first to see if someone else has already reported it. If not, you can file a new issue to inform the developers.
Community and Mailing Lists
Cursive has active community channels, including mailing lists for general discussions and seeking help. You can also join the #cursive room on the public Clojurians Slack channel, where the developers are actively involved.
Documentation
Cursive provides extensive documentation to help you get the most out of the IDE. You can access documentation for functions and symbols directly within the editor using shortcuts like Ctrl P for parameter summaries and Ctrl Q for full documentation. Additionally, you can view the source code of functions using Ctrl Shift I.
ClojureDocs Integration
Cursive integrates with ClojureDocs, a community-driven repository of additional information about core Clojure functions. You can download an archive of ClojureDocs information, which enhances the built-in documentation with examples, notes, and see-also information.
GitHub and Wiki
The Cursive GitHub repository serves as a central place for the issue tracker and wiki. Here, you can find detailed information about the features and how to use them, as well as contribute to the community by reporting issues or suggesting improvements.
By leveraging these support channels and resources, you can ensure a smooth and productive experience with Cursive.
Cursive (Clojure) - Pros and Cons
Advantages of Cursive (Clojure IDE)
Cursive, an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for Clojure and ClojureScript, offers several significant advantages:
- Advanced Structural Editing: Cursive provides advanced structural editing capabilities, which are particularly useful for Clojure’s unique syntax. This includes features like smart code completion, syntax highlighting, and advanced refactorings.
- Static Analysis: Unlike many other Clojure development environments that rely on the REPL, Cursive uses static analysis of the source code. This allows for features such as Find Usages, Rename refactorings, and on-the-fly code inspections, which can identify errors and provide immediate feedback.
- IntelliJ Framework: Built on the IntelliJ platform, Cursive inherits many of IntelliJ’s sophisticated features, including project management, version control integrations, and Java integration. This provides a comprehensive development environment.
- First-Class ClojureScript Support: Cursive offers strong support for ClojureScript, making it a versatile tool for both Clojure and ClojureScript development.
- VCS Integration and Other Tools: It includes out-of-the-box integration with version control systems, advanced refactorings, and other tools that enhance the development process.
- Community and Development: Since the developers of Cursive use it daily to develop the IDE itself, it is continuously improved to meet the needs of Clojure developers.
Disadvantages of Cursive (Clojure IDE)
While Cursive offers many benefits, there are also some notable drawbacks:
- Performance and Resource Requirements: Cursive requires a more powerful development machine due to its advanced features and static analysis. This can result in higher memory and CPU usage.
- Macro Support Limitations: Cursive can be unaware of local bindings and vars defined by macro forms, leading to false positive warnings and other issues. However, it does support stub generation for problematic namespaces.
- Initial Learning Curve: For developers new to IntelliJ-based IDEs or those accustomed to REPL-based environments, there might be an initial learning curve to fully utilize Cursive’s features.
- Commercial Licensing: While Cursive offers a free non-commercial license for open-source work, personal projects, and student use, it is a commercial product for other purposes.
- Potential Bugs and Issues: Given the complexity of its features, there might be bugs or performance issues, although these are actively addressed by the developers.
Overall, Cursive is a powerful and feature-rich IDE for Clojure and ClojureScript development, but it does come with some resource and learning curve considerations.
Cursive (Clojure) - Comparison with Competitors
Unique Features of Cursive
- Intelligent Editor: Cursive offers advanced code completion, syntax highlighting, and real-time error highlighting, which are particularly optimized for Clojure and ClojureScript.
- Static Analysis: Unlike many other Clojure development environments that rely on the REPL, Cursive uses static analysis of the source code. This allows for features like Find Usages, refactorings, and error marking directly in the editor, providing a shorter feedback loop.
- IntelliJ Framework: Built on the IntelliJ platform, Cursive benefits from sophisticated indexing infrastructure, project management, and version control integrations. This integration also enables seamless Java interop and advanced code inspections.
- Structural Editing and Refactorings: Cursive supports paredit style editing and offers a range of refactorings such as rename, extract let, automatic imports, and requires. These features are highly beneficial for maintaining and improving Clojure code.
Potential Alternatives and Comparisons
GitHub Copilot
- General-Purpose AI Assistant: GitHub Copilot is an AI-powered coding assistant that supports multiple programming languages, including Python, JavaScript, and C . It offers advanced code autocompletion, automated code documentation, and AI-driven code review suggestions. However, it is not specifically tailored for Clojure or ClojureScript.
- Integration and Context Awareness: While Copilot integrates well with popular IDEs like Visual Studio Code and JetBrains, its context-aware suggestions and code generation capabilities might not be as finely tuned for Clojure-specific needs as Cursive’s static analysis and IntelliJ-based features.
Codeium
- Multi-Language Support: Codeium is an AI-powered tool that supports over 70 programming languages, including JavaScript, Python, and Java. It offers autocomplete, chat, and search features, but its support for Clojure is not highlighted as a primary feature.
- IDE Integration: Like Cursive, Codeium integrates with popular IDEs such as VSCode, but its free version has limited indexing and context-aware suggestions, which might not be as effective for large or complex Clojure projects.
AskCodi
- Versatile AI Assistant: AskCodi is another AI coding assistant that supports multiple languages, including Python, Java, and TypeScript. It provides code generation, answers programming questions, and offers code suggestions. However, it does not have specific features tailored for Clojure or ClojureScript.
- Natural Language Queries: AskCodi’s reliance on natural language queries can be beneficial, but structuring questions effectively can be challenging, and its reliance on open-source code may limit its ability to address all use cases.
Conclusion
Cursive stands out for its deep integration with the Clojure ecosystem, leveraging static analysis and the IntelliJ framework to provide a highly specialized and efficient development environment for Clojure and ClojureScript. While tools like GitHub Copilot, Codeium, and AskCodi offer broad support across multiple programming languages and AI-driven features, they do not match Cursive’s level of specialization and integration for Clojure development. If you are specifically working with Clojure or ClojureScript, Cursive is likely the most suitable choice due to its unique features and tailored support. Cursive (Clojure) - Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions about Cursive, the Clojure IDE, along with detailed responses:
What is Cursive and what does it offer?
Cursive is an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) specifically designed for Clojure and ClojureScript development. It is built on the IntelliJ platform and offers a range of features including intelligent code completion, syntax highlighting, real-time error highlighting, code navigation, REPL integration, test integration, and structural editing. It also supports Leiningen, Java interop, and various refactorings.
How do I install Cursive?
To install Cursive, you first need to download and install IntelliJ, either the Community or Ultimate Edition. Once IntelliJ is installed, you can add Cursive as a plugin. During the initial setup of IntelliJ, you will be prompted to select plugins; ensure you enable Cursive. You can also install Cursive later through the Settings → Plugins menu and then restart IntelliJ.
Is Cursive free or does it require a license?
Cursive is a commercial product, but it offers a free non-commercial license for open-source work, personal projects, and student use. For commercial use, you need to purchase a license. The average price paid by Cledara customers is around $195.
What are the key features of Cursive?
- Intelligent Editor: Code completion, syntax highlighting, and real-time error highlighting.
- Code Navigation: Project and structure views, navigation to symbols, namespaces, classes, and Find Usages.
- REPL Integration: Full integration with nREPL and clojure.main style REPLs.
- Test Integration: Interactive running of clojure.test tests with failures marked in the editor and visual diffs.
- Structural Editing: Full support for paredit style editing.
- Code Formatting: Smart, customizable formatting support.
- Clojure Debugger: Full support for debugging Clojure, including expression evaluation and debug REPLs.
- Refactorings: Seamless rename, extract let, automatic imports and requires, and more.
How does Cursive handle Clojure macros?
Cursive works on the unexpanded source code, which allows it to handle macros effectively. Unlike some other IDEs that rely on the REPL, Cursive uses static analysis of the source code. This approach enables features like code inspections and refactorings that can see inside macros, even though macros can do anything when expanded.
Does Cursive support Java interop?
Yes, Cursive provides best-in-class support for Java interop. It includes smart completion using type inference, making it easier to work with Java code from within your Clojure projects.
Can I use Cursive with different versions of IntelliJ?
Cursive is compatible with IntelliJ versions from the previous year, as well as the current version. You can find the current version compatibility list on the Cursive website.
What kind of support does Cursive offer for version control systems (VCS)?
Cursive, built on the IntelliJ platform, includes full support for version control systems. This integration is part of the broader set of features provided by IntelliJ, ensuring seamless management of your codebase across different VCS tools.
Is Cursive available as a standalone IDE or only as an IntelliJ plugin?
Currently, Cursive is available as an IntelliJ plugin for use with the Community or Ultimate editions of IntelliJ. However, there are plans to make it available as a standalone Clojure-focused IDE in the future.
Cursive (Clojure) - Conclusion and Recommendation
Final Assessment of Cursive (Clojure)
Cursive is a highly specialized Integrated Development Environment (IDE) specifically crafted for Clojure and ClojureScript development, built on the robust IntelliJ framework. Here’s a detailed assessment of who would benefit most from using Cursive and an overall recommendation.
Key Features and Benefits
- Static Analysis and Code Inspections: Unlike many other Clojure development environments that rely on the REPL, Cursive uses static analysis of the source code. This approach, combined with IntelliJ’s sophisticated indexing infrastructure, enables advanced features such as Find Usages, Rename refactorings, and in-editor error marking, similar to tools like Kibit and Eastwood.
- Advanced Refactorings and Code Navigation: Cursive offers essential code navigation tools and refactorings, which are particularly useful for managing large and complex codebases. This provides a shorter feedback loop compared to traditional REPL-based environments.
- Integration with Clojure Ecosystem: Cursive is written almost entirely in Clojure, allowing seamless integration with popular tools in the Clojure ecosystem, such as Leiningen and nREPL. This makes it highly effective for developers already familiar with these tools.
- Stability and Reliability: Cursive has been noted for its stability and reliability, especially in environments with mixed JVM languages. It has been found very useful when working with larger Clojure codebases.
Who Would Benefit Most
- Experienced Clojure Developers: Developers who are already familiar with Clojure and its ecosystem will find Cursive particularly beneficial due to its advanced features and seamless integration with other Clojure tools.
- Teams Working on Large Codebases: Teams managing large and complex Clojure projects will appreciate the robust code navigation, refactoring capabilities, and static analysis that Cursive offers.
- Organizations Adopting Clojure: For organizations transitioning to Clojure, Cursive helps lower the barrier to entry for existing developers by providing a familiar and powerful development environment.
Overall Recommendation
Cursive is a highly recommended tool for anyone serious about developing in Clojure or ClojureScript. Its unique approach using static analysis and integration with the IntelliJ framework makes it stand out from other Clojure development environments. The availability of a free non-commercial license for open-source work, personal projects, and student use adds to its appeal, making it accessible to a wide range of users.
In summary, Cursive is an excellent choice for those seeking a sophisticated, reliable, and feature-rich IDE specifically tailored for Clojure development. Its advanced features and stability make it an invaluable tool for both individual developers and teams working on complex projects.