Install the Clojure CLI on macOS with Homebrew, verify Java and brew first, and confirm that clj, clojure, and your editor use the same JVM setup.
On macOS, the official Clojure install path uses Homebrew. That fits many Java teams well because it makes setup repeatable and easy to update.
Before installing Clojure, verify Java:
1java -version
2javac -version
Then verify Homebrew:
1brew --version
The official install command is:
1brew install clojure/tools/clojure
To upgrade an existing install:
1brew upgrade clojure/tools/clojure
After installation, open a new terminal and verify:
1clojure --version
2clj -h
The install gives you the Clojure command-line tools, not a separate Clojure operating-system runtime. The tools can download the Clojure language dependency and other JVM libraries as needed.
| Command | Use |
|---|---|
clj |
Start an interactive REPL |
clojure --version |
Print the CLI version |
clojure -Spath |
Show the computed classpath |
brew upgrade clojure/tools/clojure |
Update the CLI tooling |
For Java engineers, the important connection is the classpath. If clojure -Spath works, the CLI can compute the JVM classpath it will use to launch Clojure.
On Apple Silicon machines, make sure your JDK, Homebrew install, terminal shell, and editor agree on architecture and paths. Mixed Intel/Rosetta and ARM installations can be confusing.
Check:
1which java
2which clojure
3uname -m
If the terminal works but the editor REPL fails, evaluate this inside the editor-connected REPL:
1(System/getProperty "java.home")
2(System/getProperty "os.arch")
That confirms the JVM the editor actually launched.
For a shared project, document:
That keeps macOS setup focused on repeatable development instead of personal machine archaeology.