Browse Learn Clojure Foundations as a Java Developer

Using Git with Clojure

Keep Clojure repositories reviewable by ignoring build and REPL artifacts, standardizing formatting, committing source truth rather than live REPL state, and documenting runnable commands.

Git is the same tool you already know, but Clojure projects tend to generate a different set of artifacts and benefit from consistent formatting.

What To Pay Attention To

  • Keep generated build outputs out of version control (target/, caches, editor/REPL artifacts).
  • Prefer an auto-formatter so diffs are about meaning, not whitespace.
  • Be mindful of “eval at the REPL” changes: the source of truth is still what is committed in src/ and test/.
Repo hygiene item Why it matters
.gitignore for build outputs Prevents generated jars, caches, and test artifacts from polluting reviews
Consistent formatter Reduces noisy diffs in parentheses-heavy code
Reproducible commands in README Lets Java teammates run the REPL, tests, and packaging without guessing
Small commits Makes data-shape and namespace changes easier to review
CI test command Catches “works only in my REPL” mistakes before merge

Practical tip: a clean .gitignore plus consistent formatting removes a lot of friction in Clojure code reviews.

This section focuses on the small repo hygiene choices that keep teams productive over time.

In this section

  • Initialize a Clojure Git Repository
    Start a Clojure repository with a clean first commit, a Clojure-aware `.gitignore`, reproducible commands, and clear source-of-truth boundaries for REPL-driven work.
  • Use Git Commands in Clojure Projects
    Apply everyday Git commands to Clojure work by staging source changes deliberately, reviewing namespace diffs, keeping generated artifacts out, and syncing branches safely.
  • Review Clojure Changes with Git
    Use pull requests, small commits, CI commands, and Clojure-aware review checklists to keep team changes understandable when Java developers adopt Clojure.
Revised on Saturday, May 23, 2026
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