Clojure in Product. Would you do it again?

Episode 2. We choose the best tool for the job, with Adam Tornhill, CodeScene

Dec 3, 2024

Adam Tornhill, founder of CodeScene and author of "Your Code as a Crime Scene," dives into the world of Clojure and software development. He shares his team's journey adopting Clojure, discussing challenges like performance and investor perceptions. Tornhill emphasizes the importance of technical decision-making and managing technical debt. He also explores the role of AI in coding and the value of documentation. Plus, he touches on onboarding challenges for newcomers to Clojure, advocating for better mentorship in the programming community.

56:02

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Episode guests

Adam Tornhill

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Learning Clojure empowers programmers by changing their approach to software development through its integration with the JVM ecosystem and access to powerful libraries.

Behavioral code analysis is crucial for tackling technical debt and enhancing collaboration by providing clear insights to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Deep dives

The Value of Learning Clojure

Learning Clojure provides programmers with a unique approach to software development that can significantly enhance productivity. The speaker emphasizes that once someone learns Lisp, including its dialects like Clojure, it transforms their perspective on programming, making it hard to return to traditional procedural or object-oriented languages. Clojure’s integration within the JVM ecosystem not only facilitates access to a plethora of powerful libraries but also allows for seamless incorporation into existing Java projects. This combination of fun and practical advantages has made Clojure an appealing choice for developers seeking efficient solutions.

Intro

2min

Navigating Clojure: Experiences and Insights

20min

Navigating Technical Decisions and Code Quality Management

4min

Clojure in CodeScene: Challenges and Innovations

19min

Balancing Coding and Management: Insights on Technical Engagement

4min

Exploring AI in Clojure and the Value of Documentation

6min

Navigating the Challenges of Onboarding in Clojure

2min

Meet our guest, Adam Tornhill—founder of CodeScene, a seasoned programmer with nearly 30 years of experience, and author of the book "Your Code as a Crime Scene." In this episode, we explore Adam's expertise in software product development and how CodeScene's Clojure team navigates the challenges of technical debt, late delivery, and code quality.

Adam explains his decision to use Clojure as the primary technology for CodeScene and shares his proven approach to behavioral code analysis. We highlighted the benefits like increased productivity, JVM integration, and sheer enjoyment, as well as some challenges related to the dynamic typing system.