Need advice about which tool to choose?Ask the StackShare community!
Clojure vs Common Lisp: What are the differences?
Introduction
In this article, we will explore the key differences between Clojure and Common Lisp. Both Clojure and Common Lisp are powerful programming languages, but they have different features and philosophies that set them apart. Understanding these differences can help developers choose the right language for their specific needs.
Syntax: One major difference between Clojure and Common Lisp is their syntax. Clojure is a Lisp dialect that has a more streamlined and minimalist syntax compared to Common Lisp. It uses square brackets for function calls and uses prefixes for operators, making the code more concise and easier to read. Common Lisp, on the other hand, has a more traditional and expressive syntax that uses parentheses for function calls and infix notation for operators.
Concurrency: Another significant difference between Clojure and Common Lisp is their approach to concurrency. Clojure was designed from the ground up to be a concurrent programming language. It provides built-in abstractions and immutable data structures that make it easy to write concurrent and parallel code. Common Lisp, while capable of handling concurrency, lacks the built-in support and abstractions that Clojure offers.
ClojureScript: Clojure has a unique advantage over Common Lisp with its ClojureScript feature. ClojureScript is a variant of Clojure that compiles to JavaScript, allowing developers to write code that runs in the browser. This feature makes Clojure a valuable choice for web development and front-end programming, as it enables developers to leverage their Clojure skills to build interactive web applications.
Community: The communities around Clojure and Common Lisp also differ in size and activity. Clojure has a larger and more active community, with a growing ecosystem of libraries and frameworks. The vibrant community provides resources, support, and a wealth of knowledge for Clojure developers. Common Lisp, although having a smaller community, has a dedicated group of enthusiasts and contributors who actively maintain and enhance the language.
Macros: Macros are a powerful feature in Lisp languages that allow developers to define custom syntax and extend the language capabilities. While both Clojure and Common Lisp support macros, they have different macro systems. Clojure uses a more restricted and focused approach to macros, known as "syntactic abstraction," which simplifies the macro system and makes it more predictable. Common Lisp, on the other hand, has a more traditional and powerful macro system that provides more flexibility and control but can also be more complex to use.
Integration: Clojure and Common Lisp can be integrated with other programming languages, but they have different levels of integration. Clojure, being built on the Java Virtual Machine (JVM), has seamless integration with Java. This allows developers to leverage existing Java libraries and frameworks directly in their Clojure code. Common Lisp also has integration with other languages through foreign function interfaces (FFIs), but it may require more effort and expertise to achieve seamless integration compared to Clojure's JVM integration.
In summary, Clojure and Common Lisp differ in syntax, concurrency support, ClojureScript, community size, macro systems, and integration capabilities. These differences make each language suitable for different use cases and developer preferences.
Basically, I am looking for a good language that compiles to Java and JavaScript(and can use their libraries/frameworks). These JVM languages seem good to me, but I have no interest in Android. Which programming language is the best of these? I am looking for one with high money and something functional.
Edit: Kotlin was originally on this list but I removed it since I had no interest in Android
Clojure is a Lisp dialect, so if you like Lisp that's probably the way to go. Scala is more popular and broadly used, and has a larger job market especially for data engineering. Both are functional but Scala is more interoperable with Java libraries, probably a big factor in its popularity. I prefer Scala for a number of reasons, but in terms of jobs Scala is the clear leader.
Scala has more momentum. It is good for back-end programming. The popular big data framework Spark is written in Scala. Spark is a marketable skill.
If you need to program something very dynamic like old school A.I., Clojure is attractive. You would chose Scala if prefer a statically typed language, and Clojure if you prefer a dynamically typed language.
It's not clear exactly what you mean by "high money", you mean financial support to the language, money paid for a job, economic health of the market the language is positioned on?
In any case, it's very hard to give any advice here, since you'd need to provide details on the intended usage, what sector, kind of product/service, team size, potential customer type... Both languages are very general purpose and decently supported, each have its own pros and cons, both are functional as approach, and neither is really mainstream.
We’re a new startup so we need to be able to deliver quick changes as we find our product market fit. We’ve also got to ensure that we’re moving money safely, and keeping perfect records. The technologies we’ve chosen mix mature but well maintained frameworks like Django, with modern web-first and api-first front ends like GraphQL, NextJS, and Chakra. We use a little Golang sparingly in our backend to ensure that when we interact with financial services, we do so with statically compiled, strongly typed, and strictly limited and reviewed code.
You can read all about it in our linked blog post.
Pros of Clojure
- It is a lisp117
- Persistent data structures100
- Concise syntax100
- jvm-based language90
- Concurrency89
- Interactive repl81
- Code is data76
- Open source61
- Lazy data structures61
- Macros57
- Functional49
- Simplistic23
- Immutable by default22
- Excellent collections20
- Fast-growing community19
- Multiple host languages15
- Simple (not easy!)15
- Practical Lisp15
- Because it's really fun to use10
- Addictive10
- Community9
- Web friendly9
- Rapid development9
- It creates Reusable code9
- Minimalist8
- Programmable programming language6
- Java interop6
- Regained interest in programming5
- Compiles to JavaScript4
- Share a lot of code with clojurescript/use on frontend3
- EDN3
- Clojurescript1
Pros of Common Lisp
- Flexibility24
- High-performance22
- Comfortable: garbage collection, closures, macros, REPL17
- Stable13
- Lisp12
- Code is data8
- Can integrate with C (via CFFI)6
- Multi paradigm6
- Lisp is fun5
- Macros4
- Easy Setup4
- Parentheses3
- Open source3
- Purelly functional3
- Elegant3
- DSLs1
- Multiple values1
- CLOS/MOP1
- Clean semantics1
- Will still be relevant 100 years from now1
- Still decades ahead of almost all programming languages1
- Best programming language1
- Simple syntax1
- Powerful1
- Generic functions1
- Can implement almost any feature as a library1
- Formal specification, multiple implementations1
Sign up to add or upvote prosMake informed product decisions
Cons of Clojure
- Cryptic stacktraces11
- Need to wrap basically every java lib5
- Toxic community4
- Good code heavily relies on local conventions3
- Tonns of abandonware3
- Slow application startup3
- Usable only with REPL1
- Hiring issues1
- It's a lisp1
- Bad documented libs1
- Macros are overused by devs1
- Tricky profiling1
- IDE with high learning curve1
- Configuration bolierplate1
- Conservative community1
- Have no good and fast fmt0
Cons of Common Lisp
- Too many Parentheses4
- Standard did not evolve since 19943
- Small library ecosystem2
- No hygienic macros2
- Inadequate community infrastructure1
- Ultra-conservative community1
Sign up to add or upvote consMake informed product decisions
What is Clojure?
What is Common Lisp?
Need advice about which tool to choose?Ask the StackShare community!
What companies use Common Lisp?
Sign up to get full access to all the companiesMake informed product decisions
What tools integrate with Clojure?
What tools integrate with Common Lisp?
Sign up to get full access to all the tool integrationsMake informed product decisions
Blog Posts
+32
+22+34