Clojure's history of web development began with using Clojure as a library for Java servlets in 2007. In 2009, Ring was introduced as a standard for request-response processing using Clojure maps and middleware. This was inspired by Rack and WSGI. Compojure provided routing capabilities. Early frameworks like Noir and Conjure bundled technologies but lacked flexibility. More recent options like Pedestal, Duct, Arachne, and Luminus integrate Clojure libraries for full-stack development with options for asynchronous processing, components, and Node.js support. The ecosystem continues to be driven by community contributions.

1. Clojure Web Dev History
Ikuru K @ Shibuya Java #19

2. About me:
- Web developer Work at Cybozu Startups, Inc
- Company Clojure Story: https://clojure.org/stories/cstap
- HN: iku000888
- https://github.com/iku000888
- https://twitter.com/iku000888

3. Clojure web dev history
1. Servlet + Clojure as a library (2007 ~ 2008)
2. Ring (2009)
a. Compojure
3. ‘Frameworks’

4. Year 2007: Clojure = Java Library

5. Dec 11, 2007 @ mailing list...
> I was also wondering what the web programming story is for
clojure. Is there a preferred approach?
Rich: Not yet. I hope to provide a simple servlet
implementation that will route requests to Clojure fns, and a
simple HTML macro system like CL-WHO et al. After that I
would be interested in input on how best to provide Clojure as
a web scripting engine like JSP
- https://groups.google.com/forum/#!searchin/clojure/web|sort:date/clojure/YVoxROEaT6M/s9Pu-ZQ2PPgJ

6. Webjure (Jan 16, 2008)
- Servlet
- Dispatch to clj functions
- Basic HTML templating
- Basic sql/jdbc setup
- Ajax repl(!)
- 〜proof of concept
- https://github.com/tatut/Webjure
- https://groups.google.com/forum/#!msg/clojure/xC8HpZp5kMU/H-Y84DBXS7cJ

7. Trend: More with Clojure!
Java
Clojure
Clojure
Java(libs)

8. Break through: Ring (~2009)
- Request/response as clojure map
- Extensible via middleware
- Adapter with existing Java web servers (Jetty
etc)
- Inspired by Rack(Ruby), WSGI(Python)
- Dominant standard for Clojure web dev
- https://groups.google.com/d/msg/clojure/D3yXjLWqjyQ/Qq83HDO43BIJ

9. Compojure 〜2009
- Started off as a servlet Clojure stack
- Servlet adapter + HTML templating + routing
- Most of the features moved into Ring
- Now a routing Library
- To be replaced with ataraxy
- ‘ant run’ + build.xml
- https://github.com/weavejester/compojure/tree/2e01266bcdcaa2565d189205f392c301b7aeca65

10. Noir
- 1.0.0 on 2011
- Built on compojure
- Bundles Session, Cookies, Validation etc
- Quick Start = Initially extremely popular
- Lacked extensibility/flexibility
- Deprecated in 2012

11. Conjure 〜2010
- Aimed to be like Ruby on Rails
- Scaffolding
- Tasks via dedicated lein plugin
- MVC(?)
- Did not cross the chasm
- Lot to learn
- Might as well roll your own

12. Luminus
- Libraries combined for you
- Battery included
- lein new luminus foo-proj
- Customizable via lein template switch
- Optional cljs setup
- Maintained
- Very popular

13. Pedestal
- Ring: Middleware, Pedestal: Interceptor
- Backed by Cognitect
- Async support

14. Duct
- Stuart Sierra’s Component framework applied
to web development
- Component?
- Manage Lifecycle of app components
- DB, web server etc.
- System = reified object, not in code

15. Arachne
- Aims to be a full stack framework
- Developed by Cognitect Employee
- Currently in alpha, promising

16. Duct (2)
- Component lib replaced with Integrant
- Evolving into a full stack web framework with
inspirations from Arachne
- More lightweight compared to Arachne

17. Extra: asked
- @defn podcast https://defn.audio/
- Q: Pedestal?
- A: Features are cool, but never had to use it.
- Q: Arachne?
- A: Data centric approach was good, but
using was tedious, so made integrant + duct

18. Extra: Macchiato
- Ring on Node.js!

19. Summary
- , Everywhere
- Ecosystem built by community
- JVM: Arachne vs Duct
- Node.js: Macchiato?

20. Thanks!