Clojure • Patterns • Architecture

Clojure Patterns

Practical design and architecture patterns in idiomatic Clojure. From functional programming and concurrency to macros, components, and data pipelines—learn how to structure real-world systems on the JVM with clear examples and explanations.

Why Clojure?

Clojure is a modern, functional Lisp on the JVM with immutable data, first-class functions, and a powerful concurrency model. It is an excellent fit for concurrent, parallel, and distributed systems, where correctness and simplicity matter.

ClojurePatterns helps you connect classic design ideas with Clojure’s strengths so you write code that is simple, expressive, and robust.

What you’ll learn

  • Functional patterns: immutability, pure functions, higher‑order functions.
  • Concurrency & parallelism with atoms, refs, agents, and core.async.
  • Data transformation with map, reduce, transducers, and Specter.
  • State management using Atoms, Refs, Agents, and STM.
  • Macro and metaprogramming patterns for DSLs and abstractions.
  • Component-based architecture with libraries like component.
  • Error handling, resilience, and retry/circuit‑breaker patterns.

Explore pattern categories

Functional Programming

Patterns built on immutability, pure functions, and composition.

  • Function composition & pipelines
  • Recursion & tail‑calls
  • Memoization & laziness

Concurrency & Parallelism

Safe shared state and asynchronous workflows.

  • Atoms, refs, and agents
  • core.async channels
  • Work queues & pipelines

Data Transformation

Efficient, idiomatic transformations over nested data.

  • map/reduce/filter patterns
  • Transducers & streaming
  • Specter and lenses

State & Components

Managing stateful systems in a functional world.

  • Atoms & STM patterns
  • Component-based architecture
  • Configuration & lifecycle

Macros & Metaprogramming

Building DSLs and abstractions with care.

  • Safe macro patterns
  • Code as data & quoting
  • Testing & debugging macros

Resilience & Integration

Talking to the outside world safely.

  • Error handling & retries
  • Circuit breakers & timeouts
  • Interop with Java & services

Explore Clojure pattern guides

Functional Programming

Clojure functional patterns built on immutability and composition.

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Concurrency

Concurrency and parallelism with atoms, refs, agents, and core.async.

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Data Transformation

Transforming and querying data with map/reduce, transducers, and Specter.

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State Management

Handling state with atoms, refs, agents, and transactions.

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Structural Patterns

How to structure Clojure namespaces, modules, and components.

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Error Handling

Exceptions, error values, retries, and resilience patterns.

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OOP Patterns in a Functional Way

Classic object-oriented patterns reinterpreted in idiomatic Clojure.

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Cookbook

Typical problems and practical Clojure solutions.

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Microservices Architecture

Loose coupling, services, and boundaries in Clojure systems.

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Enterprise Integration

Messaging, queues, and integration patterns from a Clojure perspective.

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Reactive Programming

Responsive, resilient, and message-driven systems.

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Performance & Optimization

Patterns for efficiency, scalability, and responsiveness.

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Testing

Testing strategies and patterns to improve code quality.

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Web Development

Architectural and design principles for Clojure web apps.

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Security Patterns

Patterns to address common security challenges.

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Big Data & Distributed Systems

Scalability, consistency, and reliability for data-intensive systems.

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Machine Learning

Core patterns for ML workflows and integrations in Clojure.

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Bitemporal Patterns

Temporal modeling for integrity, consistency, and auditability.

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Bitemporal Solutions

Patterns for historical accuracy, corrections, and temporal queries.

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Join the Clojure patterns community

ClojurePatterns is evolving. If you spot an issue, have a better example, or want to contribute a pattern, we’d love to hear from you. Share ideas, corrections, and suggestions to help make this a truly useful resource for the Clojure community.

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Contact

Questions or contributions?

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