# ClojureScript

31 Hacker News commenters recommended ClojureScript and 6 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 10 of 13 months. It meets the Hacker Approved badge rule.

**Verdict:** Developers recommend it for full Clojure power in the browser, immutable data and simple JavaScript interop. Critics note it can require Java.

## Why people recommend it

- Shared code across client and server (3 comments): "use the same language to develop business model code that runs on both the client and the server" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47583709)) "clojurescript lets you write clojure in browsers and on node.js" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45793624)) "I can re-use model code on the client side (ClojureScript)" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46272870))
- Simple JavaScript interop, no extra libraries (2 comments): "This is about using a JS feature without bringing in any additional dependencies like core.async." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48068105)) "This is important for JavaScript interop without having to include additional libraries" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48060814))
- Compiled output often safer than TypeScript (2 comments): "Clojurescript compiler in many cases emits safer js code despite being dynamically typed." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45967920)) "Clojurescript often emit safer code than Typescript does" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47807827))
- Immutable, functional style (2 comments): "Once you start using immutable-first language on the front-end, e.g., Clojurescript - your perspective changes." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46163351)) "functional programming and immutable data are just too good" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46118370))

## What people warn about

- Requires Java or the JVM (2 comments): "As far as I can tell both Clojure and ClojureScript require Java as of now." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47904097)) "Last i checked, it needed JVM (parts of the library are in Java)." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48062256))
- Large, hard-to-read compiled JavaScript (2 comments): "There is a real need to reduce the size of compiled JS delivered to the browser and eliminate legacy dependency on goog." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48878252)) "transpiled code isn't much more readable than WASM (see also ClojureScript" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46197948))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [Rust](https://hackerapproved.com/p/rust.md): 2039 recommend
- [Go](https://hackerapproved.com/p/go-programming-language.md): 1254 recommend
- [Python](https://hackerapproved.com/p/python.md): 1067 recommend
- [Zig](https://hackerapproved.com/p/zig.md): 743 recommend
- [TypeScript](https://hackerapproved.com/p/typescript.md): 574 recommend

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "ClojureScript", https://hackerapproved.com/p/clojurescript/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).