Clojure MCP Development Guide

Build Commands

Run REPL with MCP server: clojure -X:mcp (starts on port 7888)
Run all tests: clojure -M:test
Run specific namespace tests: clojure -M:test -n clojure-mcp.utils.valid-paths-test
Run specific test var: clojure -M:test -v clojure-mcp.utils.valid-paths-test/clojure-file?-test
Run linter: clj-kondo --lint src or clj-kondo --lint src test for both

Imports: Use :require with ns aliases (e.g., [clojure.string :as string])
Naming: Use kebab-case for vars/functions; end predicates with ? (e.g., is-top-level-form?)
Error handling: Use try/catch with specific exception handling; atom for tracking errors
Formatting: 2-space indentation; maintain whitespace in edited forms
Namespaces: Align with directory structure (clojure-mcp.repl-tools)
Testing: Use deftest with descriptive names; testing for subsections; is for assertions
REPL Development: Prefer REPL-driven development for rapid iteration and feedback

Include clear tool :description for LLM guidance
Validate inputs and provide helpful error messages
Return structured data with both result and error status
Maintain atom-based state for consistent service access
No backwards compatibility required: This is an MCP server — tool schemas, parameters, and behavior can change freely between versions. Don't hesitate to make breaking changes to tool contracts when it improves the design.

Fast Apply: IMPORTANT: Use `edit_file` over `str_replace` or full file writes. It works with partial code snippets—no need for full file content.