# Clojure Symbols

> Find and edit Clojure symbols using clj-kondo and REPL introspection. Use when finding Clojure function definitions, var usages, namespace contents, renaming Clojure symbols, replacing function bodies, or working with .clj/.cljc/.cljs files.

- Skill: `brettatoms/clojure-symbols` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 4 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add brettatoms/clojure-symbols`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/brettatoms/clojure-symbols/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: brettatoms (https://skillmd.com/u/brettatoms)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/brettatoms/clojure-symbols

---


# Clojure Symbols Skill

Use **clj-kondo** for static analysis and **clj-nrepl-eval** for REPL introspection to find Clojure symbols.

For non-Clojure languages, use the `code-symbols` skill instead.

## Prerequisites

### clj-kondo

```bash
# Arch Linux
sudo pacman -S clj-kondo

# Homebrew
brew install borkdude/brew/clj-kondo

# Script
curl -sLO https://raw.githubusercontent.com/clj-kondo/clj-kondo/master/script/install-clj-kondo
chmod +x install-clj-kondo && ./install-clj-kondo
```

### clj-nrepl-eval

Discover running nREPL servers:
```bash
clj-nrepl-eval --discover-ports
```

## Quick Reference

| Task | Tool | Command |
|------|------|---------|
| List symbols in file | clj-kondo | `clj-kondo --lint file.clj --config '{...}'` |
| Find definition | clj-kondo | Filter `var-definitions` by name |
| Find usages | clj-kondo | Filter `var-usages` by name |
| Get var metadata | REPL | `(meta #'ns/var)` |
| Get source | REPL | `(clojure.repl/source fn)` |

## Core clj-kondo Commands

**Note:** JSON keys use hyphens (e.g., `var-definitions`), so use bracket notation in jq.

### Find Symbol Definition

```bash
clj-kondo --lint src components bases \
  --config '{:output {:format :json}, :analysis {:var-definitions true}}' \
  | jq '.analysis["var-definitions"][] | select(.name == "my-function")'
```

### Find Symbol Usages

```bash
clj-kondo --lint src components bases \
  --config '{:output {:format :json}, :analysis {:var-usages true}}' \
  | jq '.analysis["var-usages"][] | select(.name == "my-function")'
```

### List Symbols in File

```bash
clj-kondo --lint path/to/file.clj \
  --config '{:output {:format :json}, :analysis {:var-definitions true}}' \
  | jq '.analysis["var-definitions"]'
```

### Output Fields

**var-definitions:**
- `filename`, `row`, `col`, `end-row`, `end-col` - Location
- `ns`, `name` - Identity
- `defined-by` - Defining form (e.g., `clojure.core/defn`)
- `fixed-arities`, `doc`, `private`

**var-usages:**
- `from`, `to` - Source and target namespaces
- `name`, `arity` - Symbol name and call arity
- `from-var` - Containing function
- `row`, `col` - Location

## Core REPL Commands

```bash
# Get var metadata
clj-nrepl-eval -p PORT "(meta #'my.namespace/my-function)"

# Get source code
clj-nrepl-eval -p PORT "(clojure.repl/source my-function)"

# List namespace contents
clj-nrepl-eval -p PORT "(dir my.namespace)"

# Search by pattern
clj-nrepl-eval -p PORT "(clojure.repl/apropos \"pattern\")"
```

## Common Workflow

### Find Definition and All Usages

```bash
# Find definition
clj-kondo --lint . \
  --config '{:output {:format :json}, :analysis {:var-definitions true}}' \
  | jq '.analysis["var-definitions"][] | select(.name == "target-fn") | {ns, name, filename, row}'

# Find all usages
clj-kondo --lint . \
  --config '{:output {:format :json}, :analysis {:var-usages true}}' \
  | jq '.analysis["var-usages"][] | select(.name == "target-fn") | {from, "from-var", filename, row}'
```

### Find Usages of a Namespace

```bash
clj-kondo --lint bases components \
  --config '{:output {:format :json}, :analysis {:var-usages true}}' \
  | jq '.analysis["var-usages"][] | select(.to == "my.namespace") | {from, name, filename, row}'
```

## Additional References

- **clj-kondo details**: See [references/kondo.md](references/kondo.md) for full analysis options
- **REPL introspection**: See [references/repl.md](references/repl.md) for REPL commands
- **Editing/renaming**: See [references/editing.md](references/editing.md) for rename workflows