tomevault-io ======= description: Babashka and ClojureScript runtime selection guidance by @borkdude
origin/feature/skill-connectivity-hub-20251226
Borkdude Skill: ClojureScript Runtime Selection
Status: ✅ Production Ready Trit: 0 (ERGODIC - runtime neutral) Principle: Right tool for context Author: Michiel Borkent (@borkdude)
Overview
Borkdude provides guidance for selecting the appropriate ClojureScript runtime based on execution context. Named after Michiel Borkent, creator of Babashka, SCI, Cherry, Squint, and other Clojure tools.
Runtime Matrix
| Runtime | Context | JVM | Node | Browser | REPL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Babashka | Scripting | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| SCI | Embedded | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cherry | Compiler | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Squint | Compiler | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Scittle | Browser | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| nbb | Node | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
Decision Tree
Start
│
├── Need fast startup? ─────────► Babashka (bb)
│
├── Browser target?
│ ├── Minimal bundle? ──────► Squint
│ ├── Full ClojureScript? ──► Cherry
│ └── Script tag? ──────────► Scittle
│
├── Node scripting? ────────────► nbb
│
└── Embedded interpreter? ──────► SCI
Commands
# Babashka (scripting)
bb script.clj
# nbb (Node)
npx nbb script.cljs
# Squint (compile to JS)
npx squint compile src/main.cljs
# Cherry (compile with macros)
npx cherry compile src/main.cljs
# Scittle (browser)
# <script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/scittle@0.6.15/dist/scittle.js"></script>
SCI (Small Clojure Interpreter)
Embedded interpreter for sandboxed evaluation:
(require '[sci.core :as sci])
(def ctx (sci/init {:namespaces {'user {'foo (fn [] "bar")}}}))
(sci/eval-string* ctx "(user/foo)")
;; => "bar"
Cherry vs Squint
| Feature | Cherry | Squint |
|---|---|---|
| ClojureScript compat | High | Medium |
| Bundle size | Larger | Smaller |
| Macros | Full support | Limited |
| Interop | CLJS-style | JS-native |
| Target audience | CLJS developers | JS developers |
Babashka Pods
Extend Babashka with pods:
(require '[babashka.pods :as pods])
(pods/load-pod 'org.babashka/go-sqlite3 "0.1.0")
(require '[pod.babashka.go-sqlite3 :as sqlite])
(sqlite/execute! "test.db" ["CREATE TABLE users (id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY)"])
Integration with Music Topos
;; Use Babashka for scripts
(ns ruler.propagate
(:require [babashka.fs :as fs]))
;; Use SCI for embedded color evaluation
(def color-ctx
(sci/init {:namespaces
{'gay {'color-at (fn [idx] (gay/color-at idx))}}}))
When to Use Each
Babashka
- Shell scripts
- Build automation
- CLI tools
- Data processing
SCI
- Sandboxed evaluation
- Plugin systems
- Configuration DSLs
- Interactive REPLs
Cherry
- Full CLJS features in browser
- Macro-heavy code
- CLJS library compat
Squint
- Minimal JS output
- JS-first interop
- Small bundles
Scittle
- Browser scripting
- No build step
- Quick prototypes
nbb
- Node.js scripting
- npm library access
- Server scripts
Example: Skill Propagation
#!/usr/bin/env bb
;; .ruler/propagate.clj
(require '[babashka.fs :as fs]
'[clojure.string :as str])
(defn propagate-skill! [skill-name]
(let [source (str ".ruler/skills/" skill-name "/SKILL.md")
content (slurp source)]
(doseq [agent ["codex" "claude" "cursor"]]
(let [target (str "." agent "/skills/" skill-name "/SKILL.md")]
(fs/create-dirs (fs/parent target))
(spit target content)))))
(propagate-skill! "unworld")
Skill Name: borkdude Type: Runtime Selection / ClojureScript Tooling Trit: 0 (ERGODIC) Runtimes: Babashka, SCI, Cherry, Squint, Scittle, nbb
Converted and distributed by TomeVault — claim your Tome and manage your conversions.