Skip to content

dockerλ︎

  • in docker
  • 7 min read

Docker: a simple workflow for Clojure

Practicalli Clojure Logo

Docker enables a consistent approach to building and running Clojure projects along with a range of other services locally (database, cache, streams, etc.), The Clojure project is built from source when starting services (a watch feature can rebuild on code changes). Heath checks and conditions are set to ensure dependant services start in the correct order.

Running Docker is relatively fast once image overlays (layers) are cached on their first run, so its a viable approach for local system integration testing and acceptance testing, before pushing changes to a remote Continuous Integration service.

A Docker workflow complements a REPL Driven Development workflow, it does not replace it. The main development effort should be more effective via a REPL connected editor with Docker Compose focused on orchestration of services.

Deeper into Docker

Practicalli Engineering Playbook covers Docker and Compose in more detail

  • in docker
  • 11 min read

Build and run Clojure with Multi-stage Dockerfile

Practicalli Clojure Logo

Deployment of a Clojure service is very simple, requiring only an Uberjar (archive file containing the Clojure Project and Clojure run-time) and the Java Run-time Environment (JRE).

A Clojure service rarely works in isolation and although many services are access via a network connection (defined in Environment Variables), provisioning containers to build and run Clojure along with any other services can be valuable as complexity of the architecture grows.

A Multi-stage Dockerfile is an effective way to build and run Clojure projects in continuous integration pipelines and during local development where multiple services are required for testing.

Docker Hub provides a wide range of images, supporting development, continuous integration and system integration testing.