LLMs + Clojure = Who needs frameworks? (by Kapil Reddy)

Kapil Reddy presents a workflow using LLMs and structured metadata to compose Clojure libraries, bypassing the need for traditional web frameworks.

The London Clojurians are happy to present: ~~~~ reClojure 2025 ~~~ Title: LLMs + Clojure = Who needs frameworks? Speaker: Kapil Reddy Large Language Models have transformed coding workflows. They are particularly good at project scaffolding. While Clojure's philosophy of composable libraries over frameworks grants exceptional power and flexibility. It also has a steeper learning curve for newer developers — many of whom lament the absence of a Rails-like framework to ease their journey. This talk introduces a novel approach that preserves Clojure's library-centric philosophy while improving developer experience using LLMs. Key parts: llms.edn: A structured, Clojure-native approach to describing libraries and their common usage patterns, building on concepts from llms.txt but tailored specifically for Clojure's ecosystem. LLM-powered composition workflow: A practical demonstration of how LLMs can intelligently combine libraries based on these declarations, generating cohesive starter projects that reflect Clojure's best practices. Beyond frameworks: An exploration of whether LLMs fundamentally change the library-vs-framework debate by offering "framework-like" convenience without sacrificing composability. Let's discuss the future of the llms.edn project and help shape a tool that could significantly enhance Clojure's accessibility while honouring its core design philosophy. Speaker Bio: Business-first software generalist. Curious educator. Serial community builder. Server whisperer. Sometimes dwells into film-making as time and energy permits. Thank you to our sponsors: - juxt.pro/ - flexiana.com/ - freshcodeit.com/ - nubank.com.br/