The topic and discussion of using Clojure and ClojureScript beyond the walls and boundaries of web app development is heating up. There was never much doubt from the onset, that this tool in the hands of web app developers made projects better, due in large part to its functional nature.
Where the conversation is gaining steam is in the decision-making offices of business and project managers. Make no mistake, the application and power of Clojure in the app development arena alone, make it a valuable asset for businesses today. The mobile, ultra-connected world we live in has been a major impetus behind that but there is more to Clojure than app development...
Business Web App Development and More
The association and relationship with apps in general could have been part of the issue for why Clojure hasn't found its footing earlier in the business application discussion. Apps and businesses aren't necessarily synonymous, yet - but that should only be a matter of time. This correlation or lack thereof, however, between web and mobile apps and businesses may explain some of the delay. This story also shared some other potential reasoning behind this procrastination saying...
"Convincing management to use Clojure in a new project can also be vary difficult. Management is often conservative and needs to worry about things like the number of staff with the skills to support any project..."
That article went on to explain how the business considerations will differ from the vantage point of the developers. This insight and simply realizing the business aspects of employing a new or different technology will help developers find a common ground and understanding.
It may be that the app development team can give management the reassurance that employing Clojure and ClojureScript can be seamless and simple. Of course, this is the advantage that Clojure offers as it built on JVM technology, a proven and common business application.
Then there are the actual business applications of this flexible and functional tool...
Clojure in the Real World
Owners and business managers are often more inclined to think and see technology in the most practical of ways. Clojure can excel in many more typical roles and business functions as the aforementioned story touched upon. That story said that "we should also consider Clojure as a pretty good admin and exploration tool which can be used for tasks usually reserved for scripting languages like python or perl etc."
Those practical perspectives also include budget and time to market considerations. Just a few years ago one case study reported these results after using Clojure...
The first deadline was six weeks away. No-one expected us to hit it. We had started a week late due to internal governance and we were using a new technology the team didn't know...We hit the deadline a week early."
That isn't the only example, as yet another story asked and answered this question, "How did Walmart's eReceipts team of 8 developers build a system to process and integrate every purchase at Walmart's 5000+ stores, including online and mobile data? Simple - they used Clojure... ."
Continuing the Clojure Conversation
There is now enough evidence to remove most fears. There is certainly enough versatility and functionality to evidence the worth of Clojure, now the question is - how can it work best for you. If you want to explore more about the world and business applications of Clojure and ClojureScript, then contact us.
The conversation is under way and more businesses are getting involved as they are finding answers and solutions using Clojure. The talk is about more than just apps today and it can provide closure on the best way to tackle your next project!
