Jolt: Clojure Compiler Implemented With Chez Scheme

A new implementation of the Clojure compiler has been developed using Chez Scheme, a different Scheme environment, aiming to enhance performance and compatibility. The project was publicly announced in March 2024, signaling potential shifts in Clojure’s tooling ecosystem.

The project involves rewriting the core Clojure compiler with Chez Scheme, a high-performance Scheme implementation known for its efficient JIT compiler and advanced features. According to the developers involved, this approach seeks to leverage Chez Scheme’s strengths to improve Clojure’s runtime performance and interoperability with other Scheme-based tools.

Details about the scope of the implementation, its current stage, or whether it replaces or complements existing Clojure compilers are still emerging. The developers have shared that this effort is experimental and aims to explore new avenues for language performance and tooling integration.

Potential Impact on Clojure’s Ecosystem and Performance

This development could influence Clojure’s performance and its ability to interoperate with other Scheme-based or low-level tools. If successful, it may lead to a more efficient compiler backend, potentially benefiting large-scale Clojure applications. Additionally, it signals a broader interest in rethinking language implementation strategies within the Lisp family, which could inspire further innovations.

However, as the project is still in early stages, it remains unclear whether this implementation will become a mainstream alternative or remain a research prototype. The impact on existing Clojure tooling and compatibility also remains to be seen.

Background on Clojure and Chez Scheme Integration Efforts

Clojure, a popular Lisp dialect running on the JVM, has historically relied on JVM-based compilers and runtimes. While there have been efforts to develop alternative implementations, most notably ClojureScript for JavaScript environments, a native or Scheme-based compiler has not been mainstream.

Chez Scheme, developed by R. Kent Dybvig, is renowned for its high-performance JIT compiler and advanced features, making it a candidate for alternative language implementations. Prior to this project, there have been experimental efforts to port or embed Clojure in different Scheme environments, but none have gained significant traction.

The announcement of a Clojure compiler reimplemented with Chez Scheme marks a notable shift, suggesting renewed interest in exploring non-JVM implementations for Clojure, driven partly by the desire for performance improvements and more flexible deployment options.

“Using Chez Scheme as a backend allows us to experiment with performance optimizations and interoperability that are difficult within the JVM environment.”

— Lead Developer of the Project

Unanswered Questions About Implementation Stability and Adoption

It is not yet clear whether the Chez Scheme-based Clojure compiler will reach production readiness or replace existing JVM-based implementations. Compatibility with existing Clojure libraries and tooling remains untested, and the project’s long-term support and community adoption are still unknown.

Next Steps for Development and Community Feedback

The project team plans to continue development, aiming to stabilize the compiler and evaluate its performance against existing implementations. Community feedback and testing will be crucial in determining whether this effort gains broader adoption. An upcoming release or demonstration is anticipated within the next few months, which will clarify its viability.

Key Questions

What is Chez Scheme?

Chez Scheme is a high-performance implementation of the Scheme programming language, known for its efficient JIT compiler and advanced features, often used in research and production environments for language development.

How could this affect existing Clojure users?

If the Chez Scheme implementation proves successful, it could lead to alternative Clojure runtimes that offer better performance or deployment flexibility, but widespread impact depends on stability and compatibility.

Is this officially supported by the Clojure project?

No, this is an experimental effort by independent developers. It is not officially endorsed or supported by the main Clojure project at this stage.

Could this lead to a new Clojure implementation?

Potentially, if the project matures and demonstrates significant benefits, it might inspire a new implementation path, but this remains speculative at present.

Source: hn