The Borkdude skill provides expert guidance on selecting and implementing the optimal ClojureScript runtime for diverse execution environments. It helps developers navigate the ecosystem of tools created by Michiel Borkent, including Babashka, SCI, Cherry, and Squint, ensuring the right balance between startup speed, bundle size, and feature compatibility for scripting, web, and embedded use cases.

When should I use borkdude?

borkdude is useful in the following scenarios: • Architectural Decision Making: Using the runtime matrix and decision tree to choose between Squint for minimal JS bundles or Cherry for full ClojureScript macro support. • DevOps and Scripting: Implementing Babashka (bb) for high-performance shell scripts and build automation to replace slow-starting JVM-based tools or complex Bash scripts. • Embedded Logic: Integrating SCI (Small Clojure Interpreter) to provide secure, sandboxed evaluation for plugin systems, configuration DSLs, or interactive REPLs within existing applications. • Web Development: Deploying Scittle for browser-based scripting without a build step, or using nbb for Node.js environments requiring seamless npm integration.

name	borkdude
description	Guidance for selecting the right ClojureScript runtime across scripting, browser, Node, and embedded use.
source	local
license	UNLICENSED

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

borkdude

When & Why to Use This Skill

Use Cases