duct-framework.org

What It Is

Duct is a server-side application framework for Clojure, and its documentation explicitly notes that it is most commonly used for web application development. Instead of relying on traditional project templates or a fixed file tree, it defines the application skeleton, component wiring, and configuration through immutable Clojure/EDN data structures in duct.edn.

Core Capabilities

Its core design idea is “configuration as data.” Top-level keywords in an application are associated with ordinary Clojure functions or Integrant multimethods, so business code does not need to care about how it is plugged into the overall system. Its module system can expand common capabilities such as logging and web support into inspectable and overridable configuration, similar to templates/generators but more transparent. Duct also supports variables, profiles, splitting configuration with #duct/include, and a REPL workflow with (go) for startup and (reset) for reloading.

Language, Framework, and Ecosystem

Duct is explicitly built for Clojure, and the documentation assumes readers already have a basic understanding of Clojure. In terms of ecosystem, it uses Integrant for component lifecycle management; test execution is based on Kaocha; and its web modules involve Ring handlers, Reitit routing, Hiccup, Jetty, SQL databases, migrations, and ClojureScript. The documentation also lists integration topics such as Babashka, Docker, Emacs, Git, Hashp, Leiningen, and Visual Studio Code.

Pricing and Deployment

The main documentation does not mention commercial pricing, paid plans, hosted services, or payment methods. It is used by adding Maven dependencies through the Clojure CLI and running locally, for example org.duct-framework/main, so it is more of a development framework than a SaaS product. The text does not explicitly state whether it is open source, so no conclusion can be drawn from the provided content alone.

Pros, Cons, and Best Fit

Its strengths are a clear configuration structure, inspectable and overridable settings, and a high degree of modularity, making it well suited to REPL-driven development and componentized backends. Its drawbacks are a relatively steep learning curve, documentation that explicitly requires Clojure knowledge, and some commands that assume a Unix-like shell. It is a good fit for Clojure teams, backend services, and web API projects; it is less suitable for teams that need multi-language SDKs, low-code admin panels, or enterprise-grade commercial support commitments.

Access from China

The text does not provide information about access from mainland China, mirrors, network connectivity, or payments, so this should be considered unknown. If access to the official website or dependency sources is unstable, users may consider using domestic Maven mirrors and evaluating Clojure alternatives such as Pedestal, Luminus, Kit, or a Ring/Reitit-based stack.