What is lein?

Lein is a build automation tool that is specifically designed for the Clojure programming language. It provides a consistent and reliable way to automate the compilation, testing, packaging, and distribution of Clojure projects. Lein uses a configuration file called project.clj to define the project structure and dependencies.

Some key features of Lein include:

1. Dependency management: Lein handles the retrieval and management of dependencies from various repositories, making it easy to add and update libraries in a Clojure project.

2. Task automation: Lein provides a set of built-in tasks for common development tasks such as compiling code, running tests, and creating project artifacts.

3. Plugins: Lein supports the use of plugins to extend its functionality. There are a wide variety of plugins available for tasks such as code formatting, code analysis, and deployment to different environments.

Overall, Lein is a powerful and flexible tool that simplifies the build process for Clojure developers, allowing them to focus on writing code rather than managing project configurations and dependencies.