Calva Backseat Driver
by BetterThanTomorrow
Calva Backseat Driver is a VS Code extension for Calva that enables AI assistants to harness the power of the REPL. It exposes AI tools to CoPilot directly and via an optional MCP server for any AI assistants/agents.
Last updated: N/A
What is Calva Backseat Driver?
Calva Backseat Driver is a VS Code extension that transforms AI coding assistants into interactive programming partners by giving them access to your Clojure REPL. It implements the Model Context Protocol (MCP), creating a bridge between AI assistants and your REPL.
How to use Calva Backseat Driver?
- Install VS Code, Calva, Calva Backseat Driver, and GitHub CoPilot (or some MCP compliant assistant). 2. Connect Calva to your Clojure/ClojureScript project. 3. Configure your AI assistant to use the MCP server provided by Calva Backseat Driver, following the instructions for your specific AI client (e.g., Cursor, Windsurf, Claude). 4. If you want the AI to have full REPL powers, enable this in Calva settings. 5. Use the provided tools in the chat using
#eval-clojure,#clojure-symbol,#clojuredocs, and#calva-output.
Key features of Calva Backseat Driver
Evaluate Code (Clojure REPL access)
Bracket Balancer (powered by Parinfer)
Symbol info lookup (doc strings, argument info)
clojuredocs.org lookup (docs, examples, see also)
Use cases of Calva Backseat Driver
Evaluate code in your actual environment
See real data structures
Test functions with real inputs
Debug alongside you with access to runtime errors
FAQ from Calva Backseat Driver
What is the Model Context Protocol (MCP)?
What is the Model Context Protocol (MCP)?
The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is a standard for communication between AI assistants and development tools, allowing the AI to access and interact with the development environment.
How do I enable the REPL evaluation tool?
How do I enable the REPL evaluation tool?
Search for Calva MCP in VS Code Settings to enable it. Be mindful about the implications of granting your AI assistant REPL access.
Where is the MCP server port file located?
Where is the MCP server port file located?
The port file is written to the .calva/mcp-server/port directory in the workspace root.
How do I configure Cursor to use Calva Backseat Driver?
How do I configure Cursor to use Calva Backseat Driver?
In your project's .cursor/mcp.json, add a backseat-driver entry with the command and arguments for the stdio wrapper script and port file.
How do I contribute to Calva Backseat Driver?
How do I contribute to Calva Backseat Driver?
Contributions are welcome! Create an issue stating the problem being solved before submitting a PR.