The new add-lib etc fns do not make it clear they shell out to the CLI

Question

https://clojure.github.io/clojure/branch-master/clojure.repl-api.html#clojure.repl.deps

Neither the ns docstring nor the individual function docstrings explain that they shell out to the CLI and that you need a recent version of the CLI installed.

Having an old CLI might produce this error:

Execution error (ExceptionInfo) at clojure.tools.deps.interop/invoke-tool (interop.clj:49).

Which might be enough of a clue to lead people to:

https://clojure.github.io/clojure/branch-master/clojure.tools.deps.interop-api.html

A more informative error message might help users debug this but expanding those docstrings to clarify that the functions invoke the CLI as a subprocess would also help.

Answer 1

Jira ticket clj-2819 has been created to track this issue.

Answer 2

Re shelling out - this is imo an implementation detail and is intentionally not mentioned.

I am interested in providing better feedback to user in exceptional cases.

Comments

A more informative exception from invoke-tool?