Implement ^:async (CLJS) for protocol functions and multi-methods

Question

In ClojureScript (as of 1.12.145) one can declare a function (defn, fn) to be async by adding the metadata ^:async. However, the same is not applicable to protocol functions and multi-methods. Since async is an invocation semantic, should it be carried over to protocol functions and multimethods? (If yes, should it apply to the protocol definition in defprotocol or to the protocol implementation in reify?)

If async is not to be allowed in protocol functions and multimethods, then the documentation should clearly mention the omissions, alternatives and workaround.

Answer 1

Thanks for reaching out. I don't think adding async support to protocols / multi methods adds significant value. We can update the documentation to make it clear this is very much a light-weight interop feature, not a general language direction.

Answer 2

As this isn't going to be supported (yet) a workaround that you can use everywhere is:

((^:async fn [] ...your method body here...))