Generate Clojure Functions

Bisql does not ask you to call a generic runtime API for every query. Instead, it can generate normal Clojure vars and functions from SQL resources.

defquery

defquery defines executable query functions on top of an adapter.

Typical use:

(ns sql
  (:require [bisql.core :as bisql]))

(bisql/defquery)

Generated functions take:

• an adapter-compatible datasource or connection
• a params map

For example:

(sql.postgresql.public.users.core/get-by-id ds {:id 42})

This corresponds to a SQL resource like:

sql/postgresql/public/users/core.get-by-id.sql

For example:

SELECT *
FROM users
WHERE id = /*$id*/1

Note:

• Bisql resolves SQL files by <ns-suffix>.<function-name>.sql
• if <ns-suffix> is omitted, core is used as the default namespace suffix
• that is why sql/postgresql/public/users/get-by-id.sql also resolves to the same function

defquery is the main macro most users will use in application code.

defrender

defrender loads SQL templates and defines pure renderer functions.

Typical use:

(ns sql
  (:require [bisql.core :as bisql]))

(bisql/defrender)

This creates functions that return:

• rendered SQL
• bind params
• metadata

For example:

(sql.postgresql.public.users.core/get-by-id {:id 42})

This corresponds to the same SQL resource:

sql/postgresql/public/users/core.get-by-id.sql

returns a map like:

{:sql "SELECT * FROM users WHERE id = ?"
 :params [42]
 :meta {}}

defrender is useful for debugging and development workflows where you want to inspect rendered SQL without executing it.

Why This Matters

This keeps the call site simple:

• no manual resource lookup
• no repeated render calls at every usage site
• ordinary vars and functions that work well with REPL navigation

It also keeps SQL visible. The source of truth is still the SQL file itself.

Relationship to CRUD Generation

Generated CRUD SQL and handwritten SQL follow the same model. Once a SQL file exists under sql/..., Bisql can generate matching Clojure functions for it.

See also:

• SQL File Layout
• CRUD Generation
• Rendering