how to reset cider default settings

Daniel Parker

3 min read

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18-01-2025

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Cider, the Clojure IDE for Emacs, offers powerful features but can sometimes become cluttered or misconfigured. Resetting Cider to its default settings can resolve issues and provide a clean slate. This article outlines several methods to restore Cider to its factory defaults, ensuring a smooth and efficient coding experience.

Understanding Cider's Configuration

Cider's settings are primarily managed through Emacs's customization system and several configuration files. Before resetting, understanding these components will help you choose the most suitable method. The main areas to consider are:

• cider-mode variables: These variables control various aspects of Cider's behavior. They are often customized directly within your Emacs configuration files.
• .dir-locals.el files: These files allow for project-specific customizations. Changes here only affect the current project.
• user-init.el or init.el: This is your primary Emacs configuration file where global customizations for Cider (and other packages) are typically placed. Modifying this file often affects your entire Emacs setup.

Methods to Reset Cider Settings

Here are the most effective ways to reset Cider to its default settings:

1. Resetting Individual Cider Variables

This approach is ideal for selectively reverting specific settings without affecting others. If a particular Cider setting is misbehaving, you can reset just that variable.

• Locate the Variable: Find the Cider variable causing the problem (e.g., cider-repl-port). Use M-x describe-variable RET cider-repl-port RET to locate the variable's definition and default value.
• Set the Variable to its Default: Use M-x set-variable followed by the variable name and its default value. You can find the default value in the variable's description.

Example: To reset cider-repl-port to its default value (7888), you would do: M-x set-variable RET cider-repl-port RET 7888 RET

2. Removing Cider-Related Customizations from Your init.el (or user-init.el)

This method removes all Cider-specific customizations from your global Emacs configuration file. This is more aggressive than the previous method and requires careful consideration.

• Back up your init.el: Before making any changes, always back up your init.el file. This is crucial to prevent data loss.
• Identify Cider Customizations: Open your init.el file and locate all lines related to Cider. This usually involves (require 'cider) and any customizations you've added, like settings for specific Cider variables or functions.
• Comment Out or Remove: Either comment out (using ;) or remove the Cider-related lines. This effectively disables your custom settings.
• Restart Emacs: Restart Emacs for the changes to take effect.

3. Removing Project-Specific .dir-locals.el files

If you've customized Cider within a specific project, .dir-locals.el files might be the culprits. Removing these files restores the project to using the global Cider settings.

• Locate .dir-locals.el: Navigate to the project's root directory. Check for a file named .dir-locals.el.
• Remove the file: Delete the .dir-locals.el file. Emacs will automatically detect the change and revert to the default settings on the next project load.

4. Reinstalling Cider (Nuclear Option)

In cases of severe corruption, reinstalling Cider can be necessary. This is the most drastic method and should be considered only as a last resort.

• Uninstall Cider: Use your Emacs package manager (e.g., package-install or use-package) to uninstall Cider.
• Remove Cider's Cache: Delete any Cider-related cache directories, which may hold corrupted configuration data. The location of these directories may vary depending on your operating system and Emacs setup.
• Reinstall Cider: Reinstall Cider using your Emacs package manager. Restart Emacs.

Verifying the Reset

After attempting any of these methods, restart Emacs. Open a Clojure project and verify that Cider is operating with its default settings. Check common settings such as the REPL port, code completion, and other functionalities to ensure they're behaving as expected.

By employing these techniques, you can efficiently manage Cider's configuration, resolve unexpected issues, and maintain a clean, optimized Clojure development environment within Emacs. Remember to always back up your configuration files before making significant changes.