ClojureScript applications start smaller than jQuery so I'm not really sure what you mean. If you're already using jQuery then ClojureScript applications are not large in comparison.
As far as your experiences sounds like a lot of your problems didn't have anything to do with ClojureScript and everything to do with trying to getting overly complicated 3rd party setups going. I've only heard woes from people trying to get piggieback + Cider going. I now recommend that people avoid those entirely for ClojureScript anyway.
I admit ClojureScript did have startup time issues but these were addressed earlier this year. ClojureScript can now compile "Hello, world!" from cold JVM boot in ~1.5 seconds. Of course auto-building has be subsecond for ages. REPL sessions start similarly fast and can go for hours without encountering problems.
ClojureScript may still not be your cup of tea but your complaints are not the sort I hear from users much these days.
As far as your experiences sounds like a lot of your problems didn't have anything to do with ClojureScript and everything to do with trying to getting overly complicated 3rd party setups going. I've only heard woes from people trying to get piggieback + Cider going. I now recommend that people avoid those entirely for ClojureScript anyway.
I admit ClojureScript did have startup time issues but these were addressed earlier this year. ClojureScript can now compile "Hello, world!" from cold JVM boot in ~1.5 seconds. Of course auto-building has be subsecond for ages. REPL sessions start similarly fast and can go for hours without encountering problems.
ClojureScript may still not be your cup of tea but your complaints are not the sort I hear from users much these days.