I've written applications using Java, Groovy, Clojure and Scala (in that order) and after Clojure, coding Scala felt specially horrible (yet another syntax to learn! ++: \ ~> and so on...).
Maybe Clojure feels odd for a few hours when coming from C-like syntax, but it becomes so obvious later on. I remember I felt terrified by the parens because I had not written anything serious in it.
> I've written applications using Java, Groovy, Clojure and Scala (in that order)
I'd say the most natural pathways for Java programmers upgrading their language skills are:
* from Java, to Groovy, to Clojure
* from Java, to Groovy, to Scala
* from Java, direct to Clojure
* from Java, direct to Scala
Once someone reaches Clojure and Scala, they seem unwilling to give up what they've gained (the simplicity and macros of Clojure, or the higher-order typing of Scala) to switch to something else, even when that something offers more.
Maybe Clojure feels odd for a few hours when coming from C-like syntax, but it becomes so obvious later on. I remember I felt terrified by the parens because I had not written anything serious in it.