After a few false starts with emacs as an IDE I finally learned it via other uses.
I recommend using Emacs for a more simple task. I started reading my mail via Wanderlust (wl-beta package on debian) and using ERC to connect to freenode (Now running rcirc.)
I know how irc works so my attention wasn't split too much and I was able to pick up the emacs stuff quickly. Now I've expanded it to be my python IDE.
Re:The Axis Of Eval: Why I ignore Clojure
by mark_l_watson on Monday September 20, 2010 @10:49AM
(#1708999)
I use Emacs for both.
I keep trying to tame Emacs enough to use it for Clojure and find I spend too much time on Emacs and not enough on Clojure, which is what motivates me in the first place.