diff --git a/learnclj.clj b/learnclj.clj
index 0bb4f39..6fe1f04 100644
--- a/learnclj.clj
+++ b/learnclj.clj
@@ -259,8 +259,7 @@ nil          ; => nil (Null/Nothing)
 
 (swap! counter inc)     ; => 1
 (swap! counter + 5)     ; => 6
-(dosync
-  (reset! counter 0))   ; => 0
+(reset! counter 0)      ; => 0
 
 ;; --- 14. Java Interop ---
 
@@ -317,9 +316,21 @@ nil          ; => nil (Null/Nothing)
 
 ;; --- 18. Common Patterns ---
 
-;; Compose functions
-(defn make-upper [s] (str/upper-case s))
-(def make-upper-lower (comp str/lower-case str/upper-case))  ; => #object[clojure.core$comp$fn ...]
+;; Compose functions — comp reads right-to-left (like math)
+;; Example: slugify — find word chunks, lowercase, join with dashes
+(def slugify (comp #(str/join "-" %) #(mapv str/lower-case %) #(re-seq #"\S+" %)))
+
+;; Usage
+(slugify "  Hello World  ")  ; => "hello-world"
+(slugify "Foo Bar Baz")      ; => "foo-bar-baz"
+(slugify "  Hello  World  ") ; => "hello-world"
+
+;; Another: trim then uppercase
+(def trim->upper (comp str/upper-case str/trim))
+
+;; Usage
+(trim->upper "  hello  ")  ; => "HELLO"
+(trim->upper "  Clojure is fun  ")  ; => "CLOJURE IS FUN"
 
 ;; Partial application
 
diff --git a/repl.md b/repl.md
index eefa07d..370fa5d 100644
--- a/repl.md
+++ b/repl.md
@@ -120,37 +120,79 @@ bb --nrepl-server --nrepl-port 9999
 
 ### Clojure (JVM-based)
 
-```bash
-clj -A:nrepl
+> **Important**: The `clj` command needs a `deps.edn` with an `:nREPL` alias that includes the nREPL dependency. Without one, these commands will not work.
+
+**Option A — Quick start (requires a `deps.edn`)**
+
+Add this to a `deps.edn` in your project root:
+
+```edn
+{:aliases
+ {:nREPL
+  {:extra-deps
+   {nrepl/nrepl {:mvn/version "1.12.0"}}}}}
 ```
 
-This starts a Clojure REPL with nREPL support. For a server:
+Then start a headless nREPL server:
 
 ```bash
-clj -M:nrepl-server
+clj -M:nREPL -m nrepl.cmdline
+```
+
+**Option B — Plain Clojure REPL (no nREPL server)**
+
+If you just want an interactive REPL for experimentation (no editor integration):
+
+```bash
+clj
+```
+
+This starts a standard Clojure REPL (REPL-y). You type code directly into the terminal. No deps.edn, no nREPL needed.
+
+**Option C — Global alias (one-time setup)**
+
+Add the nREPL alias to your global config `~/.clojure/deps.edn`:
+
+```edn
+{:aliases
+ {:nREPL
+  {:extra-deps
+   {nrepl/nrepl {:mvn/version "1.12.0"}}}}}
+```
+
+Then from any directory:
+
+```bash
+clj -M:nREPL -m nrepl.cmdline
 ```
 
 ### Connecting from Your Editor
 
 #### Calva (VS Code)
-1. Start an nREPL server (`bb --nrepl-server` or `clj -A:nrepl`)
+1. Start an nREPL server (`bb --nrepl-server` or `clj -M:nREPL -m nrepl.cmdline`)
 2. `Ctrl+Alt+C, Ctrl+Alt+P` — Calva connects automatically
 
 #### Conjure (NeoVim)
 1. Install Conjure via your plugin manager (`vim-plug`, `packer`, `lazy`, etc.)
-2. Start an nREPL server (`bb --nrepl-server` or `clj -A:nrepl`)
+2. Start an nREPL server (`bb --nrepl-server` or `clj -M:nREPL -m nrepl.cmdline`)
 3. `:ConjureConnect localhost <port>` — connect to the REPL
-4. Send code with `,e` (evaluate current line/form)
+4. Send code with `<localleader>ee` (evaluate form under cursor)
 5. Results appear inline below the code
 6. Open the REPL buffer with `:ConjureShow`
 
 **Key Conjure shortcuts:**
 - `<localleader>ee` — evaluate form under cursor
-- `<localleader>E` — evaluate current line/buffer
-- `<localleader>pp` — evaluate and print (with pprint)
-- `<localleader>dd` — evaluate and doc
-- `<localleader>oo` — open result in browser (for HTML, URLs, etc.)
-- `K` — doc word under cursor (built-in, no prefix)
+- `<localleader>ef` — evaluate file
+- `<localleader>eb` — evaluate buffer
+- `<localleader>er` — evaluate root form
+- `<localleader>ew` — evaluate word under cursor
+- `<localleader>ep` — evaluate previous evaluation
+- `<localleader>em` — evaluate marked form
+- `<localleader>e!` — evaluate and replace form with result
+- `<localleader>ece` — evaluate form and comment the result
+- `<localleader>gd` — get definition under cursor
+- `K` — get documentation under cursor (no prefix, built-in)
+- `E` (visual mode) — evaluate visual selection
 
 > Note: `<localleader>` defaults to `,` but is typically remapped in your config (e.g., to `\` or `Space`). Check `:map <localleader>` to see yours.
 - `:ConjureConnect` — connect to an nREPL server
@@ -182,7 +224,7 @@ clj -M:nrepl-server
 - REPL commands — create custom keybindings for common workflows (e.g., reload + evaluate)
 
 #### Calva (VS Code)
-1. Start an nREPL server (`bb --nrepl-server` or `clj -A:nrepl`)
+1. Start an nREPL server (`bb --nrepl-server` or `clj -M:nREPL -m nrepl.cmdline`)
 2. `Ctrl+Alt+C, Ctrl+Alt+P` — Calva connects automatically
 
 ### Loading Your Code