There are 5 steps necessary to utilize clips-mode: 1. Install the package clips-mode preferrably via ELPA or Cask. 2. Require it: (require 'clips-mode) 3. Decide whether you want to use a natively compiled CLIPS executable or the CLIPSJNI version that runs on a Java Virtual Machine (JVM). 4. If you are using a native version, then configure the program name like this: (setq inferior-clips-program "clips") 5. If you are using the JVM version, then configure which JVM to use like this: (setq inferior-clips-vm "java") and then configure a function which returns a list of strings that are passed as arguments to the previously specified JVM that result in the CLIPJNI shell being executed. 6. Read inf-clips.el to see the keybindings for executing CLIPS commands in the CLIPS shell.