gistfile1.clj

(defn -initialize [this params]
  (dosync
    (alter (.state this) merge
      (unpack-parameters
        params
        [:is-starting-node :connections-on-spawn :starting-nodes]
        (array-map :is-starting-node false))))
  true)

gistfile2.clj

(defn unpack-parameters
  ([params ks defaults]
    (merge defaults
      (apply hash-map
        (interleave ks params))))
  ([params defaults]
    (unpack-parameters params (keys defaults) defaults)))