Clojure, pronounced “closure,” is a functional programming language that’s geared toward the JVM (Java Virtual Machine) but also accommodates Microsoft’s Common Language Runtime and JavaScript environments. Rich Hickey, founder of data management technology vendor Datomic, is the author of Clojure. After speaking at the Clojure/West conference in San Jose, Calif., last Friday, Hickey talked with InfoWorld Editor at Large Paul Krill about Clojure, including mobile application development ambitions, and about Datomic.

InfoWorld: When did you develop Clojure? What was your intention in doing so?

Hickey: I started in 2005, and the first version I released was toward the end of 2007. It’s kind of a Lisp for the JVM. My intention was to make a dynamic, functional programming language for the JVM.