Introduction to Groovy
Groovy is a powerful, optionally typed and dynamic language for the Java platform, with features inspired by Python, Ruby, and Smalltalk. It integrates seamlessly with any Java program and provides many productivity features.
What is Groovy?
Groovy is an object-oriented programming language for the Java platform. It is a dynamic language with features similar to those of Python, Ruby, Perl, and Smalltalk. It can be used as both a programming language and a scripting language for the Java Platform.
Key Features
- Seamless integration with all existing Java classes and libraries
- Optional typing and static compilation
- Closures, builders, and runtime & compile-time metaprogramming
- Native support for lists, maps, arrays, and regular expressions
- Simplified syntax compared to Java
Hello World Example
// A simple Groovy script
println "Hello, World!"Setting Up Groovy
To get started with Groovy:
- Install Java JDK (Groovy requires Java)
- Download and install Groovy from groovy-lang.org
- Verify installation by running
groovy --versionin your terminal
Groovy vs Java
| Feature | Groovy | Java |
|---|---|---|
| Syntax | More concise | More verbose |
| Type System | Dynamic (with optional static typing) | Static |
| Default Imports | Many common packages imported by default | No default imports |
| Null Safety | Safe navigation operator (?.) | Requires explicit null checks |