Monday, February 12, 2018

Groovy: Introduction

The Groovy programming language is a modern, high-level scripting and programming language that targets the Java Virtual Machine (JVM).  It derives heavily from the Java programming language, adding key elements such as a scripting framework and an optionally typed variable semantic.  The result is a language that, for a seasoned Java developer, has a lower learning curve than Python but that can be used to rapidly create scripts and classes.
Groovy has an unusual design in that it can be both runtime evaluated, like Perl or Python, but can also be compiled into Java byte code.  This allows for greater flexibility and integration with the JVM, but at the same time, it can result in different definitions of key programming terms and concepts depending on the context.
Please note that in this document, Java and Groovy will often be used in interchangeable ways.  This is because the Groovy language is so closely tied to the Java language that in describing one the other is described.  If there are distinct differences, these will be called out directly.

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