Learn GROOVY with Real Code Examples

Groovy is a dynamic language that runs on the JVM and interoperates with Java.

It is used for scripting, automation, build tools (Gradle), and rapid development.

Supports dynamic typing, closures, metaprogramming, and DSL creation.

Groovy scripts (.groovy)

GDK extensions

Safe navigation operator (?.)

String interpolation

Builders for DSLs

Closures & collection operators

Dynamic typing

Closures

Lists, maps, ranges

GDK enhancements

Java interoperability

src/main/groovy

src/test/groovy

gradle/ build scripts

Jenkinsfile

config/ DSL definitions

Write .groovy script

Run using groovy script.groovy

Compile classes with groovyc

Use GroovyConsole for quick testing

Integrate with Gradle

Beginner: scripting, simple DSLs

Intermediate: Gradle & Jenkins automation

Advanced: custom AST transforms

Expert: enterprise DSL design

More concise than Java

More dynamic than Kotlin

More DSL-friendly than Scala

More expressive than Python for Jenkins/Gradle

Slower runtime than statically typed JVM languages

2003 – Groovy initial release

2007 – Groovy 1.0

2012 – Groovy 2.0 (static typing)

2015 – Groovy moves to Apache

2020–2025 – Groovy 3.x evolution

GDK: Groovy extensions to Java

Closure: function literal

AST: Abstract Syntax Tree

DSL: domain-specific language

Builder: groovy DSL construct