Engineering Full Stack Apps with Java and JavaScript
Apache Groovy is an optionally typed and dynamic object-oriented programming language written for the Java platform, with features similar to those of Python, Ruby, Perl etc. Other JVM Based languages include Scala, Groovy, Klotin, Clojure, JRuby, Jython.
Groovy is written for the Java platform aimed at improving developer productivity. Groovy is designed as a companion to Java and not as a replacement language for Java. Groovy interoperates with other Java code and libraries smoothly. Groovy can be used as a scripting language for the Java Platform.
Groovy uses a Java-like curly-bracket syntax. Most Java code is also syntactically valid Groovy, although semantics may be different. Groovy dynamically compiles to Java JVM bytecode. Groovy also has static-typing and static compilation capabilities. Groovy provides powerful features such as scripting capabilities, closures, DSL authoring, meta-programming and functional programming.
Many parts of Groovy are written in Java, whereas some parts are written in Groovy itself. Everything you can do with Groovy can be done using Java, but with a lot of additional code is required with Java in most cases. There is a JavaOne slogan that says that Groovy is for extending the reach of Java.
Groovy is mostly compared with other programming languages such as Clojure, Scala, Kotlin, Ceylon, Fan, Nice, Newspeak and Frege. Groovy is usually used along with the Grails web application platform, the Griffon desktop application framework, the Gadle build system and the Spock testing facility.