A good notation has subtlety and suggestiveness which at times makes it almost seem like a live teacher.
Bertrand Russell The World of Mathematics (1956)
Learning a new programming language is comparable to learning to speak a foreign language. You have to deal with new vocabulary, grammar, and language idioms. But this initial effort pays off multiple times. With the new language, you find unique ways to express yourself, you’re exposed to new concepts and styles that add to your personal abilities, and you may even explore new perspectives on your world. This is what Groovy did for us, and we hope Groovy will do it for you, too.
The first part of this book introduces you to the language basics: the Groovy syntax, grammar, and typical idioms. We present the language by example as opposed to using an academic style.
You may skim this part on first read and revisit it before going into serious development with Groovy. If you decide to skim, please make sure you visit chapter 2 and its examples. They are cross-linked to the in-depth chapters so you can easily look up details about any topic that interests you.