Groovy: Learning Path & Resources.

Groovy is an object-oriented programming language that was designed to be both concise and powerful. It is an open-source language that is based on the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) and it is compatible with all Java libraries. Groovy is used in a variety of applications, including web development, scripting and automation. Groovy was first released in 2003 and it has since grown in popularity due to its ease of use and flexibility.

Prerequisites for Learning:

Before learning Groovy, it is recommended that you have a basic understanding of Java programming language. Java is the foundation of Groovy, so having some knowledge of Java will make it easier to learn Groovy. Additionally, familiarity with basic programming concepts like variables, functions and data types will be helpful.

Step-By-Step Learning Path For Groovy:

1. Start with the Groovy language documentation to get an overview of the language and its syntax.
2. Work through a basic Groovy tutorial such as the one provided by TutorialsPoint to gain familiarity with the language.
3. Read a book on Groovy, such as “Groovy in Action” by Dierk Konig, to gain a deeper understanding of the language and its capabilities.
4. Practice writing Groovy code by working through examples provided by resources such as the Groovy Goodness Notebook and the Groovy Recipes Github repository.
5. Join the Groovy Developers Slack community to connect with other developers and ask questions.
6. Listen to the Groovy Podcast to stay up-to-date on new developments and trends in the language.
7. Explore advanced features of the language, such as metaprogramming and DSLs, using resources such as the “Groovy in Action” book and the Groovy Metaprogramming and DSLs Github repository.
8. Take an online course, such as the Groovy Programming Fundamentals course offered by Pluralsight, to further develop your skills and knowledge.
9. Practice writing your own Groovy applications, and contribute to open-source projects to gain experience working on larger codebases.
10. Stay engaged with the Groovy community by subscribing to the Groovy Weekly newsletter and attending conferences and meetups, such as the annual GR8Conf conference.

What to Learn After Groovy:

After learning Groovy, it is recommended to learn about other JVM-based languages such as Kotlin and Scala. These languages offer additional features and functionality that can be useful in different contexts.

Top 5 Advantages of Groovy:

1. Groovy is easy to learn and use, making it an excellent choice for beginners.
2. Groovy has a simplified syntax that allows for more concise code compared to Java.
3. Groovy offers many advanced features, including closures, builders and metaprogramming.
4. Groovy is highly interoperable with Java, which means that it can be used in existing Java projects without any issues.
5. Groovy has a large and supportive community that provides helpful resources and support.

Top 5 Disadvantages of Groovy:

1. Groovy can be slower than Java due to its dynamic nature.
2. Groovy does not have as much tooling and support as Java, which can make it harder to use in some contexts.
3. Groovy does not have as much documentation as Java, which can make it harder to learn for some developers.
4. Groovy has a smaller developer community compared to Java, which means that there may be fewer resources and support available.
5. Groovy has limited support for mobile development, which means that it may not be the best choice for building mobile applications.

Top Learning Resources For Groovy:

1. Groovy Language Documentation – Apache Groovy: http://groovy-lang.org/documentation.html
2. Getting Started with Groovy – Baeldung: https://www.baeldung.com/groovy-getting-started
3. Groovy Tutorial – TutorialsPoint: https://www.tutorialspoint.com/groovy/index.htm
4. Groovy Programming Language Basics – Udemy: https://www.udemy.com/course/groovy-programming-language-basics/
5. Groovy Programming – GeeksforGeeks: https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/groovy-programming/
6. The Groovy Language – Groovy: The Definitive Guide (book): https://www.amazon.com/Groovy-Definitive-Guide-Developers-Programming/dp/1491941551
7. Groovy in Action – Dierk Konig (book): https://www.manning.com/books/groovy-in-action-second-edition
8. Groovy Scripting for System Administration – Sander van Vugt (book): https://www.amazon.com/Groovy-Scripting-System-Administration-Management/dp/1484245165
9. Groovy Goodness Notebook – Mr. Haki: https://github.com/mrhaki/groovy-goodness-notebook
10. Groovy for Java Developers – DZone: https://dzone.com/refcardz/groovy-for-java-developers
11. Learning Groovy – LinkedIn Learning: https://www.linkedin.com/learning/learning-groovy-2
12. Groovy Programming Fundamentals – Pluralsight: https://www.pluralsight.com/courses/groovy-programming-fundamentals
13. Groovy Recipes – Github: https://github.com/michaelklishin/groovy-recipes
14. Groovy Recipes: Greasing the Wheels of Java – Scott Davis (book): https://www.amazon.com/Groovy-Recipes-Greasing-Wheels-Java/dp/1933988932
15. Groovy Design Patterns – Tutorialspoint: https://www.tutorialspoint.com/groovy/groovy_design_patterns.htm
16. Groovy Podcast – Groovy Podcast: http://groovypodcast.org/
17. Groovy Developers Slack – Slack: https://groovycommunity.slack.com/
18. Groovy Weekly Newsletter – Groovy Weekly: http://glaforge.appspot.com/category/Groovy+Weekly
19. Groovy Console – Groovy Web Console: http://groovyconsole.appspot.com/
20. Groovy Playground – Groovy Playground: https://groovy-playground.appspot.com/