How to install Groovy on Linux and Windows

For the Java platform, Apache Groovy is a programming language that is object-oriented and compatible with Java programming language. Many of the features of this dynamic language are shared by Python, Ruby, Smalltalk, and Pero. For Groovy source code to run on any platform with JRE installed, it is converted into Java Bytecode. Additionally, Groovy completes numerous tasks in the background, which increases its agility and dynamic nature. For the Java programming language, Groovy can be used as a scripting language. It almost resembles a super version of Java that includes Java’s corporate features.

Additionally, it offers several productivity tools including dynamic typing, closures, and DSL support. It is not intended to replace Java, but rather to work in conjunction with it, unlike some other languages. For the Java virtual machine (JVM), Groovy is a dynamic object-oriented programming language that may be used anywhere Java is used. The language can be used to create new programs, extend already-existing Java applications, and integrate Java components. See also: Linux Shell Scripting: How to write a Shell Script that Counts Lines and Words in a File, Microsoft releases Linux Desktop Management Support to Intune, How to Switch between Users in Linux, How to use Systemd Timers on Linux, How to Install PlayonLinux on a Linux System

In addition, as a developer, you are constantly looking for ways to improve application features. If you mostly work on Java-based applications, get to know and install Groovy. The Groovy language seamlessly integrates with any Java program and adds powerful features such as scripting capabilities for Java programs. In this post, you’ll learn how to install Groovy on either an Ubuntu or a Windows machine.

Why Groovy?

Here, are major reasons why you should use and learn Groovy

1. Groovy is an agile and dynamic language
2. Seamlessly integration with all existing Java objects and libraries
3. Feels easy and natural to Java developers
4. More concise and meaningful code compares to Java
5. You can use it as much or as little as you like with Java apps

Installing Groovy on Ubuntu

Since Groovy runs on its built-in Java servlet container server, you must first install Java on your Ubuntu machine before installing Groovy. To work with Groovy, you can use a variety of Java implementations, the most popular of which is OpenJDK. To install Java on your Ubuntu machine, follow these steps:

Step 1: Launch your favorite SSH client and connect to your Ubuntu machine using the pattern shown below:

ssh -i ~/.ssh/<keyname>.pem username@<PublicIPAddress>

Step 2: In step two, use the apt update command to update your system packages.

$sudo apt update

Step 3: After updating your system packages, run the following commands to create a directory (mkdir) named ~/ groovy_demo_install and change directory (cd) to that directory.

These commands produce no output, but the /groovy_demo_install the directory is where Java is installed.

$sudo mkdir ~/ groovy_demo_install && cd ~/groovy_demo_install

Steo 4:  Now, run the apt install command below to install Java (default-jdk) on your machine.

# Installing Java Version: Java SE 11 (LTS)
sudo apt install default-jdk 

Immediately after the installation is complete, run the command below to check the Java version installed in your machine:

The output above shows that you’ve successfully installed Java.

Step 5: Next, run the below command to install Groovy on your machine

$sudo apt install groovy

Verify the version of the Groovy you just installed by running:

groovy --version

Executing a Groovy Script on Ubuntu

Awesome! Groovy has been successfully installed on your Ubuntu machine. But how do you know Groovy is effective? In this example, you will run a test by executing a simple script to determine whether Groovy is properly installed.

Within the ~/groovy_demo_install directory, create a script named demo.sh which when executing prints (printLn) all the numbers starting from 0 to 4 as shown below:

#!/bin/bash
0.upto(4) {println "$it"}

Installing Groovy on Windows

Windows users can also so enjoy using Groovy. To use Groovy on your Windows computer, you must first install it. To do, follow the steps below:

Step 1: Open Groovy official website, click on the download tab and scroll down to the download section and then select “Windows Installer” under the stable release, Groovy 4.0 as shown below:

Step 2: Click on the .msi installer’s link at the right-side of the screen to download Groovy

Step 3: After downloading it, go to your download folder and run Groovy’s Windows installer.

Step 4: Click on Next when you see the “welcome” page as shown below.

Step 5: Ensure you select the checkbox at the bottom to accept the End-User License Agreement (EULA), and click Next to continue.

Step 7:  On the next screen, select the Groovy setup as Typical and click on Next. Selecting Typical Installation type, installs only the common features.

Step 8: Click on Install to run the installation

The next screen shows you the installation progress.

Finally, Groovy installation is complete. Click on Finish to quit the setup window

Running a Groovy Command on Windows

Now that Groovy is installed on your Windows computer, everything ought to function as it should. You must, however, verify that Groovy functions properly in order to be safe. How?

You’ll run a Groovy command on your Windows machine, much like you did on Ubuntu. But to execute commands, you’ll utilize the Groovy Shell rather than Windows PowerShell.

Now, launch Groovy shell from your Desktop or the Start menu, as shown below.

Let’s run the below command to print all numbers (printLn) between 0 and 10 with an increment of 3.

You learned how to install Groovy, a versatile language for the Java platform, on Ubuntu and Windows in this guide. We mentioned running a Groovy command and launching a Groovy script, both of which perform related tasks.