Groovy/Grails, anyone use?

[photon]

Just wondering if they are worth the effort to learn? The idea of having a higher level language for faster develoment but still based on a robust stack of Java/Tomcat/Spring/Hibernate is attractive, but I don't know if it actually lives up to the claim, or is it just another layer of complexity on Java and not worth the time?

Just looking for an alternative to Java for doing web apps, and thought leveraging existing Java knowledge might be better than going for something brand new like Ruby or PHP (though I do know some PHP already).

[Teh_Bandwagoner]

I didn't understand a single word you just said.

[photon]

*waves hand* this is not the thread you are looking for *waves hand*

Bump for the evening crowd.

[Ramsayfarian]

Originally Posted by photon

Just wondering if they are worth the effort to learn? The idea of having a higher level language for faster develoment but still based on a robust stack of Java/Tomcat/Spring/Hibernate is attractive, but I don't know if it actually lives up to the claim, or is it just another layer of complexity on Java and not worth the time?

Just looking for an alternative to Java for doing web apps, and thought leveraging existing Java knowledge might be better than going for something brand new like Ruby or PHP (though I do know some PHP already).

If you're also looking for something that will make you more employable,I'd go for Ruby and PHP.

[FanIn80]

Now that's interesting... Is Ruby valuable specifically, or is it just MVC experience in general?

[yads]

Ruby can be. It depends where you want to work. If you want to work in enterprise it's pretty much all .Net with a few Java shops. If you want to work in more cutting edge web dev shops/start ups Ruby and PHP are valuable. Although I know Cenovus has a Ruby team

[Ramsayfarian]

I concur with yads. However many Java shops at the enterprise level are switching to .Net. If you really want to make boat loads of cash at the Enterprise level, become a Sharepoint Architect/Developer.

[black rubber disc bunny]

Originally Posted by photon

Just wondering if they are worth the effort to learn? The idea of having a higher level language for faster develoment but still based on a robust stack of Java/Tomcat/Spring/Hibernate is attractive, but I don't know if it actually lives up to the claim, or is it just another layer of complexity on Java and not worth the time?

Just looking for an alternative to Java for doing web apps, and thought leveraging existing Java knowledge might be better than going for something brand new like Ruby or PHP (though I do know some PHP already).

If you aleady understand Java, you will have no problems implementing a Groovy app and as such wouldn't be much effort to learn.

I guess it depends on your motives. I would agree with what others have said with respect to more popular technologies.

[photon]

In this case my motive is to get from zero to running app in less time with less code for one or two specific projects.

[yads]

Why not just learn Ruby? It would probably serve you better in the future anyway.

[photon]

It's not a skill that anyone else in the group of people I work with has a skill in either, and introducing a whole new language/framework/stack means more than just me has to spend time on it, it won't always be me working on it or supporting it. We have a lot of Java/Tomcat/Hibernate/Spring expertise though, so Groovy/Grails seems like a more logical choice.

[photon]

Lol, someone just emailed me this: http://liftweb.net

[Ramsayfarian]

Originally Posted by photon

In this case my motive is to get from zero to running app in less time with less code for one or two specific projects.

Powerbuilder.Haven't used it in over a decade but one could whip up an app pretty quick.

[photon]

And not .NET based

If I was going to go with Powerbuilder and learn a whole new language and stack, I might as well go with Ruby instead.

[Shazam]

Use ColdFusion.