Groovy and Grails = A refreshing change for Java developers!

I was really going to try and only post things that I come across in everyday Java development on this blog and not promote any one framework, but I can't hold back my excitement about Groovy and Grails.

I have used most of the major Java web frameworks throughout the years in an enterprise setting including: Struts, WebWork, Struts2, JSF and Spring MVC, GWT, Flex. Never has it been easier, quicker and more fun to build a web application using Java technologies.

Its amazing how far things have come since the Struts/JDBC days and its equally amazing that its taken this long for Grails to come about. The JVM has come through in a big way allowing other languages.

Some of my favorite parts about Grails:

1. It's built on standard Java technologies that we all use today, Spring, Hibernate, Sitemesh, Maven
2. Convention over Configuration
3. No more DAOs! With dymanic finder methods you can kiss DAOs goodbye.
4. Easy relationship mapping between Entities
5. No more complex configuration of Spring and Hibernate! Its all done behind the scenes.
6. Plugins! Adding things like full text searching with a few lines of code is awesome.
7. FUN, PRODUCTIVE and actually INSPIRING to use!

Many big companies are catching on too, including Netflix!
Check out the podcast here for more information about Netflix and Grails: here

Anyways, this is just my shout out to a wonderful new Java framework. Here's to hoping that Grails catches on in a big way. Once you use it you will realize what Java web development has been missing all of these years. I promise you won't be disappointed. Grails the search is over

Also check out these Grails books:
Grails in Action
The Definitive Guide to Grails