Groovy Scripting Language is groovy

Most people know professionally I mostly do java/J2EE server programming. At my current job, we are writing a server that needs to have pluggable functionality. Different clients may want different things based on their current process. I began to think this is a great job for a scripting language. However, we still want to maintain platform independence (great selling point). So I started looking for a java scripting languages. Groovy caught my eye mostly for its ability to be called inside and outside of compiled java code and the fact they will be JSR. After playing around with it I really like it and I think it will be a great fit for what we are trying to do. The language is filled with dynamic features like closures, regex, sql, xml and blocks. Plus you can actually extend it into a language that could be published to clients (much like Adobe CS does with their scripting plugins). So now when a client requests a specific feature for their site, we could just write a groovy script and upload it to the server, no code forking or special releases. I think that is very powerful. Below is my first groovy script, the famous and very complicated, Hello World (and I print out any command line args).

// my hello world stuff
println "Hello, World"
for ( arg in this.args )
{
        println "Argument: $arg"
}

One of the cools things about Groovy is that it supports Closure and blocks, so I could do the above for loop like this

this.args.each { arg -> println "Argument ${arg} " }

Arg is just a java List, which I’m able to traverse in some pretty cool ways now.

If you use java code, you should really check out Groovy.

Lady Bears National Champs!!!!!

Most people know that Kerry and I went to Baylor University for our undergrads. Well, last night the Lady Bears basketball team won the National Championships! And they just didn’t beat, they dominated Michigan State the entire game! The courtside band was there and hearing some of the tunes brought back memories. I have to admit, I really miss Baylor and the people there.

Go to Baylor Bears Sports for more information on the game.

Dune

Whenever Kerry and I go to Texas, I we usually go to this used book store chain called “Half-Priced Books.” The last time we were there I picked up “Dune” by Brian Herbert. I finished it last night and I have to say I really enjoyed it. Herbert builds a sci-fi world not really based on magic but on politics and survival. The story has multiple plot lines that seem to come together at the end, bringing answers to questions that may have arisen earlier in the novel. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading science fiction or fantasy. Its also refreshing to find a novel in that genre that’s less than 500 pages long (most seem to be over a thousand).

Kinsey, the movie

This last weekend Kerry and I saw the movie “Kinsey”. This is a drama about the works of Alfred Kinsey, an educated Zooologist who late in life changes his research interests to human sexual behavior. If you ever had anything to do with psychology, you’ve heard of his two text books: “Sexual Behavior in the Human Male” and “Sexual Behavior in the Human Female.”

Going into this movie Kerry was much more education on the works of Kinsey than I was, being that she has a masters in social work. The movie starts out at full speed with very graphic language about sex and approaches it an almost an uncomfortable analytical view, which is what you have to do as a scientist studying something. I thought Liam Neeson did an excellent job portraying the type of character Dr. Kinsey must have been. His co-star, Laura Linney, also did an excellent job playing Mrs. Kinsey.

All-in-all I really liked this movie and would recommend it. However, I wouldn’t go see this movie with anyone you do not feel comfortable talking to about sex, because it will spark conversation.

Fun in the snow

Last weekend Kerry and I went showshoeing , yes this is a real thing. Anyone remember the cartoons where people strap tennis racquets to their feet and walk around on the snow? Well they really do that here. Kerry found a place that would rent us both shoes and poles for the weekend and several parks in the area have trails for such a thing. I personally had a lot of fun and I think Kerry did also. They are surprisingly easy to walk in and give you a lot of traction on the snow. The poles, which are nothing more that ski poles, were also very helpful. It had just snowed over 6 inches that week which provided for some great scenery. Both Kerry and I took pictures so hopefully I’ll have them up soon.

New Years Resolution

Well it’s that time again where I think of a bunch of new years resolutions that I’ll probably forget. Here are a few off the to of my head:

Swim a mile AT LEAST 3 times a week (I should really shoot for 4 times, but I am getting older).

Find a hobby that both Kerry and I can enjoy together, a family that plays together stays together. And what better time to start than now.

Become more involved in my church. I have the resources to offer God, just need the motivation.

Travel with Kerry. We should do it now before the kids come (and no, they aren’t coming yet).

Experiment again with cooking. I cook about 5 nights a week. But lately I’ve just been cooking the same old things rather than trying new stuff. There is a world of beautiful food out there and I need to start exploring it again.

Start putting money away in a smart place. You never know what will come up (like big houses, college, or retirement).

Well, write these down and come back in a year to see how many I’ve forgotten. Happy New Years from Kerry and I.

~Jonathan Duty

Sideways the movie

Last weekend Kerry, Art, and I saw the movie “Sideways”. This is a dramatic comedy about a struggling novelist and wine lover who is going through a rough period in his life. I liked this movie because not only was it very funny but the main character, played by Paul Giamatti, does a great job expressing a period we have all gone through where our life seems neither to be moving forward nor backwards but caught in this rut of sideways motion. If you like low budget dramatic comedies I highly recommend this movie.

Official Movie Web Site of “Sideways”