groovyc

groovyc is the command-line compiler for the Groovy programming language, and it is distributed as part of the Groovy installation. It compiles Groovy source code into Java bytecode that runs on the Java Virtual Machine, enabling Groovy programs to execute on the JVM and to interoperate with Java libraries and frameworks.

The compiler can process Groovy source files, and in projects that mix Groovy with Java, it can also handle Java source files, producing class files for both languages. It resolves dependencies through a classpath and writes the resulting bytecode to a designated output directory. groovyc supports configuring source compatibility and target JVM versions, which helps ensure the generated bytecode is compatible with the intended Java runtime.

Groovyc is commonly invoked from the command line or integrated into build systems. In practice, it is used directly or through build tools such as Ant, Maven, or Gradle, where dedicated tasks or plugins manage Groovy compilation as part of the overall build process. The tool relies on the Groovy runtime libraries being available on the classpath and can work alongside existing Java dependencies without requiring a separate compilation step for Java sources.

Runtime requirements are straightforward: groovyc requires a Java Runtime Environment or JDK to run. It is shipped with Groovy releases and is version-aligned with the Groovy language features being used. The resulting bytecode is portable across compatible Java Virtual Machines, making groovyc a central component for Groovy projects targeting the JVM ecosystem.