Difference between Groovy def and Java Object?

Question

I\'m trying to figure out the difference between

Groovy:

def name = \"stephanie\"

Java:

Object name = \"stephanie\"


        

Answer 1

Per se, there is not much difference between those two statements; but since Groovy is a dynamic language, you can write

def name = "Stephanie"
println name.toUpperCase() // no cast required

while you would need an explicit cast in the Java version

Object name = "Stephanie";
System.out.println(((String) name).toUpperCase());

For that reason, def makes much more sense in Groovy than unfounded use of Object in Java.

Answer 2

You can experiment with groovy in the groovy web console http://groovyconsole.appspot.com/

Your initial groovy date example works.