---
title: "Groovy tutorial"
canonical: "https://support.appfire.com/space/JMWE/461570285/Groovy%20tutorial"
format: markdown
---
> Macro (aura-html)

# Before you begin:

- You need to [install the JMWE add-on](https://appfire.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/JMWE/pages/78123902) in your Jira Server instance
- Some hands-on experience in Java or any other OOP language is helpful

By the end of this tutorial, you will be able to write simple Groovy scripts in JMWE.

# Introduction to Groovy

**Groovy**<span style="color: #252525"> is an </span><span style="color: #333333">object-oriented</span><span style="color: #252525"> </span><span style="color: #333333">programming language</span><span style="color: #252525"> for the </span><span style="color: #333333">Java platform</span><span style="color: #252525">. It is a </span><span style="color: #333333">dynamic language</span><span style="color: #252525"> with features similar to those of </span><span style="color: #333333">Python</span><span style="color: #252525">, </span><span style="color: #333333">Ruby</span><span style="color: #252525">, </span><span style="color: #333333">Perl</span><span style="color: #252525">, and </span><span style="color: #333333">Smalltalk</span><span style="color: #252525">. I</span><span style="color: #252525">t is easy to learn, has smooth Java integration, vibrant and rich ecosystem and powerful features. </span><span style="color: #3c3c3c">It brings the attractive benefits of dynamic languages to a robust and well-supported platform.</span>

- **Seamless integration with Java** - Groovy is friendly with the Java Runtime Environment and its syntax is aligned with Java
- **Feature-rich language** - <span style="color: #3c3c3c">Groovy has three main enhancements over and above those of Java: language features, libraries specific to Groovy, and additions to the existing Java standard classes (known as the Groovy Development Kit, or GDK)</span>

# <span style="color: #333333">Tools to write Groovy scripts</span>

<span style="color: #333333">You can use any IDE like IntelliJ IDEA or Eclipse or NetBeans to write your Groovy scripts and then copy them into JMWE workflow extensions. </span>

<span style="color: #333333">Starting with version 5.0.0, the JMWE add-on provides an integrated editor and </span><span style="color: #333333">tester that lets you write and test scripts. </span>You can write your Groovy script in any of the workflow extensions that support a Groovy editor or in the Groovy script tester provided on the admin screen.

To write your script in the Groovy script tester on the admin screen:

1. Log in to your JIRA Server instance as an administrator.
2. Go to the **Administration** icon > Macro (inline-media-image)

 and click on it.
3. Locate **Add-ons** from the menu and click on it.
4. Locate **JIRA MISC WORKFLOW EXTENSIONS** on the left panel.
5. Locate **Groovy script tester**

The Groovy script tester is displayed. You can write your scripts and test them against an issue. The <span style="color: #333333">Groovy editor in JMWE has:</span>

- <span style="color: #333333">On-the-fly syntax checking - </span><span style="color: #222222">to provide information about syntax errors in your script</span>
- <span style="color: #333333">Automatic indentation of the code - for easy understanding of the code</span>
- <span style="color: #333333">An online help system that helps you write Groovy code quickly</span>

<span style="color: #333333">See here for more information on the </span>[<span style="color: #333333">Groovy editor and tester</span>](https://appfire.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/JMWE/pages/461897846)<span style="color: #333333">.</span>

# <span style="color: #333333">Start learning</span>

To start learning about the Groovy language, [click here](https://appfire.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/JMWE/pages/461931119). If you are already familiar with the Groovy language but would like to learn more about how to use it in JMWE, [click here](https://appfire.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/JMWE/pages/461931220).