Groovy is a dynamically typed language, which means that variable types are determined at runtime. However, Groovy also provides features for type checking and static compilation, which can help improve performance and reduce errors in larger codebases.
Here are some ways that Groovy supports type checking and static compilation:
1. Static type checking: Groovy provides a `@TypeChecked` annotation that enables static type checking at compile time. When this annotation is used, Groovy will check variable types, method signatures, and other type-related issues before the code is executed.
2. Static compilation: Groovy also provides a `@CompileStatic` annotation that enables static compilation. When this annotation is used, Groovy will compile the code to Java bytecode, which can improve performance and reduce memory usage. However, it’s important to note that static compilation can also limit some of the dynamic features of Groovy.
3. Type inference: Groovy supports type inference, which means that it can automatically determine variable types based on their usage in the code. This can help reduce the amount of type annotations necessary in the code.
4. Optional types: Groovy also provides optional type annotations using the `def` keyword. This allows you to specify variable types when necessary, while still retaining the flexibility of a dynamically typed language.
Overall, Groovy’s support for type checking and static compilation provides a balance between the flexibility of a dynamically typed language and the performance and safety benefits of a statically typed language.