We’ve been talking about it for a while… and it’s finally actually happening. After nudging from our awesome Dev Editor, Peter and I have actually got our acts into gear about getting this project rocking! Manning have started the engines to release the new Grails in Action 2.0 MEAP and you’ll likely see something within the two days at http://manning.com/grailsinaction.

After discussing the release plan with our Dev Editor, and being rightly challenged to “release early, release often”, we’re keen to regularly ship content out the door rather than wait any longer than we have to. Great for us, since we get feedback, great for you since you can get stuff in your hands earlier.

For that reason, we’ll probably just release 2 or 3 chapters first up, keep a few up our sleaves for a second monthly release, while we charge on to the rest. That will smooth the release cycle, and give you guys regular content. We’re both committing regular time to the writing task, so the updates will be regular.

At this point in time we are focusing on Parts I & II and have chapters on intro, groovy primer, scaffolding, domain modelling all done, with controllers nearly done, with all the new querying goodness next on the list. Not sure what will actually get put in the first MEAP cut, but whatever you get, you can rest assured that the remainder will be “in the pipe” for a monthly release.

For those interested in “the vision”, here’s a sneak peak at the web copy for the book promo at this point in time….

Description:

Grails 2 is an open-source, full-stack web framework on the JVM powered by the Groovy dynamic language. With a focus on “getting stuff done”, you’ll be spending more of your time building amazing web solutions for clients or your company, and eliminate all the dead time you used to spend configuring, recompiling, restarting and rewriting your existing Java webapps.

In this book you’ll master Grails 2.1 core skills by applying Test-Driven Development techniques to developing a full scale Twitter clone. Along the way you’ll learn the latest “Single Page Webapp” UI techniques, work with NoSQL backends, integrate with enterprise messaging, and implement a complete RESTful API for your services.

Peter and Glen invest all their Grails experience into this book, helping you use the most appropriate techniques and to avoid the most common pitfalls. It’s not just about using the framework but how best to use it.

No Java or Groovy background is required, but it is helpful for readers to have a background in web development and knowledge of at least one object-oriented language.

What’s Inside:

  • Covers Grails 2.1 from the Ground Up
  • Practical focus on Agile delivery and testing using Spock
  • The latest in NoSQL, Restful Services and One Page Webapps
  • Integration with existing Enterprise Technologies
  • Plugin development Top to Bottom
  • A concise Groovy primer for those new to the stack
  • Tons of tips and tricks from the trenches
    About The Authors:

Peter Ledbrook is a core Grails developer, author of several popular plugins, and has worked as an engineer at each of the companies behind Grails: G2One, SpringSource & VMware.  As a popular Grails conference speaker, trainer, and prolific contributor to the Grails mailing list, Peter has a unique insight into what makes great Grails applications, and the best way to teach people how to develop them.

Co-host of the Grails Podcast, Glen Smith has been contributing to the Grails community through blogging, sample apps and conference talks since Grails 0.2! With a distinctly Australian sense of humour, he loves training people on pragmatic and agile techniques for getting great software out the door.