Jeff,
There is a lot of code examples in the book. You can download the working code by clicking on the code link at
http://pragprog.com/titles/vslg. Of course, the code is intended to be used with the book and not stand alone
From the "Who Is This Book For?" section in the book:
"This book is for developers working on the
Java platform. It is better
suited for programmers (and testers) who understand the Java language
fairly well. Other developers who understand programming in
other languages can use this book as well, but they should supplement
it with books that provide them with an in-depth understanding of Java
and the JDK.
"Programmers who are somewhat familiar with Groovy can use this book
to learn some tips and tricks of the language that they may not otherwise
have the opportunity to explore. Finally, those already familiar
with Groovy may find this book useful for training or coaching fellow
developers in their organizations."