[rules-dev] Scala

Hey All. I have been looking into scala for sometime, and recently started using it for a testing tool (kind of a replacement for the "fit for rules" library). I have been quite impressed with it, the tool integration (with intelliJ) is outstanding, and it works nice with maven (even with mixed java source). Assuming this goes well, I am thinking of extending the usage of scala to the server side components of bits of guvnor (obviously the client is still GWT). Probably in a small way at first (I have found that common annoying bits of code in java can be much clearer in scala - examples to come !). I was interested in what people think about this? Does it make it harder for people to get into the code (I am not aiming to write the densest scala, just use it when approriate)? The main downsides I see are: Eclipse support - the plugin for eclipse for scala is not great at the moment (netbeans or intelliJ would be better), and general familiarity for people to read (although I personally think it would take anyone who reads this list minutes to learn enough to follow the simple things I would do). Thoughts? Objections? FAQ: Why scala? well its closer to java in intent then all other popular JVM languages (ie its static) and compiles down similarly to result in similar performance (better in some cases). I use "closures" a lot (thanks to GWT that got be in the habit) but the inner class way of doing it in java gets combersome. -- Michael D Neale home: www.michaelneale.net blog: michaelneale.blogspot.com