simplifying code (from Java to groovy or ruby)

word.rb

Ruby / Groovy

def get_types
  words.collect{|word| word.word_type}
end

15 seconds to code.  
3 seconds to read and understand.
Easy to read = self documenting.
Less LOC = better codebase and more agile team.

Java

public List get_types {

  List<String> word_types = new ArrayList<String>();

  for (Word: word : words) {
    word_types.add(word.getWordType());
  }

  return word_types;
}

1:10 seconds to write.
8 seconds to read... harder to interpret.