If you need functionality like that, just USE Groovy then…

Rather than type:

var list = new ArrayList<String>()

Type:

def list = [1,2,3,4,5]

or just initialize the range:

var list = [1...100]

And if you want this all to be statically typed, no problem:

ArrayList list = [1...100]

Java has a LOOOOOOONG way to go to catch up with it’s JVM brothers and sisters.