If you really want to create an array rather than a list use either
String[] names = ["lucas", "Fred", "Mary"]
or
def names = ["lucas", "Fred", "Mary"].toArray()
MetaArray is a class that extends ndarray, adding support for per-axis meta data storage. This class is useful for storing data arrays along with units, axis names, column names, axis values, etc. MetaArray objects can be indexed and sliced arbitrarily using named axes and columns. Download here: MetaArray.py
@SafeVarargs
Is a cure for the warning: [unchecked] Possible heap pollution from parameterized vararg type Foo.
Is part of the method's contract, hence why the annotation has runtime retention.
Is a promise to the caller of the method that the method will not mess up the heap using the generic varargs argument.