add simple checks for now

.github/workflows/checks.yaml

@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+name:  Checks
+
+on: [pull_request, push]
+
+jobs:
+  build:
+    name: Run Checks
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout the source
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      - name: Validate Gradle wrapper
+        uses: gradle/wrapper-validation-action@v2
+      - name: Set up JDK 17
+        uses: actions/setup-java@v4
+        with:
+          java-version: '17'
+          distribution: 'temurin'
+      - name: Run Gradle check task
+        run: ./gradlew check --continue