I've been programming in Java since 1998. During the past eight or so years, I've picked up a lot of stuff that doesn't strictly have to do with Java, but makes life a bit easier. Things like scripting, SQL and DDL, XML, CVS, simple stuff with Apache, some PHP, rudimentary Postfix, Ant, make (blech!), C/C++ .... The list goes on. You tend to pick things up as tasks require. I never got around to actually learning anything about design patterns, though. I wanted to. I've had the Gang of … [Read more...]