This graphic illustrates the JDK naming history.

I like “JDK 6u5″ the best. The first number indicates API changes, the second number indicates implementation changes. The “JDK” lets you know this is the development kit, not the runtime environment. This is simple, concise, and easy to understand.

I think the 1.x.0_0y scheme is redundant and confusing because the “1″ and “0″ never change any more.

The whole “Java SE 6″ name just adds to the confusion. Nobody I know says that name out loud. It reminds me of the asinine commercials where the 5 year old kid is singing “I am stuck on Band Aid Brand”, as if a 5-year old would ever say “Band Aid Brand”.

This won’t take long.

Poor Andrew.

Not all projects are skyscrapers.

In fact, hardly any projects are skyscrapers.

For the easily offended, I had a mullet in the ’80s. In the ’90s I had a goatee. For the record, the Mt. Vernon, IL Super Wal-Mart provides fantastic mullet-sighting opportunities.

I’m sure in the ’10s, I’ll look back and say…damn, what was I thinking?

Although I believe my China comic stands well on its own, I can think of a few alternate endings. Now is your chance to vote for your favorite ending:

Who thought this was a good idea?

Remember those station wagons?

Someone he knew said something…

Python, Java, Ruby.

I just counted methods on these pages:

• http://docs.python.org/lib/string-methods.html
• http://www.ruby-doc.org/core/classes/String.html
• http://java.sun.com/javase/6/docs/api/java/lang/String.html

Bonus challenge: write a program in each language that counts the number of methods in the String class.