At last week's WJUG (Wellington Java User Group) meeting Errol Thompson presented about his recent PhD at Victoria University. Advance apologies to Drs. Thompson and Maslow if my spin misconstrues their work. Languages The basic need of the geek is the ability to express and realize ideas in code. Knowledge of the lingo and good coding style is the entry level ticket. Design Patterns A way to express recurring patterns in OO software succinctly by labeling and cataloging for example pioneered by the GOF (Gang of Four). Architecture Models Taking separate viewpoints, such as 4+1, as a means to highlight an area of interest in the design without overwhelming the audience with the complexity of the system as a whole. Qualities of Architecture Accounting for the needs of different stakeholders (customers, company owners, IT people, the rest of the community) to direct the design effort, or to rate an architectural design as to how suitable or helpful it is in shaping a solution to the...