[vintermann]

I'd say GoF patterns were pretty enforced by the language if you include the standard libraries.

Or maybe that's even a bit rude to GoF. Some OO patterns - pretty questionable ones - were pushed pretty hard especially in Java EE.

[bzzzt]

Java EE practically reinvented itself over the last 20 years using the more popular frameworks as inspiration for better or worse.

Even then, you were never forced to use Java EE if you didn't need it.

[peterashford]

Java EE is pretty darn retro right now, and it was never core Java