Q:

MySQL, Eclipse, and Java - is Ant required? 

I am starting my first project with MySQL and Java in Eclipse.  I found a tutorial:
http://download.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/jdbc/basics/gettingstarted.html
It is full of ant builds and XML files which make me want to explode.  Do I really need to use ant builds or can I just import the MySQL driver into my project and import the libraries into the class and away I go?  MySQL is already setup. 

A:

If you are a beginner and just want to learn some Java and MySQL, then Ant is not required.  If you are building a project for some class or project.  Then Ant is something that you should use.  Ant automates your manual steps like compiling and packaging which will become a overhead over a period of time.  Ant just manages your build process.  
If you are not into build and stuff then happily skip ant.  Just add the mysql connector Jar to your classpath and you are good to go.