Can patterns serve as the basis of software design handbooks?
Yes, in fact, most interest and work in software patterns arose among people trying to figure out what should go in such handbooks. • How would a patterns-based software design handbook differ from handbooks used in other kinds of engineering? Among other differences, fewer tables of values of physical constants. • Wouldn’t it be more useful to teach people to write patterns rather than teaching them to use a bunch of existing patterns? Both are needed. Neither is more needed. • Why aren’t Alexander’s patterns universally used by architects? There seems to be no single reason. People cite factors including clashes with long-established practices and with the professional culture of architects, economic factors, the fact that Alexander focuses on having people design and build their own houses, and differences in opinion about how good or useful the particular patterns in A Pattern Language are in practice. • Can you use patterns in very large development efforts? People have reported t
