What is the relation between the study of patterns and that of Domain-specific software architectures, Software reuse, and other areas of software engineering?
There appears to be some overlap. • Where can I find published or online patterns about XXX? There is not a central clearing house for patterns, but it is not too hard to find them. Here are some starting points: • Hillside Patterns Home Page • Linda Rising’s book, The Pattern Almanac (also its predecessor, The Patterns Handbook), that contains references to most patterns that have been published. • Wiki • Pattern Depot • Open directory • Your favorite search engine • Who is Christopher Alexander? Alexander is an architect (in the sense of buildings, not software) who invented patterns. A brief biography and links to related readings and web pages can be found in Nikos Salingaros’s Notes on Christopher Alexander. • What’s the best format for patterns? Take your pick. Most of Alexander’s patterns are of the form: IF you find yourself in CONTEXT for example EXAMPLES, with PROBLEM, entailing FORCES THEN for some REASONS, apply DESIGN FORM AND/OR RULE to construct SOLUTION leading to NEW C
