Design Pattern Tutorial (Design Pattern 101)

Learn from the mistakes of others is one of the famous quotes. Each one of us try to apply this in our life and we will be happy if we do it. The same thing, rather there is little different in Design Patterns. Design Patterns are solution to the common design problems. Software community after facing a lot of challenges and solving a problem in so many ways, has finally arrived to a optimal way. And this is called as Design Pattern. It is not at piece of code but concept which can be applied in variety of scenarios irrespective of the language and domain. Having said that, does it really help software community. Yes, really it is.

So, make up your mind to read further.

It has helped so many other developers and hence it should also help you. And one more interesting fact is that a lot of developers use design patterns without being aware that they are using one. For example, if you have used wait(), notify(), notifyAll() is an observer pattern. So you have been using it without knowing. Then why should you learn it. Because all the design patterns are solution to specific problem and focused towards object oriented concepts, reusability, maintainability. And also, it is not just one, there are 23 core design patterns and each one of them have an intent and the specific way of application. It is a reusable concept/solution.

Apart from the solution, the design pattern let the developers to speak a common and a quick language. For example, if you ask someone "how to go to a place where lot of people are standing on a platform to go to a distant place. The people will be carried by a series of wagons that are connected and pulled by an electric or diesel engine. Also, the entire vehicle goes on two tracks that are separated by 1.5 metres". What would be the answer? Aren't you elaborating and complicating too much. Instead of asking the way to railway station, you simply beat around the bush and simply irritating the stranger. The very same (shame) thing happens if you do not know design patterns. Design patterns improves your productivity by making you solve problems in a right way and also to have your discussion short and to the point.

These are some of the reasons why one should know design patterns. After all, it is you, who is going to benefit by learning it. You ll end up giving a better and nicer software to your customer.

Watch out for a series of blogs on patterns.

Upcoming Write-up: Types of Design Patterns.