Design patterns are reusable solutions to common software development problems. They can help you improve the quality, maintainability, and scalability of your code. But how do you choose the best design pattern for your project? Here are some tips to guide you.
Before you apply any design pattern, you need to understand the problem you are trying to solve. What are the requirements, constraints, and goals of your software? What are the main challenges or risks you face? How does your problem fit into the larger context of your system? By answering these questions, you can narrow down the types of design patterns that might be suitable for your situation.
Another important aspect will be the classification of the programming language you need to solve the problem in as patterns will differ depending on whether your using an object oriented language or something geared more towards functional programming. Additional considerations will be related to the pre and post conditions that are expected from your algorithm as well as the considerations around the NFRs that need to be respected by your code.
Design patterns are categorized into three groups: creational, structural, and behavioral. Creational patterns deal with the creation of objects and classes. Structural patterns deal with the composition and organization of objects and classes. Behavioral patterns deal with the communication and interaction of objects and classes. Each group has several specific design patterns that address different aspects of software design. You should learn the basics of each design pattern, such as its purpose, benefits, drawbacks, and examples.
Once you have a list of potential design patterns, you need to compare them and evaluate their pros and cons. Some factors to consider are: how well they match your problem, how easy they are to implement and maintain, how flexible they are to changes and variations, how compatible they are with other design patterns and technologies, and how they affect the performance and usability of your software. You can use diagrams, code samples, or prototypes to help you visualize and compare the alternatives.
Choosing a design pattern is not a one-time decision. It is an iterative process that requires feedback and validation. You should seek feedback from your peers, mentors, or clients to get different perspectives and insights on your design choices. You should also test and measure the results of your design patterns to see if they meet your expectations and requirements. You should be open to revise or change your design patterns if you encounter new problems or opportunities.
I'm not sure I agree with this, yes you might change pattern if the requirements change, you can't meet your NFRs or your code is unstable. However all of the above are data points and not subject to interpretation. Equally the efficiency of an algorithm can be calculated based on its order. So while collaboration can yield better results because of the diversity of views overall quality is basically down to mathematics.
Design patterns are not rules or recipes that you can blindly follow. They are guidelines and suggestions that you can adapt and customize to your needs. However, you should still follow some general principles of good software design, such as: cohesion, coupling, abstraction, encapsulation, inheritance, polymorphism, and modularity. These principles can help you avoid common pitfalls and errors, and ensure that your design patterns are consistent and coherent.
Choosing the best design pattern for software development is not a trivial task. It requires analysis, evaluation, experimentation, and refinement. But by following these tips, you can make informed and effective design decisions that can enhance your software quality and productivity.