Design Patterns

Introduction

Whilst ordinary "methods" training courses can equip developers with the tools and techniques that they will need to employ in their software design efforts, the latent talents of the great designers have to be further nurtured with other sources. One source important to other design disciplines but, until now, neglected in software design is an awareness and appreciation of existing great designs.

The architect Christopher Alexander suggested that successful, timeless, building patterns could be catalogued, and in recent years, the software community has begun to catalogue timeless patterns of design.

Here then is a guided tour of some of the masterpieces of software design. Participants will experience that many problems are recurring and that existing ideas can be pressed into service.

The course serves a second purpose: it relates the patterns to the principles of object-oriented design, and thus is particularly helpful as a follow-up, after a period of practice, to an object-oriented design course.

Normally the course is language-neutral, but if the audience is exclusively a Java or a C++ audience, then the course is augmented with some language-specific patterns (or "idioms").

Duration and Construction

The course lasts two days. Each day will start at 09.00 and finish at 16.30. The delivery is via a small amount of lecturing and a lot of workshops and discussions.

Intended Audience

Participants should have some awareness of object-oriented design, perhaps having attended the Object-Oriented Analysis and Design or Object-Oriented Design using UML courses. They will know an object-oriented language to a reasonable level of competence and will have had some experience designing and implementing object-oriented software.

Aims

• To understand the range of skills a designer needs
• To become aware of the available pattern resources
• To learn examples of large, medium and small patterns--architectures, designs and idioms
• To cover the "Gang of Four" design patterns
• To experience the application of patterns to design problems
• To better understand the principles of object-oriented design
• To understand the value and nature of a pattern language
• To become aware of what goes into the finding, shaping and cataloguing of new patterns within an organization

Numbers

We recommend that there are no more than 12 participants, with the best results usually obtained when there are at least 8 participants. It is possible, by negotiation and mutual agreement, for more than 12 participants to be present.

Deliverables

• Lectures
• Direction, assistance and feedback in workshops
• Facilitation of discussions
• Copies of lecture slides, plus explanatory text and summaries
• Reference list of books and sources

Contents

• Architectural patterns
• Design patterns
• Design principles illustrated
• Idioms
• Pattern sources
• Deploying patterns

Site Requirements

• Data projector of at least 1024 x 768 resolution, and suitable screen
• White-board, preferably not doubling up as the OHP's screen; blackboard and chalk are acceptable
• Flip-chart and easel, with additional flip-chart paper
• It is best if the seating is not fixed. Auditorium style seating, for example, makes it difficult to switch from lecture to group work.

Contacting

Please contact John Deacon by telephone on +44 20 7498 3773; by fax on +44 20 7498 3747; by emailing  jdeacon@jdl.co.uk; or by visiting http://www.jdl.co.uk

[ Home page | Courses List ]

Last modified: Monday, 16-Jun-2008.
Copyright © 2007 John Deacon. All rights reserved.