Pattern-Oriented Software Architecture For Dummies

How This Book Is Organized

This book has five parts. Parts I and II introduce software architecture and software patterns. The next two parts present real live patterns that you can use in your software. Finally, Part V shows you where to turn next to explore the exciting world of software patterns.

Part I: Introducing Software Architecture and Patterns

To build a foundation for the rest of the book and to explain the basic concepts, Part I focuses on software architecture: what it is, how to create it, and how to document it. Architecture builds on the needs of the customer or client, so Part I also talks about the requirements that shape your architecture.

Architecture needs to be explained to those who will build the application. Even if you're the sole builder, an explanation will help you remember later what you did today. Part I introduces various ways of documenting your architecture, including simple Class-Responsibility-Collaboration cards, the basics of the Unified Modeling Language, and an outline of an architecture description document.

Part I ends with a chapter that describes the basics of software patterns. This chapter provides a foundation for the discussions in Part II of making the most of software patterns.

Part II: Putting Patterns to Work

You need to find patterns that address the problems you need to solve. Part II describes how patterns are organized and catalogued. It also presents a process you can use to find the patterns that can help you.

As you start ...