Your brain on design pattens

Picked up my copy of Head First Design Patterns today (I’d ordered it in a couple of weeks ago). So far I’m loving it.

I’d been eyeing this book off for a while since reading the sample chapter for this and for Head First Java The presentation style looks like it should be childish and silly, but it is amazingly effective.

The sample chapter, for example, made me look at Decorator in a new light. I thought I knew how Decorator worked and what it could be used for, but the sample chapter offered new possibilities, particularly for decorating Command objects. In addition, it helped expose me to new ways to explain the pattern, which is always a good thing.

So, based on the sample, I made my decision to buy. I’m not looking to learn a heap from this book about design patterns themselves, but I fully expect to see a few new possibilities, plus some excellent ways to teach the patterns to others. So far, I’m two chapters in (which means I’m really three, as the sample chapter was chapter 3), and it’s living up to my expectations – the introduction alone demonstrated the power of the Strategy pattern in a new way, and at a much finer level of granularity then I had previously thought of taking it to. Before reading this, I’d never considered using Strategy to share behaviour between subclasses, for example.

Take my advice: buy this book. Even if you’re not a Java developer, pick it up anyway. Even if you think you know everything about patterns, buy this book. Even if you are one of the Gang of Four, buy this book – unless you’re Erich Gamma, because then you helped review it, and so I presume you’ve already got a copy. 🙂

Also, if you haven’t already, I strongly suggest you start reading Kathy Sierra’s blog she writes the most amazing articles (with illustrations!) Certainly, she puts a lot more time and effort into her blog entries than I do to mine. 🙂

Author: Robert Watkins

My name is Robert Watkins. I am a software developer and have been for over 20 years now. I currently work for people, but my opinions here are in no way endorsed by them (which is cool; their opinions aren’t endorsed by me either). My main professional interests are in Java development, using Agile methods, with a historical focus on building web based applications. I’m also a Mac-fan and love my iPhone, which I’m currently learning how to code for. I live and work in Brisbane, Australia, but I grew up in the Northern Territory, and still find Brisbane too cold (after 22 years here). I’m married, with two children and one cat. My politics are socialist in tendency, my religious affiliation is atheist (aka “none of the above”), my attitude is condescending and my moral standing is lying down. View all posts by Robert Watkins