Class Patterns and Templates in Software Design

Abstract

This chapter describes the use of design patterns as reusable components in program design. The discussion includes the two core elements: the class diagram and examples implemented in code. The authors believe that although precanned patterns have been popular in the literature, it is the patterns that we personally create or adapt that are most useful. Only after gaining intimate familiarity with a particular class structure will we be able to use it in an application. In addition to the conventional treatment of class patterns, the discussion includes the notion of a class template. A template describes functionality and object relations within a single class, while patterns refer to structures of communicating and interacting classes. The class template fosters reusability by providing a guide in solving a specific implementation problem. The chapter includes several class templates that could be useful to the software developer.