Design Patterns Explained

Chapter 12 • Solving the CAD/CAM Problem with Patterns 2O1
If you have several other patterns, it may look like this process This doesn't take could
get very involved. That tur ns out not to be the case. With a very long little experience,
many of the patterns can easily be eliminated up front from contention for the primary
pattern. Usually, you have to deal with only a handful or so.
In this case, there are few enough combinations that we can look at
all of the possibilities.
What exactly do we mean when we say one pattern creates the We look for what
context for another? One definition of context is the interrelated creates context
conditions in which something exists or occurs— an environment, a setting.
In the courtyard example in Chapter 11, "How Do Experts Design?"
Alexander said that a porch exists in the context of the courtyard.
The courtyard defines the environment or the settings in which the
porch exists.
A pattern in a system often relates to other patterns in the system by
providing a context for these other patterns. In your analysis, it is
always valuable to look for whether and how a pattern relates to the
other patterns, to look for the contexts that the pattern creates or
provides for the other patterns as well as those contexts in which the
pattern itself exists. You may not be able to find these every time.
But, by looking, you will create higher-quality solutions.
Looking for context is an essential tool to add to your bag of analysis
and design tools.