Lecture 8: Writing Patterns

This lecture focused on how patterns are written. Our lecturer explained how organisations such as PLOP hold writer's workshop.

These workshops seem to be carefully organised, ensuring that both the authors of the patterns and moderators get the best out of the workshop. However, I think its a disadvantage to the author of the pattern that the size of the workshop is quite limited. The author might not be able to utilize the full benefit of the workshop.

I understand that a lot of people are not allowed in the workshops, to avoid overcrowding and there might be a need to dispense non -authors evenly among other workshops that might be going on. It might be a good idea to list the patterns discussed in the workshops on the organisation's (such as PLOP) website and linking a forum to it, which the authors and non-authors can discuss the pattern put forward.

During the lecture we had a go at writing patterns ourselves. Our lecturer suggested that we write a pattern on any topic of our choice. The pattern was written in the Gang of Four format. I find it easier writing in the GoF format rather than Alexander. The GoF format appeals more to myself because I feel it has better structure and each information entered in every section from the Pattern Name through to Related Patterns were clear and precise.