This book was developed for a graduate level course in Patterns and thier application. The students needed both background on the nature of patterns and guidance on how to write them.
This is a book about writing patterns: Software Patterns, Organizational Patterns, Pedagogical Patterns, etc. However, it doesn't contain many patterns. It isn't patterns about writing patterns. The material comes from advice I've given students in a course on writing patterns. It hopes to dispel some of the misconceptions about patterns and to ease the creation process. It is not, however, a book about what patterns are. You will need to get that information elsewhere.
Introduction
Your Subject
Format
Format of a Pattern
Format of a Pattern Language
Format of a Pattern Paper
Understanding Context
Understanding Problems
Understanding Forces
Understanding Solutions
Understanding Resulting Context
Know Your Audience
Naming Patterns and Telling Stories
Writing in the "You" Form
Scope Of A Pattern
Recipes
Best Practice
Level of Abstraction
A Pattern In Development
Just Do It
Plan Plan Plan
Traveling Artifact
Keep The Ball Rolling
Tension In Patterns
Common Errors
The Process of Writing Patterns
Breaking The Rules
Feedback
Shepherding
Workshops
Sample Patterns
Singleton Password
Logical Interface (Maintainability) **
Gold Star **
Just Start
Brainstorming
Gold Star
Singleton
Thumbnails
Sources