Home // International Journal On Advances in Software, volume 4, numbers 3 and 4, 2011 // View article

A Formal Language for the Expression of Pattern Compositions

Authors:
Ian Bayley
Hong Zhu

Keywords: Design patterns, Pattern composition, Object oriented design, Formal methods

Abstract:
In real applications, design patterns are almost always to be found composed with each other. Correct application of patterns therefore relies on precise definition of these compositions. In this paper, we propose a set of operators on patterns that can be used in such definitions. These operators are restriction of a pattern with respect to a constraint, superposition of two patterns, and a number of structural manipulations of the pattern’s components. We demonstrate the uses of these operators by examples. We also report a case study on the pattern compositions suggested informally in the Gang of Four book in order to demonstrate the expressiveness of the operators.

Pages: 354 to 366

Copyright: Copyright (c) to authors, 2011. Used with permission.

Publication date: April 30, 2012

Published in: journal

ISSN: 1942-2628