Design Patterns For Dummies®

Chapter 7. Mass Producing Objects with the Template Method and Builder Patterns

<feature> <title>In This Chapter</title> <objective>

Using the Template Method design pattern

</objective> <objective>

Creating robots using template methods

</objective> <objective>

Subclassing template methods

</objective> <objective>

Understanding how the Builder pattern differs from the Template Method pattern

</objective> <objective>

Using the Builder design pattern

</objective> </feature>

“Good news,” says the CEO of GigundoCorp—the new company you’re doing consulting work for—while running into the break room. “We landed that contract!”

“What contract?” everyone asks.

“That contract where we build robots that build cars,” says the CEO.

“Oh, that contract,” everyone says.

“Now get out there and do the software,” says the CEO, shooing programmers out the door.

“Just a second,” you say. “Shouldn’t we take some time to look at the design issues? For example, is it possible you might be building other types of robots in the future?”

“Sure,” says the CEO, “we have other bids out there. But there’s no time to think about that! We need to get started on those automotive robots!”

“Yeah!” all the programmers cry, running back to their cubicles.

“Something tells me they’re going to be sorry,” you say to the empty break room, littered with empty Styrofoam cups rolling across the floor.

This chapter is all about two patterns that give you clever ways of dealing with and adapting the process of creating objects: the Template Method ...