Joy of Patterns: Using Patterns for Enterprise Development, The

The Building Blocks of Architecture

Software is less like a snowflake, where every one is truly unique, and more like a LEGO set. We can combine the Legos in many configurations to make whatever shapes we need at the time, but the key building blocks are the same. However, these building blocks are more than simple algorithms and data structures; patterns are more than these building blocks or Legos themselves. They are closer to the molds that form the different Legos. They provide a way to ensure that any Legos made from the mold will work with each other, providing additional support and definition as more Legos are connected.

More specifically, the different parts of a software architecture solve problems that are not unique. The same problems ...