AntiPatterns
- This article is about the book by Brown et al. For other meanings, see Anti-pattern.
In this book presents a study of specific repeated practices in software architecture, software design and software project management that initially appear to be beneficial, but ultimately result in bad consequences that outweigh hoped-for advantages. This study covers several recurring problematic software-related patterns, the forces that inspire their repeated adoption, and proven-in-practice remedial actions, called Refactored Solutions (see refactoring).
Reviews of 'AntiPatterns' are mixed. Some have called it fun-to-read -- an infrequent descriptor for software engineering texts. Others report that it lacks desired meaty and foundational content -- especially when held up against its inspiration, Design Patterns. Yet others report that it has just about right depth and content for those who stand the most to gain from it. The tittle chosen for this book had proven controversial, in that some find it sensational, where a less pithy tittle, such "DarkPatterns: Solutions which do work, at least in the short term, but carry unacceptable risks" (recommended by Extreme Coder Laurent Bossavit) might have been more appropriate.
The Authors are William Brown, Raphael Malvaux, Skip McCormick and Tom Mowbray; with Scott Thomas joining in on second and third books. Four of the five authors worked together at the Mitre Corporation in the late 90's.
Sometimes referred to as an "Upstart Gang-Of-Four" the authors were frequently (and often unfavorably) compared to the original "Design Patterns" Gang of Four (GoF). This began with a favorable review and runner-up Jolt Award given to "AntiPatterns: Refactoring Software, Architectures, and Projects in Crisis (ISBN 0-471-19713-0)" by Software Development Magazine. The controversy around this book, and the concept of an AntiPattern has been said to stem from a somewhat common misunderstanding that the authors were somehow opposed to Design Patterns. However the authors explain within the book itself that they are big fans of Design Patterns; their objective being to build on the concept by providing constructive means for dealing with the frequent patterns of failure they had professionally dealt with.
The AntiPattern concept, as first published in this book, has caught on, with hundreds of new Anti-patterns proposed since it's release.
External links
- AntiPatterns.com A web site maintained by the authors with several patterns defined and other related articles.
- Hillside's review of AntiPatterns WardsWiki Reviews.