Idioms, Design Patterns and Architectural Patterns

What are Idioms ?

Code idioms, also known as programming idioms, are collections of code fragments with equivalent semantic roles that regularly appear in software projects and represent a unique quality of a recurrent construct in one or more programming languages or libraries.

• Idioms are examples of basic patterns.
• Idioms provide instructions on how to resolve implementation-specific issues in a programming language, such as memory management in C++, as opposed to design patterns, which focus on universal structural principles.
• Idioms can help with basic language usage issues including naming programme components, formatting source text, and selecting return values.
• We can also claim that idioms show skillful use of programming language features. Consequently, idioms can aid in the instruction of a programming language.

Design Patterns

A design pattern is a generic, repeatable solution to a frequent issue in software design that is used in software engineering. It is a description or model for problem-solving that may be applied in a variety of circumstances.

• Some of the finest practises adopted by seasoned object-oriented software engineers are represented by design patterns.
• In object-oriented systems, a design pattern is a systematic way of naming, motivating, and explaining a generic design solution.
• It outlines the issue, the fix, when to use it, and any negative effects.
• Additionally, it offers examples and implementation recommendations.

Uses of Design Patterns

1. By offering tried-and-true development paradigms, design patterns help hasten the development process.
2. For programmers and architects who are familiar with the patterns, reuse of design patterns helps to eliminate minor problems that can lead to large difficulties and enhances code readability.
3. Design patterns offer broad-based answers that are explained in a way that does not call for specifics related to a specific issue.
4. Additionally, patterns enable engineers to discuss interactions with software using well-known, widely accepted terms. Over time, common design patterns can be strengthened, becoming more durable than ad hoc designs.

Classification of Design Patterns:

The intricacy, depth of detail, and scope of application to the overall system being created are differences across design patterns.

Architectural patterns are the most widespread and high level patterns. Developers can use almost any language to achieve these patterns. They can be used to create the architecture of a whole application, unlike all the other patterns.

All patterns can also be classified according to their meaning or purpose. This blog discusses three primary categories of patterns:

1. Creational patterns offer methods for creating objects that boost reusability and flexibility.
2. The use of structural patterns explains how to put together smaller structures while making them adaptable and effective.
3. Effective communication and the delegation of responsibility between objects are handled by behavioural patterns.

Architectural Patterns

What is an Architectural Pattern ?

A broad, reusable solution to a frequently occurring problem in software architecture within a specific context is known as an architectural pattern. Though they cover a wider range, architectural patterns are comparable to software design patterns.

Different types of Software Architecture Patterns

Let’s talk about a few common architectural principles that have aided many software companies in growing their businesses:

1. Layered Architecture Pattern

One of the most popular patterns where the code is organised into layers is this one. The following are this pattern’s main traits:

1. The system’s outermost layer is where data enters. The database layer, the innermost layer, is reached after passing through the following layers.
2. A display layer, an application layer, and a data layer are all present in the simplest implementations of this pattern.
3. A GUI is used by users to access the presentation layer, while the application layer handles business logic. A database is used by the data layer to store and retrieve data.

The advantages of this design are as follows:

1. Since the tiers are separated, maintaining the programme is simple.

2. It is simple for development teams to maintain the software infrastructure, making it simple to create expansive web and cloud-hosted applications.

2. Client-server Pattern

Another one that is frequently used has two entities. It has a server and a number of clients.

The following traits define this pattern as a whole:

1. The server receives requests from client components, processes them, and then replies.
2. When a server agrees to a client’s request, it establishes a connection with the client using a particular protocol.
3. Servers can have state or not. A stateful server can deal with a number of client requests. It keeps track of the client’s requests in a log that is referred to as a “session.”

3. Master-slave Pattern

When several instances of the same request are made by clients, the “master-slave architecture pattern” is helpful. The requests must be handled simultaneously. These are some of its main traits:

· When it receives multiple requests at once, the master creates slaves.

· The procedure can only be said to be finished after all of the slaves have finished processing their individual requests.

Difference between Architecture patterns and Design Patterns

Architecture Patterns vs Design Patterns

Conclusion:

The table given below summarises the pros and cons of each architectural pattern.

Advantages and Disadvantages of each Architectural Pattern

Happy Reading!

Authors :

Kunjal Agrawal
Adwait Bhosale
Dhananjay Deore
Tejas Gadi
Rehannuddin Qazi

References :

1. Pattern-Oriented Software Architecture, Volume 1, A System of Patterns by Released August 1996 Publisher(s): WileyISBN: 9780471958697.
2. Software Engineering Idioms You Should Know, December 15, 2021, Enda Phelan.
3. Architectural Styles, Architecture Patterns, Design Patterns, and Language Idioms, July 2, 2017, Mohamed Sami.

Programming idiom - Wikipedia

Design Pattern - Overview