NAME: Visible forces CATEGORY:
Pattern structure and semantics
- PROBLEM: A pattern presents a solution to a problem within a context. How do you ensure
that the reader understands the
choice of solution?
- CONTEXT: You are writing a pattern or pattern language that is intended to convey one of
potentially several solutions to a
problem. You have applied Mandatory Elements Present; you are now writing the Forces section.
- FORCES:
- There are many different styles of patterns, some more structured than others.
- People like to have convenient handles for concepts such as the forces which affect the choice of
solution.
- Prose pattern descriptions can be very pleasing to read but may be hard to use as a reference because the
forces a$
- Having a separate Forces heading makes the forces very easy to find but may make the pattern less
pleasing
to read.
- Too much structure can impinge on the literary quality of a pattern.
- SOLUTION: Regardless of the style chosen for the pattern description, ensure that the forces are
highly visible. This can be done
by defining a meaningful "name" for each force and visually setting if off from text by making them minor headings, or by highlighting them
using fonts, underlining, or other typographic techniques.
- RATIONALE: There are many different styles of patterns, some more structured than others.Having a
separate Forces heading makes the forces very easy to find but may make the pattern less pleasing to read.
- DIAGRAM:
