Head First Design Patterns

by Eric Freeman, Elisabeth Robson, Bert Bates, Kathy Sierra

Overview

What’s so special about design patterns?

At any given moment, someone struggles with the same software design problems you have. And, chances are, someone else has already solved your problem. This edition of Head First Design Patterns—now updated for Java 8—shows you the tried-and-true, road-tested patterns used by developers to create functional, elegant, reusable, and flexible software. By the time you finish this book, you’ll be able to take advantage of the best design practices and experiences of those who have fought the beast of software design and triumphed.

What’s so special about this book?

We think your time is too valuable to spend struggling with new concepts. Using the latest research in cognitive science and learning theory to craft a multi-sensory learning experience, Head First Design Patterns uses a visually rich format designed for the way your brain works, not a text-heavy approach that puts you to sleep.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780596007126
Publisher:	O'Reilly Media, Incorporated
Publication date:	10/22/2004
Series:	Head First
Pages:	692
Product dimensions:	8.00(w) x 9.25(h) x 1.40(d)

About the Author

Eric Freeman recently ended nearly a decade as a media company executive, having held the position of CTO of Disney Online & Disney.com at The Walt Disney Company. Eric is now devoting his time to WickedlySmart.com and lives with his wife and young daughter in Austin, TX. He holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Yale University.

Elisabeth Robson is co-founder of Wickedly Smart, an education company devoted to helping customers gain mastery in web technologies. She's co-author of four bestselling books, Head First Design Patterns, Head First HTML and CSS, Head First HTML5 Programming, and Head First JavaScript Programming.

Bert Bates is a 20-year software developer, a Java instructor, and a co-developer of Sun's upcoming EJB exam (Sun Certified Business Component Developer). His background features a long stint in artificial intelligence, with clients like the Weather Channel, A&E Network, Rockwell, and Timken.

Kathy Sierra has been interested in learning theory since her days as a game developer (Virgin, MGM, Amblin'). More recently, she's been a master trainer for Sun Microsystems, teaching Sun's Java instructors how to teach the latest technologies to customers, and a lead developer of several Sun certification exams. Along with her partner Bert Bates, Kathy created the Head First series. She's also the original founder of the Software Development/Jolt Productivity Award-winning javaranch.com, the largest (and friendliest) all-volunteer Java community.

Table of Contents

• Praise for Head First Design Patterns
• More Praise for Head First Design Patterns
• Praise for other books by Eric Freeman and Elisabeth Robson
• Authors of Head First Design Patterns
• Creators of the Head First series (and co-conspirators on this book)
• How to Use This Book: Intro
• Chapter 1: Intro to Design Patterns: Welcome to Design Patterns
• Chapter 2: The Observer Pattern: Keeping your Objects in the know
• Chapter 3: The Decorator Pattern: Decorating Objects
• Chapter 4: The Factory Pattern: Baking with OO Goodness
• Chapter 5: The Singleton Pattern: One of a Kind Objects
• Chapter 6: The Command Pattern: Encapsulating Invocation
• Chapter 7: The Adapter and Facade Patterns: Being Adaptive
• Chapter 8: The Template Method Pattern: Encapsulating Algorithms
• Chapter 9: The Iterator and Composite Patterns: Well-Managed Collections
• Chapter 10: The State Pattern: The State of Things
• Chapter 11: The Proxy Pattern: Controlling Object Access
• Chapter 12: Compound Patterns: Patterns of Patterns
• Chapter 13: Better Living with Patterns: Patterns in the Real World
• Leftover Patterns
•  
• Mighty Gumball
• Colophon

Editorial Reviews

The Barnes & Noble Review
If there’s one subject that needs to be taught better, needs to be more fun to learn, it’s design patterns. Thank goodness for Head First Design Patterns.

From the awesome Head First Java folks, this book uses every conceivable trick to help you understand and remember. Not just loads of pictures: pictures of humans, which tend to interest other humans. Surprises everywhere. Stories, because humans love narrative. (Stories about things like pizza and chocolate. Need we say more?) Plus, it’s darned funny.

It also covers an enormous swath of concepts and techniques, including nearly all the patterns you’ll use most (observer, decorator, factory, singleton, command, adapter, façade, template method, iterator, composite, state, proxy). Read it, and those won’t be “just words”: they’ll be memories that tickle you, and tools you own. Bill Camarda, from the January 2005 Read Only

bn.com