Software Architecture and Design Patterns

Hi Friends..........

(This is my first blog post. I'm welcoming myself and all you guys out there. Whatever i'm posting its only upto my knowledge. so if there is something wrong, do correct me. Okay after all this, lets see why i'm here for....)

I'd like to share something about software architecture but before that we need to be aware of what exactly is software which we've been hearing since our engineering days.

SOFTWARE is a collection of programs and associated data which tells a computer what to do and how to do it.

Software is of 2 types:-Generic and Customized software.

Generic software is designed for a large user group with common requirements. The requirements and specification is controlled by the developer. EX: Word Processor.

Customized software is developed to meet the requirements of a specific user. The requirements specification is controlled by the user. EX: Hospital management system.

Lets move on to architecture, Well what actually is an architecture?

The word architecture can have different meanings depending on the context in which it is used.

Architecture could be:

• a man made building or a large structure.
• Iin a larger perspective,design of a park,city or landscape.
  
• a well designed object such as a chair or spoon.

After knowing the terms software and separately,we shall try combing them…..

SOFTWARE ARCHITECTURE is a conceptual framework indicating structural elements that make the system,their relationships and their interaction to fulfill the system requirements.

he various requirements which needs to be accounted are:

Reliability, Usability, Scalability, Maintainability.

Now lets see what are Patterns????

Generally PATTERNS are something which are well known and recurs in a predictable manner. It can be created or can reuse an existing one when the need arises. Ex: Pipes

Using a pattern, we can create a design.

DESIGN PATTERN is a general reusable solution to a commonly occurring problem within a given context. They are medium scale patterns and platform independant. EX: publisher-subscriber.

(Thanks for your time)