Patterns

As a student and practitioner of design, programming, writing and music I've come to see that there are sequences of ideas and relationships between objects that repeat again and again across domains. The best way I can illustrate this point is to talk about design patterns. Pattern language was introduced in a series of books by Christopher Alexander in 1977, that catalogued repeating patterns in architecture, buildings and landscaped spaces.

I think it is a very human thing to look for patterns, and to play with patterns, take a look at Aza Raskin's Algorithm Ink an implementation of context free grammar in the spirit of processing. Each of these shows the playful side of patterns.

Computer programmers use patterns all the time, in the 90's it was recognized that whether they know it or not most programming is CRUD, so gain some REST, learn the patterns.

Story tellers use patterns too, though our mentor in this case came a few thousand years before Chris Alexander. Aristotle wrote Poetics in 335 BCE. Poetics stands the test of time so well that my most recent book purchase is Aristotle's Poetics for Screenwriters by Michael Tierno (a script reader for Disney).

Pattern discipline is also evident in these areas:

• Influence and Sales
• Time Management
• Musical looping