Software patterns have revolutionized the way developers think about how software is designed, built, and documented, and this unique book offers an in-depth look of what patterns are, what they are not, and how to use them successfully The only book to attempt to develop a comprehensive language that integrates patterns from key literature, it also serves as a reference manual for all pattern-oriented software architecture (POSA) patterns Addresses the question of what a pattern language is and compares various pattern paradigms Developers and programmers operating in an object-oriented environment will find this book to be an invaluable resource