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One of my favorite talks! Seriously! Here you have my graphic recording!

graphic-recordings

Just as he goes on after this, just because we use functions in elixir, this doesn’t mean those design patterns disappear magically, we have them in other forms and shapes.

Yes! We have to keep in mind that the GoF book was written a long time ago and a lot of the problems they were trying to solve revolved around the combination of OO and static typing. Fast forward a few decades and languages like Elixir have fewer constraints and the benefit of many years of experience.

But what doesn’t change with the language is that programming challenges come in all sizes and shapes and – no matter which programming language you are using – some of those challenges will be both common and just beyond what is straight forward to code in the language. And then you need a toolkit of known to work solutions.

Unfortunately design patterns went thru a period of insane over use – I actually worked with people who believed with all of their heart that any programming problem could be solved with the proper application of one – or perhaps seven or eight in combination-- of the GoF patterns. The result was write only code. The resulting backlash kind of poisoned the whole idea in many minds.

I do think the functional world would be helped by folks finding and documenting patterns, but, at least in the circles I travel in, we are going to have to find a different word.

Just watching this now - it’s great to see José looking happy and healthy (I can’t be the only one who worries he (and others like Chris) overwork themselves sometimes!)

The only book I have read about design patterns is Design Patterns in Ruby by @russolsen and it is one of my favourite tech books of all time! Russ is an amazing author and very eloquently (and entertainingly!) explains how to apply the patterns. I’ve asked him a few times whether he’d consider doing one on Elixir! In fact if Russ wrote a book about Elixir on any topic I would be the first to buy it!

Wonder what others think about design patterns in Elixir? They’re all functions?

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