I've actually been reading through Head First Design Patterns, and think it's a great book!
It uses a lot of example code but they are well thought out and clearly demonstrate the uses of the patterns. Granted, many of their examples are doing ridiculous things like simulating the actions of ducks, turkeys and chickens through text output, there are other examples that apply them to real-world scenarios. What I really like about the book is how the authors compare the different patterns head to head and explain how one is different than another. Another thing I like about the Head First Design Patterns book is that it states a lot of the advantages and disadvantages of the patterns and how to work around them. I have another book on my desk, Design Patterns by Gamma, Helm, Johnson and Vissides, that reads very much like a college text book - it has built in book marking ribbons, which is nice. Is this the one by the GoF? -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Glen Pike Sent: Wednesday, January 31, 2007 12:57 PM To: Flashcoders mailing list Subject: Re: [Flashcoders] Flair Pattern bad mixins good (?) My 0.02: GoF makes me very sleepy - I find it very dry and the chapters very long winded. (Sorry GoF'rs) Wait's for lightning bolt from on high... I have read it through once and understood some of it, but I have found snippets of information about patterns online which seem much clearer and less sleep inducing. I liked Colin Moock's chapters on patterns from the Essential ActionScript 2 books because they taught by tutorials which work towards a finished example rather than by printing snippets of code. I have learnt some C++, but don't code in it so I can sort of understand what is going on in GoF. My AS is better and I find that doing the Moock examples helped me more. I would be interested to know if Head First Design Patterns follows the same process as Moock - "learn by doing". I can handle that, although I will keep delving into GoF, keeping an oven timer handy to bring me back from the brink. :) Erik Bianchi wrote: > I think GoF is a great reference book but the writers aren't very gentle > about how they present information. It is very blunt and straight to the > point. Reminds me a bit of an old calculus book. > > The first time I read the GoF book I thought my head was going to explode. A > few years later though when I'm referencing a pattern it's a lot more clear > now for some reason. > > Also, It be nice if they revised using java or C# rather then C++. > > -erik > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of David Ham > Sent: Tuesday, January 30, 2007 7:02 PM > To: Flashcoders mailing list > Subject: Re: [Flashcoders] Flair Pattern bad mixins good (?) > > >> Been a while since I've posted here, a few years I think. I miss >> the geek >> tangents / debates. =) >> > > Good man! Seriously, the world affords precious few opportunities to > truly geek out on design patterns and such. Internet mailing lists > excepted of course. > > I have the Head First Design Patterns book, and I have to say I like > it, in spite of its profusion of clip art and cheesy humor. Despite > these stylistic affronts, it presents the material in a way that is > easy to learn. > > What's the consensus on the GoF book? I know it's a classic, but so > is Ulysses and dog if I can read that. I don't have a CS background-- > Flash is about as far as my programming expertise extends--so the > Head First style works for me. Is GoF accessible for people who don't > program in C++? > > OK > DAH > _______________________________________________ > Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com > To change your subscription options or search the archive: > http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders > > Brought to you by Fig Leaf Software > Premier Authorized Adobe Consulting and Training > http://www.figleaf.com > http://training.figleaf.com > > > _______________________________________________ > Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com > To change your subscription options or search the archive: > http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders > > Brought to you by Fig Leaf Software > Premier Authorized Adobe Consulting and Training > http://www.figleaf.com > http://training.figleaf.com > > > _______________________________________________ Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com To change your subscription options or search the archive: http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders Brought to you by Fig Leaf Software Premier Authorized Adobe Consulting and Training http://www.figleaf.com http://training.figleaf.com This e-mail and its attachments are intended only for the use of the addressee(s) and may contain privileged, confidential or proprietary information. If you are not the intended recipient, or the employee or agent responsible for delivering the message to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, displaying, copying, or use of this information is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please inform the sender immediately and delete and destroy any record of this message. Thank you. _______________________________________________ Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com To change your subscription options or search the archive: http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders Brought to you by Fig Leaf Software Premier Authorized Adobe Consulting and Training http://www.figleaf.com http://training.figleaf.com
