The article I chose for my blog entry is titled “Design Patterns” from Refactoring Guru. Design patterns are tried-and-true solutions to recurring problems in software design; they act as adaptable blueprints to guide programmers on how to solve design problems effectively in code. This article introduces design patterns, breaking down what they are, their history, and why they are valuable in object-oriented programming. Additionally, it covers why design patterns have become essential for developers, offering a common language for communicating solutions to complex design challenges.

Refactoring Guru’s article is structured into several sections, including “What are Design Patterns?”, “History of Design Patterns”, “Why Should I Learn Design Patterns?”, and “Criticism of Patterns”. The website offers a straightforward breakdown of why design patterns are essential, teaching programmers how to approach various challenges in object-oriented design. By establishing common concepts and practices, design patterns create a shared language for developers, enabling them to communicate and collaborate more efficiently.

The article also categorizes design patterns into three main types: creational patterns, structural patterns, and behavioral patterns. Each category serves a different purpose in software design:

1. Creational Patterns – These focus on creating objects in a way that supports flexibility and reusability, ensuring that objects are created efficiently and consistently to allow the project to scale.
2. Structural Patterns – These organize classes and objects into cohesive structures, making it easier to expand and modify systems. They help parts of a system interact smoothly while staying independent.
3. Behavioral Patterns – These improve communication and responsibility-sharing between objects, streamlining interactions to reduce complexity and make the system easier to manage.

After reading this article, I have a much deeper understanding of software architecture, especially within object-oriented design. Initially, I chose this topic because I wanted to enhance my understanding of design patterns for a homework assignment. Although we had a class discussion on the topic, I found myself struggling to grasp the purpose of design patterns fully. Learning about the intent behind patterns, including why they are named and applied in specific ways, has helped me see design patterns as as the core in building flexible, maintainable code.

In the future, I plan to use design patterns as a guideline and blueprint for project planning and implementation. I appreciate how design patterns provide a structured approach to problem-solving in software, allowing me to develop systems that can grow and change with ease. Additionally, I value how design patterns enable programmers to collaborate more effectively. By using a shared vocabulary, developers can discuss complex solutions more simply, making teamwork smoother and more efficient.

Overall, this article from Refactoring Guru has not only broadened my understanding of design patterns but also shown me how these patterns are a crucial part of becoming a proficient software engineer.

Sources:

https://refactoring.guru/design-patterns

Citation:

Design patterns. Refactoring.Guru. (n.d.). https://refactoring.guru/design-patterns 

From the blog CS@Worcester – CodedBear by donna abayon and used with permission of the author. All other rights reserved by the author.

Hello, this is my second blog post. Today I wanted to talk about something I learnt about in my Software Process Management class. The topic of this blog is two methodologies in software development; the waterfall method, and the Agile method.

For those who do not know, the waterfall method is a very “set-in-stone” methodology, where each part of the software development process is pre-determined with deadlines and time constraints. Something I dislike about this methodology is the lack of communication between the company and the people creating software for them. I think it is very important to have a strong connection during the whole process, not just the start and the end. The Agile method is more flexible. There are pre-determined steps, just like in the waterfall method, however, they are conducted in much shorter time intervals and repeated several times. This allows more communication between customers and developers.

In my opinion, both methodologies have their own uses, which is something we talked about during a class discussion. We were asked to speak about which methodology would be better in different situations. I think that for a large-scale community/government project (such as building a bridge), the waterfall method could be useful since a lot of communication is not needed with a certain customer. For projects where the developers are creating an app/product for a company, I think Agile outshines the waterfall methodology by far, due to the reasons listen in the above paragraph.

I also used this website to learn a bit more about both methodologies: Agile vs. waterfall project management | Atlassian

This website reinforced my ideas and outlook on both methodologies. It highlighted that in the waterfall method, you are unable to move forward without completely fulfilling the first “phase.” It also went into detail on how in the Agile methodology is more flexible than the waterfall methodology. The waterfall methodology is much less able to be changed in any way, and it is a very linear methodology. There are also some helpful images on this website which I would recommend checking out to visualize both methods!

From the blog cs@worcester – Akshay's Blog by Akshay Ganesh and used with permission of the author. All other rights reserved by the author.

Most of my time developing software so far has been with the back-end, I had to learn a decent amount about specific algorithms and because of the languages I worked with especially Java, learning about the Garbage Collection is something that’s been on my mind for a while. Overall, my time spent actually researching the Garbage Collector for Java has been very limited, all I knew was the baselines of the algorithms and the base of the functionality. While searching for some posts and information about the GC I came across a video from Inside Java that went over the Z Garbage Collector. Here is the link to said video, https://inside.java/2023/04/23/levelup-zgc/?utm_source=blog.quastor.org&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=scaling-microservices-at-doordash. For a quick summary of what is discussed in the video, there are multiple garbage collector types for Java, most of which are usually used in different scenarios. A quick description is given of these garbage collectors and some of their strengths in terms of throughput, memory footprint, latency and scalability. After discussing these, we learn more about ZGC which first released in a jdk11 development build for testing. Comparatively, ZGC is far better than pretty much every other GC in terms of scalability, heap allocation, latency and just overall performance. ZGC especially in terms of pause times is so much better that most other GC have a pause time in the terms of milliseconds, while ZGC has pause times in terms of microseconds. With accessibility in mind, when doing performance tuning for ZGC it is way easier, after jdk 17, it auto-adjusts itself to handle the amount of threads it will need for garbage collection, aside from that there is only the max heap allocation that the user should worry about tuning as well. The reason I am mostly interested in these types of algorithms and garbage collection systems in general is because many of the projects I’ve developed rely on them to be as efficient as possible, removing the unused data and keeping memory usage down. After listening to this I will most certainly either start using ZGC for my applications or do more research on the topic because for the most part I never paid too much attention to what GC my applications were using, it didn’t matter to me since I was uninformed on what exactly they did. Now that I know more about how specific GC’s function I’m most certainly going to start and try to apply ZGC to most of my projects as it seems it will be the most efficient for me.

From the blog CS@Worcester – CS Blog by Mike and used with permission of the author. All other rights reserved by the author.

Earlier in this course, I learned about UML diagrams, how to read them, how to make them, and so on. This section of the class stuck with me as I thought it was pretty interesting how we use these diagrams to “visualize” our code. I thought I’d gain some more insight on UML diagrams and possibly more on how they are used in the real world.

For those who aren’t so familiar with UML diagrams, let me give you some background. UML stands for “Unified Modeling Language” and is “a way to visually represent the architecture, design, and implementation of complex software systems” (Lucidchart). These diagrams can be generally divided into two types, structural and behavioral. Both types of UML diagrams are pretty self-explanatory but structural UML diagrams display the various pieces of a system and how they are related while behavioral UML diagrams show how the system “interacts with itself and with users, other systems, and other entities” (Lucidchart).

In this blogpost from Lucidchart, one of the first things that caught my eye was under the section “Why should you use UML diagrams?” Of the four bullet points, three of them had me nodding my head in agreement, these were:

• Bring new team members or developers switching teams up to speed quickly.
• Plan out new features before any programming takes place.
• Communicate with technical and non-technical audiences more easily.

To me, these points make perfect sense. I’m not very familiar with how development teams work in the real world but I assume that there are plenty of developers and others that may come and go in companies, groups, and such. It may sound like a simple switch or change but that new person may have no idea what they will be working on or how it will be worked on. UML diagrams could help them adjust more quickly and help them understand their role, team, and work better. As for planning, simply adding a new piece to the diagram to indicate a new piece of the system could help display the relationships to what they already have. And finally, UML diagrams are much easier to digest than multiple files, classes, blocks of code, and such, especially for those who are not developers. A customer may want some update or insight into what they are spending their money on, and so, teams can simply show them a UML diagram and point out where they are and where they plan to go.

Blogpost: https://www.lucidchart.com/blog/types-of-UML-diagrams

From the blog CS@Worcester – Kyler's Blog by kylerlai and used with permission of the author. All other rights reserved by the author.

In the realm of software development and design, UML (Unified Modeling Language) class diagrams play a pivotal role. The blog post “UML Class Diagram Explained with Examples” by Algomaster provides a comprehensive overview of class diagrams, illustrating their importance in modeling the structure of a system.

Code, while essential for functionality, is not always the best medium for conveying complex relationships between components. To address this challenge, the Unified Modeling Language (UML) class diagram provides an abstract visual representation of the structure of a system. The blog post by Algomaster, offers a detailed explanation of UML class diagrams, including key concepts such as classes, attributes, methods, and associations. This resource was particularly relevant to our recent assignment on Modeling with UML Class Diagrams, where we were tasked with designing class diagrams to represent a student-course scheduling system.

The blog post breaks down the structure of UML class diagrams, explaining each component in detail with accompanying examples. The tutorial begins by outlining the core elements of a class diagram, including classes, attributes, methods, and associations.

I selected this blog post because it provides a clear, concise explanation of UML class diagrams and their practical application, which directly ties into the Modeling with UML Class Diagrams assignment. This resource helped me better understand how to translate Java code into a UML diagram by identifying key components such as classes, attributes, and methods. Additionally, the visual nature of the tutorial, with its real-life examples, made it easier to grasp abstract concepts and apply them to my assignment.

I feel more confident in my ability to design and interpret UML class diagrams. Visit the original post on Algomaster: UML Class Diagram Explained with Examples.

From the blog SoftwareDiary by Oanh Nguyen and used with permission of the author. All other rights reserved by the author.

After spending some time exploring algorithms and blogs, I came across a post on a consistent hashing algorithm. I have had an interest in hashing and have found growing use for hashing algorithms as my classes and programming complexity progresses. This article is found on highscalability.com, and it is focused on providing a tutorial to understand how to use a consistent hashing algorithm for partitioning and load-balancing. The article’s title is Consistent Hashing Algorithm by NK

The blog identifies consistent hashing as an algorithm used to distribute data across multiple nodes in a distributed system, minimizing data movement when nodes are added or removed. It works by placing both nodes and data keys on a virtual hash ring. A virtual hash ring is a technique where each node is assigned a position on the ring based on the hash value of its identifier. The blog explains further that data keys are also hashed to determine their position on the rin as well. When a key needs to be stored or retrieved, the system traverses the ring in a clockwise direction until it finds the first node that is closest to the key’s hash position. This method ensures that only a small portion of the data needs to be redistributed when nodes are added or removed, making the system more easily scalable. The blog identifies these strategies and techniques to be best used in web development to handle caches. Through several figures, NK identifies as a way to improve load balancing and avoid hotspots, consistent hashing can use virtual versions of these nodes, where each physical node is mapped to multiple positions on the ring virtually. This technique can be essential for scaling distributed systems, like caching systems and distributed databases, that need to handle dynamic loads while maintaining high availability.

This is a topic that interested me greatly as I have–in conversations with friends in Computer Science–been consistently recommended to learn more about hashing. Through the CS-343 course, I have been looking for more ideas for algorithms and techniques to learn to improve my understanding as my senior year progresses. I will be prepared to answer questions regarding consistent hashing thanks to this article. This is of great value to me as I will continue to look for more on this topic, as I explore software development. While I did not cover every example or style found in the article, I found it all extremely interesting and comprehensive. This blog has many examples and well-made figures to explain things in a simple manner, and I will continue to use highscalability to learn more.

Source:https://highscalability.com/consistent-hashing-algorithm/

From the blog CS@Worcester – WSU CS Blog: Ben Gelineau by Ben Gelineau and used with permission of the author. All other rights reserved by the author.

Ever work with code that feels like it’s about to fall apart? That’s often due to design smells, which are signs of poor design that make code harder to work with. Here’s a quick rundown of six big ones: Rigidity, Fragility, Immobility, Viscosity, Needless Complexity, Needless Repetition, and Opacity

1. Rigidity

Rigidity is when code is hard to change. You try to update a small feature, and suddenly you’re changing ten other things just to make it work. This makes the code stiff, leading to slow updates and frustration.

2. Fragility

Fragility means that the code breaks easily. A small change in one part of the codebase suddenly causes errors all over. Fragile code is typically too tightly coupled, meaning different parts rely too much on each other, making even minor updates risky.

3. Immobility

Immobility happens when you can’t easily reuse code in other projects. Maybe you’ve written a method that could be helpful elsewhere, but it relies on so many project-specific details that you can’t transfer it without dragging a ton of dependencies. Immobile code wastes potential and limits flexibility.

4. Viscosity

Viscosity means the code is easier to “quick-fix” than fix the right way. The messy design makes doing things properly so difficult that developers often take shortcuts, creating even more technical debt. Viscous code tempts us to compromise, resulting in even messier code over time.

5. Needless Complexity

Needless complexity is adding extra, unneeded elements to the code. This could be because someone thought, “We might need this someday,” or because they’re solving non-existent problems. Extra complexity doesn’t just add confusion; it makes the code harder to read, test, and debug. Simple solutions are usually best.

6. Needless Repetition

Needless repetition is when you see similar code blocks everywhere instead of consolidating them. When you repeat code instead of centralizing it, it violates the DRY (Don’t Repeat Yourself) principle. This makes code harder to maintain, as changes need to be made in multiple places instead of just one.

7. Opacity

Opacity is when code is confusing and hard to read. Maybe variable names don’t make sense, logic is overly complex, or comments are missing. Opaque code is like a puzzle, requiring extra time to understand, and slowing down productivity.

Why It Matters

Design smells don’t stop your code from working, but they make it harder to understand, change, and maintain. Ignoring them means the code gets more frustrating to deal with over time. By refactoring to remove these smells, you make the code cleaner, easier to work with, and more enjoyable for everyone on your team. Next time you’re reviewing code, look out for these design smells, your future self will thank you!

From the blog CS@Worcester – Anairdo's WSU Computer Science Blog by anairdoduri and used with permission of the author. All other rights reserved by the author.

The piece “Draw Your Own Map” encourages individuals to take control of their career paths rather than relying solely on their employers or societal expectations. It addresses the common notion that programming and career advancement in the field are limited, especially for those who may not fit the stereotype of fresh graduates. It emphasizes the importance of identifying one’s own career goals and taking proactive steps to achieve them.

The solution proposed involves identifying logical yet ambitious career steps and visualizing the incremental actions needed to reach those goals. It advocates for taking the first step, even if seemingly insignificant, as it generates momentum towards larger aspirations. Rather than setting only high-level goals, the article suggests defining small, achievable steps that provide feedback and aid in obtaining assistance from like-minded individuals.

The narrative includes personal stories illustrating individuals’ struggles to pursue programming despite organizational constraints. It highlights the importance of prioritizing personal aspirations over organizational expectations and seeking opportunities that align with one’s goals.

The actionable advice includes listing potential career paths, extending the list to explore additional options, and challenging preconceived constraints to open up new possibilities. It also encourages seeking mentors and kindred spirits who can provide guidance and support along the way.

Overall, the piece advocates for a proactive and flexible approach to career planning, empowering individuals to chart their own paths and overcome obstacles to achieve their desired destinations. What I thought was the most important of this piece is the career planning aspect of it especially since this semester I am finishing up my degree and starting on looking for a career, this also like points me in the write direction on a professional work future.

From the blog CS@Worcester – CS- Raquel Penha by raqpenha and used with permission of the author. All other rights reserved by the author.

The article “Pairwise Testing” by Ryan Craven explores into the concept and application of pairwise testing, a powerful technique used in software testing to enhance efficiency and effectiveness. Pairwise testing, also known as all-pairs testing, aims to analytically reduce the number of test cases required to test a system while still maintaining thorough coverage.

This blog begins by introducing the problem of combinatorial explosion in testing. Traditional thorough testing, where every possible combination of inputs is tested, quickly becomes impractical as the number of variables or parameters increases. Pairwise testing offers a solution to this problem by focusing on testing pairs of input values. The key insight is that many faults in software are caused by interactions between pairs of inputs rather than individual inputs themselves.

The author explains the core principles behind pairwise testing, emphasizing its ability to efficiently cover many combinations by selecting a representative subset. This approach significantly reduces the number of test cases needed compared to exhaustive testing while still providing effective coverage.

This blog also shares the concept of pairwise testing with a simple example involving a fictional coffee shop application. By identifying the parameters and their respective values (e.g., coffee size, type, extras), he demonstrates how pairwise testing can be applied to generate a minimal set of test cases that cover all possible pairs of values.

Also, the article discusses the benefits and limitations of pairwise testing. While it offers substantial reductions in test case count and provides good coverage, it may not detect faults involving interactions between more than two inputs. Craven advises on when pairwise testing is most suitable, such as in situations with limited time and resources or when dealing with complex systems with numerous input parameters.

This was a good blog post to read because it covered somethings we talked about in class during the group work. Through clear explanations and examples, the article serves as a helpful guide for understanding and applying pairwise testing in real-world scenarios. This is definitely something that will be very useful in the feature as my professional career expanded

From the blog CS@Worcester – CS- Raquel Penha by raqpenha and used with permission of the author. All other rights reserved by the author.