Refactoring to Design Patterns by Example

This course begins with examination of a realistic application, which is poorly factored and doesn't incorporate design patterns. The demo application converts text into subtitles for videos, which makes it quite useful in practice. Yet, it is nearly impossible to maintain and develop this application further, due to its poor structure and design.

That is the point at which the course begins. As demonstration after demonstration will unfold, we will refactor this entire application, one function and one class at a time. During refactoring, many design patterns will fit into place almost without effort. By the end of the course, you will know how code refactoring and design patterns - one coding practice and one design practice - can operate together and help each other create great design.

What's inside

Learning objectives

How to apply design patterns while refactoring an existing application

How to contain complexity of the business domain while performing small refactoring and redesign steps

How to apply design patterns while refactoring an existing application
How to contain complexity of the business domain while performing small refactoring and redesign steps

Syllabus

We will examine a realistic application which was developed hastily, and hence is poorly factored. This application will be the subject of refactoring and redesign through the entire course.

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Focuses on refactoring techniques, which are essential for maintaining and improving existing codebases, making it highly relevant for developers working on legacy systems

Explores design patterns like Strategy, Composite, Decorator, Builder, Rules, and Visitor, which are valuable for creating flexible and maintainable software architectures

Uses a realistic application as a case study, providing practical insights into how refactoring and design patterns can be applied in real-world scenarios

Emphasizes the importance of proper naming and project structure, which are crucial for code readability and maintainability, and are often overlooked in hastily developed applications

Requires familiarity with object-oriented programming concepts and software development principles, which may be a barrier for beginners without prior experience

Relies on refactoring tools, so learners will benefit from having access to and familiarity with such tools in their development environment

Reviews summary

Practical refactoring with design patterns

According to learners, this course excels at demonstrating how to apply design patterns while performing code refactoring on a realistic application. Many students found the step-by-step demonstrations and the focus on practical application to be the course's strongest points, highlighting how it helped solidify their understanding of patterns like Strategy, Composite, Decorator, and Visitor in a hands-on context. While the course is largely positively received, some reviewers note that it is best suited for those with existing coding experience and a basic understanding of design principles, finding the pace challenging at times if lacking prerequisites. Overall, it is considered a valuable resource for improving code quality and maintainability.

Instructor explains complex topics clearly.

"The instructor's explanations are clear and easy to follow, even for potentially complex topics."

"Liked the instructor's step-by-step approach to breaking down the refactoring process."

"The way the instructor navigates the code and explains the 'why' behind each refactoring step is very helpful."

Excellent demonstration of patterns in practice.

"Learned how to apply patterns like Strategy, Composite, and Decorator effectively while refactoring the code."

"The course does a great job showing how various design patterns naturally fit into the refactoring process."

"It's not just theory; the course shows practical application of design patterns to solve real coding problems."

"This course truly helped solidify my understanding of how to use design patterns in everyday coding."

Uses a realistic example for refactoring process.

"The course uses a realistic example application, which makes the refactoring steps and decisions very clear and relatable."

"Seeing the refactoring process applied step-by-step on a non-trivial piece of code is the most valuable aspect of this course."

"Unlike theoretical courses, this one demonstrates *how* to actually refactor existing, poorly structured code using practical examples."

"I appreciated the focus on improving existing code rather than just building from scratch with patterns."

The course moves quickly at times.

"The pace is quite fast; I had to pause and rewatch lectures frequently to grasp the concepts fully."

"Some sections felt a bit rushed, especially when introducing more complex pattern applications."

"Definitely requires active engagement and cannot be passively watched to get the most out of it."

Best for those with existing coding knowledge.

"You need a solid grasp of programming concepts and object-oriented design principles before taking this course."

"This course is definitely not for absolute beginners; prior coding experience is a must."

"Found it challenging without a strong background in design patterns, though the refactoring part was still useful."

"The course assumes a certain level of familiarity with programming best practices."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Refactoring to Design Patterns by Example with these activities:

Review Object-Oriented Programming Principles

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Solidify your understanding of object-oriented principles to better grasp the design patterns covered in the course. This will help you understand the 'why' behind refactoring.

Browse courses on SOLID Principles

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Read articles or watch videos on OOP principles.
Review code examples demonstrating these principles.
Identify areas in your existing code where these principles could be applied.

Read 'Refactoring: Improving the Design of Existing Code'

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Deepen your understanding of refactoring techniques and best practices. This book provides a comprehensive guide to refactoring, complementing the course's practical examples.

View Melania on Amazon

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Read the book's introductory chapters.
Study the refactoring catalog.
Relate the book's examples to the course's application.

Practice Refactoring Small Code Snippets

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Reinforce your understanding of refactoring techniques by applying them to small, isolated code snippets. This will help you develop muscle memory and improve your refactoring skills.

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Find small code snippets online or in your own projects.
Identify areas for refactoring.
Apply refactoring techniques from the course.
Compare your refactored code to the original.

Four other activities

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Read 'Design Patterns: Elements of Reusable Object-Oriented Software'

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Gain a deeper understanding of design patterns and their applications. This book provides a comprehensive catalog of design patterns, complementing the course's practical examples.

View Design Patterns on Amazon

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Read the book's introductory chapters.
Study the design pattern catalog.
Relate the book's examples to the course's application.

Refactor an Existing Open-Source Project

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Apply your refactoring skills to a real-world project to gain practical experience. This will expose you to the challenges of refactoring larger codebases and working with existing code.

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Find an open-source project with areas for improvement.
Identify specific refactoring goals.
Create a plan for refactoring the code.
Implement the refactoring plan.
Submit your changes as a pull request.

Write a Blog Post on a Design Pattern

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Solidify your understanding of a specific design pattern by explaining it in your own words. This will force you to think critically about the pattern and its applications.

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Choose a design pattern from the course.
Research the pattern and its applications.
Write a blog post explaining the pattern.
Include code examples and diagrams.
Publish your blog post online.

Help Others with Refactoring Questions

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Reinforce your understanding by helping others learn. Explaining concepts to others solidifies your own knowledge and identifies areas where you may need further clarification.

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Participate in online forums or communities.
Answer questions about refactoring and design patterns.
Explain concepts in your own words.

Career center

Learners who complete Refactoring to Design Patterns by Example will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Backend Engineer

A backend engineer specializes in the server side logic and databases of a software application. Backend engineers would benefit from this course, as the focus on refactoring to design patterns by example is directly relevant to improving code quality and maintaining server side systems. The course emphasizes decoupling logic, restructuring complex code, and isolating infrastructural concerns, providing the necessary skills for writing cleaner, more robust backend code. The course's examination of how to refactor a poorly factored application is highly relevant.

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Senior Developer

A senior developer is an experienced programmer who contributes to design and architecture decisions. This course, focusing on refactoring to design patterns by example, is beneficial to the role. The course's emphasis on refactoring a poorly factored application into one that incorporates design patterns closely aligns with the senior developer's need to improve codebases and mentor junior developers. Gaining skill in applying design patterns while refactoring assists senior developers in making informed decisions about system design and code structure. Learning how to identify refactoring targets is particularly useful.

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Software Architect

A software architect designs the structure of software systems. This course, focusing on refactoring to design patterns by example, is highly relevant to the role. Software architects must understand how to improve existing codebases and make them more maintainable. The course's emphasis on refactoring a poorly factored application into one that incorporates design patterns closely mirrors the architect's work. Learning how to apply design patterns while refactoring helps a software architect build a solid foundation for creating robust and scalable software. The course's examination of a realistic application that is subsequently refactored provides practical insight into real world challenges.

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Technical Lead

A technical lead guides a team of developers, providing technical expertise and overseeing project execution. This course, with its focus on refactoring to design patterns by example, directly benefits technical leads who must ensure code quality and maintainability. The course's emphasis on decoupling logic, restructuring complex code, and isolating infrastructural concerns equips leads with the skills to guide their teams in writing cleaner, more robust code. By understanding how to refactor a poorly factored application, a technical lead can provide valuable guidance and mentorship to their team, improving the overall quality of the software developed.

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Application Architect

An application architect designs the structure and behavior of individual applications. This role may benefit from this course. Application architects need a deep understanding of design patterns and refactoring techniques to ensure application maintainability and scalability. Focusing on refactoring to design patterns by example, this course provides application architects with the skills to build a solid foundation for creating robust applications. Application architects may gain knowledge in how to apply design patterns while refactoring and how to contain the complexity of the business domain while performing design steps.

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Software Consultant

A software consultant advises organizations on how to use software to achieve their goals. This course, with its emphasis on refactoring to design patterns by example, is valuable for software consultants who must assess existing systems and recommend improvements. The course's lessons on decoupling logic, restructuring complex code, and isolating infrastructural concerns equips consultants with the knowledge to identify areas for optimization and recommend more efficient solutions. The course's practical approach of refactoring a realistic application provides software consultants with real world insight.

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Software Developer

A software developer builds and maintains software applications. This course provides a practical approach to improving code quality and design, directly benefiting those in the role. The focus on refactoring a poorly factored application and implementing design patterns is crucial for writing clean, maintainable code. Software developers can leverage the course's lessons on decoupling logic, restructuring complex code, and isolating infrastructural concerns to improve the overall quality of their work. The course's emphasis on identifying refactoring targets and applying design patterns may be useful to developers seeking to level up their coding skills.

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Full-Stack Developer

A full stack developer works on both the front end and back end of web applications. Full stack developers, who need a broad range of skills, may find a practical approach to improving code quality and design, as is taught in this course, helpful. The emphasis on refactoring a poorly factored application and implementing design patterns is crucial for writing clean, maintainable code both on the front end and back end. Full stack developers can leverage the course's lessons on decoupling logic, restructuring complex code, and isolating infrastructural concerns to improve the overall quality of their work. Full stack developers seeking to level up their coding skills should consider this course.

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Systems Analyst

A systems analyst examines existing systems to identify areas for improvement and design new systems to meet business needs. Although this course is tailored for software developers, the emphasis on refactoring to design patterns by example may assist system analysts. The course's focus on identifying infrastructural concerns and isolating domain rules complements a systems analyst's need to understand system architecture. The practical approach of refactoring a realistic application to incorporate design patterns may be helpful when understanding existing systems and envisioning improvements. Those wishing to better understand code and design patterns may find this course useful.

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Firmware Engineer

A firmware engineer develops the software embedded in hardware devices. This course emphasizes refactoring to design patterns by example, so it's relevance may be limited. However, firmware engineers may find value in this course. The fact that the course focuses on refactoring a poorly factored application into one that incorporates design patterns may assist those who work with legacy systems. Firmware engineers may wish to take this course to better understand design patterns.

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Quality Assurance Engineer

A quality assurance engineer tests software to ensure it meets quality standards and functions correctly. While this course centers on code refactoring and design patterns, a QA engineer may find some value in it. Understanding how code is structured and how design patterns are implemented can help QA engineers create more effective test cases and identify potential issues. Lessons on identifying infrastructural concerns may assists QA engineers in their work. This course may be useful for understanding the structure of code.

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DevOps Engineer

A devops engineer automates and streamlines software development and deployment processes. This course, with its focus on refactoring to design patterns by example, is somewhat relevant. Lessons on improving code quality and maintainability can help devops engineers understand the code they are deploying and supporting. The course's emphasis on identifying infrastructural concerns and isolating domain rules complements a devops engineer's need to understand system architecture. Those wishing to better understand code and design patterns may find this course useful.

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Cloud Architect

A cloud architect designs and implements cloud computing solutions for organizations. Cloud architects may find this course helpful. While the course focuses on refactoring to design patterns, understanding software architecture principles can indirectly assist in designing scalable and efficient cloud deployments. The course's emphasis on identifying infrastructural concerns may provide cloud architects with a broader perspective on system architecture. Those wishing to better understand code and design patterns may find this course useful.

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Data Architect

A data architect designs and manages the structure of an organization's data assets. While this course focuses on software refactoring and design patterns, a data architect may gain some knowledge. Understanding how to structure code and apply design patterns can indirectly assist in designing data models and data flows. The course's emphasis on identifying infrastructural concerns may provide data architects with a broader perspective on system architecture. Those wishing to better understand code and design patterns may find this course useful.

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Database Administrator

A database administrator manages and maintains databases, ensuring data integrity and availability. While this course centers on software refactoring and design patterns, a database administrator may find some value in it. Understanding how code is structured and how design patterns are implemented can indirectly helps database administrators with their tasks. The course may be useful for understanding the structure of code.

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Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Refactoring to Design Patterns by Example.

Design Patterns

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Known as the "Gang of Four" book, this classic text on design patterns. It provides a comprehensive overview of common design patterns, their structure, and their application. is essential for understanding the design patterns that are introduced during the refactoring process in the course. It provides the theoretical foundation and practical examples to effectively apply design patterns in software development.