Unconventional Software Design Patterns: My Personal Approach

As an experienced software developer, I have spent more time in the field than design patterns themselves or at least longer than they have been officially recognized. Throughout my career, I have developed a unique approach to software design that has proven to be highly efficient and maintainable. In this article, I will share my unconventional design patterns, particularly the use of Control Tables, which have significantly impacted the way I architect my software solutions.

Introduction to Control Tables

A Control Table is a data structure that contains extremely compact data used to dictate the rapid execution of actual working code. While not widely recognized in the industry, this approach has allowed me to easily "desk check" all possible input conditions and required actions at a glance. This provides a fast technique to route the necessary instructions to achieve the desired outcomes.

I have found that the Control Table approach makes it possible to design systems that are simple, understandable, and can be easily maintained or discarded when necessary. This is in stark contrast to the more complex and abstract design patterns that are often used in industry. My focus is on practical, efficient, and maintainable solutions, which I believe is the primary goal of software development.

The Essence of Control Tables

The design of a Control Table starts with building a decision table, which involves determining the possible input conditions and the corresponding actions required. The decision table is then refined and pruned to ensure it is as efficient as possible. The final step is to turn this into a "hard-coded" array that can be processed directly as part of the program cycle.

I use multiple "tight range" index values to initiate SWITCH/CASE statements, essentially acting as jump tables in Assembler. This approach allows for faster and more efficient code execution, as the processing time is significantly reduced by eliminating the need for complex conditional statements.

Building Decision Tables

While there are excellent resources available for building decision tables, such as the description provided by Dave Ferguson, it is important to note that his example is based on a different context. His example focuses on determining the discount to give a customer rather than the premium calculation. This can easily lead to confusion if you are looking to implement a Control Table for a different purpose.

For developers interested in leveraging the concept of Control Tables, it is essential to adapt the decision table to your specific use case. Instead of focusing on discounts, consider how you can represent your system's rules and conditions in a compact and efficient data structure. Once you have this streamlined decision table, the next step is to transform it into a working Control Table array.

Why I Focus on Practical Solutions

As a seasoned software developer, I am more concerned with writing simple and maintainable code than with exploring the latest design patterns. My goal is to create software solutions that are easy to understand and can be quickly modified or discarded if needed. This pragmatic approach has proven to be highly effective and has allowed me to deliver successful projects on time and within budget.

I recognize that there is a place for design patterns in academia and research, but my focus is on practical, real-world applications. I believe that the best solutions are those that are simple, effective, and can be easily maintained. This is the core philosophy that guides my work.

Conclusion

In conclusion, my approach to software design is centered around practical and maintainable solutions. While my unconventional use of Control Tables may not be recognized by the industry, I have found that it works well in my workflow and allows for efficient and maintainable code. If you are looking for a different approach to software design, perhaps it is worth considering the use of Control Tables.

Do you have any other unconventional design patterns that you have found to be effective? Share your thoughts in the comments below and let us know how you approach software design in innovative ways.