PATTERNS OF DATA MODELING- P6: Models provide the means for building quality software in a predictable manner. Models let developers think deeply about software and cope with large size and complexity. Developers can think abstractly before becoming enmeshed in the details of writing code. Although models are beneficial, they can be difficult to construct. That is where patterns come in. Patterns provide building blocks that help developers construct models faster and better. | 6 Chapter 1 Introduction Canonical model a submodel that provides a useful service for many applications. A canonical model is an abstract service that is not bound to a particular problem domain in contrast to a seed model. Chapter Summary Models are the key to successful software development. Models help you think deeply focus on the important issues reconcile your thoughts with others and ultimately build the software. Models enable you to achieve the conceptual integrity that is essential to quality development. A pattern is a model fragment that is profound and recurring. A pattern is a proven solution to a specified problem that has stood the test of time. Patterns are important in that they help developers build models better and faster which leads to building software better and faster. The fundamental treatment of patterns in this book contrasts with the applicationspecific seed models that dominate the database literature. In this book pattern is an overarching term that encompasses mathematical templates antipatterns archetypes identity and canonical models. Bibliographic Notes Hoberman-2009 has an especially lucid explanation of modeling. Blaha-1998 Elmasri-2006 Hernandez-2003 and Teorey-2006 present processes for data modeling and database design. Alexander-1979 discusses patterns for the architecture of buildings. Alexander s book has been highly influential in the software patterns community and helped to initiate the field. Most of the software patterns literature concerns design and implementation patterns. Gamma-1995 is a classic book that focuses on patterns for programming design. Buschmann-1996 discusses architectural patterns design patterns and idioms. Arlow-2004 Coad-1992 Fowler-1997 Hay-1996 and Silverston-2001a b address data modeling patterns. I regard many of their patterns with no criticism intended to be seeds for applications rather than true patterns. Ironically each of the authors use a different notation. Silverston-2009 is .
