8 Best Design Patterns Books for 2024 [Plus Design Patterns Interview Course]

Today we’re showing you the best design patterns books for this year.

What are design patterns?

Design patterns are general solutions to commonly occurring problems in software design.

So, there are 4 types of design patterns:

✅ Behavioral

✅ Creational

✅ Structural

✅ Architectural

They each contain repeatable templates to solve problems in multiple situations.

Each pattern describes a problem that occurs over and over again in our environment, and then describes the core of the solution to that problem, in such a way that you can use this solution a million times over, without ever doing it the same way twice.

– Christopher Alexander, Architect and Design Theorist

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TLDR: 8 Best Design Patterns Books

♻️ Design patterns are general and reusable solutions to common problems in software design.

🚫 Design patterns can’t be transformed directly into code because they aren’t finished designs.

👍 Rather, they’re templates for how to solve problems. Also, they speed up the development process.

📚 Here are our picks for best design patterns books:

🔥Best Value 🔥
Head First Design Patterns: A Brain-Friendly Guide

🔥 Best OOP Book for Machine Learners 🔥
Machine Learning Design Patterns

🔥 Best OOP Book for Enterprise Devs 🔥
Patterns of Enterprise Application Architecture

What is the history of design patterns?

Design patterns originally emerged in the realm of architecture, introduced by architect Christopher Alexander.

However, they didn’t gain popularity in the programming world until about 1995. It was then that the Gang of Four published their findings on 23 programming patterns.

Best Design Patterns Books

Now let’s step into the world of the best design patterns books out there. Be prepared to be amazed!

1. Design Patterns: Elements of Reusable Object-Oriented Software

Design Patterns: Elements of Reusable Object-Oriented Software is considered the holy grail of design patterns books.

But why?

The GoF (Gang of Four) that wrote it included 23 never-before documented design patterns.

These design patterns allow users to create more flexible and reusable designs without having to rediscover design solutions.

First you’ll learn what design patterns are and how they can help you design object-oriented software.

Then you’ll learn how patterns fall into the web development process and how to use them to solve problems more efficiently.

All patterns are based on real-world examples. Each design pattern shows code examples for C++ and Smalltalk.

This is an absolute classic book and belongs in any software developer’s collection.

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2. Head First Design Patterns: Building Extensible and Maintainable Object-Oriented Software

Head First Design Patterns took one for the team. They learned the hard way so you don’t have to.

Instead, you’ll learn some design patterns best practices using proven learning methods. You’ll learn faster and will retain the information better.

Therefore, you can be more efficient with your programming.

You’ll learn about:

✅ patterns that matter

✅ when to use certain patterns

✅ how apply patterns to your own design

And the object-oriented design principles they’re based on.

🔥 Geena’s Hot Take

Head First: Design Patterns is the hot spot for learning about design patterns.

You see, I’m a visual learner.

Also, I do NOT learn well with boring textbook-style learning. Walls of numbers and text make my eyes glaze over, and I remember nothing (my Trigonometry teacher can confirm).

Therefore, I want pictures and I want to feel like someone is actually speaking to me.

It’s like listening to your favorite album.

It’s fashionable, it’s catchy, you remember every word. Then, you find new stuff when you read over it again.

With Head First Design Patterns, you can expect to learn in a fun, engaging way. There are tons of illustrations.

Also, it’s jam-packed with examples.

In addition, it’s written in a simple way so you can understand the material more quickly.

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3. Patterns of Enterprise Application Architecture

Patterns of Enterprise Application Architecture is written by Martin Fowler, a renowned engineering expert.

Note: This is intensive reading and not for the faint of heart. It’s dense and technical.

Here you’ll look at proven solutions to recurring problems in enterprise architecture.

Then you’ll learn how to make decisions when faced with a difficult design.

The second part of this book is dedicated to design patterns such as:

✅ domain logic patterns

✅ data source architectural patterns

✅ object-relational behavioral patterns

✅ web presentation patterns

✅ distribution patterns

Also many more.

What readers are saying about Patterns of Enterprise Application Architecture:

The patterns in this book are as relevant today as they were when Fowler wrote them out 14 years ago. You’ll find these patterns used in most of the popular (regarless of language) web development frameworks use(d) today…

– Customer

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4. Node.js Design Patterns

With Node.js Design Patterns, you’ll learn best practices and design patterns to build efficient Node apps.

First, you’ll start with the basics of Node and analyzing its design patterns.

Then you’ll learn how to build asynchronous control flow patterns.

In addition, you’ll learn about Node streams and how to use behavioral design patterns to their maximum potential.

Finally you’ll learn about more advanced concepts related to messaging patterns and scalability.

Using real-world examples, you’ll learn how to:

✅ write asynchronous code

✅ use Node with other technologies

✅ build and scale distributed systems powered by Node

✅ create production-grade applications with design patterns

Also, much more.

You should have a basic understanding of JavaScript and Node before reading this book.

In addition, you should understand software design principals and web application development.

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5. Hands-On Design Patterns with C++

Hands-On Design Patterns with C++ is for experienced C++ developers.

This is one of the best design patterns books for programmers who want to create robust and reusable apps.

In Hands-On Design Patterns with C++, you’ll learn how to dive into key patterns of C++ to master application design.

In addition, you’ll gain insight into best practices to take on common design challenges.

Also, you’ll come to understand the limitations of C++. Then you’ll navigate and solve them using design problems.

You won’t find any better book on design patterns in C++ with emphasis on C++. The book is just awesome. Thank you Fedor Pikus for writing the book. I was always struggling with reading advanced, modern C++ code until I found this book. The C++ community owes you one – or two!

– Hans Schmid

Besides that, you’ll become familiar with idioms like type erasure and Resource Acquisition Is Initialization (RAII).

By becoming familiar with design patterns, you’ll spend less time searching for solutions to common problems.

Then you’ll learn how a pattern is used for solving specific problems such as interface design and system architecture.

Also, by the end of the book, you’ll work on some advanced design problems.

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6. Machine Learning Design Patterns

Machine Learning Design Patterns was written by 3 Google engineers.

Using 30 patterns, this book will show you best practices. These are specifically for recurring machine learning problems.

Every pattern has the following:

✅ problem description

✅ potential solutions

✅ technique recommendations

Further, you’ll learn how to identify common challenges when deploying machine learning models.

Also, you’ll learn how to build a training loop that uses:

✅ checkpoints

✅ distribution strategy

✅ hyperparameter tuning

Finally, you’ll deploy scalable machine learning systems that you can retrain and update.

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7. Design Patterns in .NET

With Design Patterns in .NET, you’ll learn how to implement design patterns using C# and F#.

In addition, you’ll use proven pattern variations.

Then you’ll study self-contained design pattern examples, including some advanced scenarios.

You’ll also explore:

✅ classic design implementation

✅ applicability

✅ relevance

And more.

Finally, you’ll learn how a refactoring tool can be used to implement design patterns.

What readers are saying about Design Patterns in .NET:

I found the descriptions and explanations of solid and the various patterns clear and easy to understand.

– David

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8. Adaptive Code: Agile coding with design patterns and SOLID principles

Adaptive code is for programmers of all skill levels. It contains practical insights into:

✅ design patterns

✅ SOLID principles

✅ unit testing

✅ refactoring

And beyond.

You’ll learn how to:

• develop code that can handle required changes
• plan for and improve adaptability
• perform unit testing and refactoring
• use techniques to make legacy code adaptive
• avoid anti-related patterns

And much, much more.

You should be familiar with C#, Java, C++ or similar object-oriented languages.

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Legacy Bonus Book: Hands-On Design Patterns with Delphi

Hands-On Design Patterns with Delphi is for beginner Delphi developers who want to build scalable, robust applications.

Using real-world examples, you’ll explore various design patterns.

Next, you’ll learn about bad software development practices.

Then you’ll learn some of the most important patterns for various behavioral and structural types.

In addition, you’ll learn about concurrency patterns.

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Bonus Course: Grokking Dynamic Programming Patterns for Coding Interviews

Are you already preparing for your coding interview? If so, Grokking Dynamic Programming Patterns for Coding Interviews might be helpful.

In this dynamic programming course, you’ll learn some key design patterns.

Read our full review of Grokking Dynamic Programming Patterns for Coding Interviews.

First of all, it provides you with easy-to-understand techniques to handle any dynamic programming problem.

Instead of memorizing solutions, you’ll learn about five design patterns that can be applied to over 35 problems.

In addition, you can check out Grokking the Coding Interview: Patterns for Coding Questions.

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8 Best Design Patterns Books: Conclusion

Today we showed you 8 of the best design patterns books out there:

1. Design Patterns: Elements of Reusable Object-Oriented Software

2. Head First Design Patterns: A Brain-Friendly Guide

3. Hands-On Design Patterns with C++

4. Node.js Design Patterns

5. Design Patterns in .NET

6. Adaptive Code: Agile coding with design patterns and SOLID principles

7. Machine Learning Design Patterns

8. Patterns of Enterprise Application Architecture

But we also showed you a bonus book:
Hands-On Design Patterns with Delphi

And also a bonus course:
Grokking Dynamic Programming Patterns for Coding Interviews

Happy learning!

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Readers of Best Design Patterns Books are also reading:

• 11 Best Domain-Driven Design Books
• 21 Best Web Design Books
• 14 Best UX Books
• 8 Best UX Courses for Beginners