Abstract

There are several ways to document patterns. Different formats have been proposed by different authors for capturing the best practices and proven solutions; i.e. patterns. The Alexandrian format of patterns was presented in a fairly informal, narrative style. On the other hand, the Gang-of-Four format of patterns was presented in much finer grained fashion by decomposing each pattern into many sections. The structure of pattern documentation depends on several factors. Each author has his own preferences. Different subject matters may influence the structure. For example, more technical information may require patterns with more structure. Different users may require different structures as well. Novice users may prefer a more prosy style while the experienced users may prefer a more structured one. Thus, there was a need to compromise for having a consistent structure so that patterns are clear, understandable, and reusable. This thesis explores some of the most popular formats of patterns, proposed by different individuals or communities. After a thorough study of the strength and weaknesses of the existing ones, a new comprehensive format of pattern documentation, comprising seven elements, has been developed. Besides enhancing productivity, the proposed format reduces the communication gap among the three key professional groups; i.e. Patterns Writers, Usability Experts and Software Developers. To support the selection of a pattern for a given context, a classification scheme, which organizes patterns according to granularity, functionality, and structural principles, is also proposed. The study concludes with the development of syntax and semantics of a markup language, named Usability Pattern Markup Language (UPML), based on eXtensible Markup Language (XML)