My drive to design destiny

When I first started to learn design pattern, I was very much fascinated by the book Design Patterns by GoF(Gang of Four). No I was not very much comfortable with reading and comprehending this book, I headed the book because it is the best ever book of design pattern aka the bible of design pattern. During my reading many times I got frustrated for not getting anything from this book for the first time. Then I started reading this book ad-hoc manner. It took several iterations to go through the whole text. Now I'm planning my further journey into this kingdom.
Now where to go?

GoF describes the classification of design pattern depending on two factors:

1. Purpose: Creational, Structural, Behavioral.
2. Scope: a) Class-static, compile time binding b) Object-dynamic, run time binding.

In this book there are 23 basic design patterns, GoF categorised these design patterns from these two views. There are also broader classification of design patterns according to their applicability to different domains such as:

1. Basic design patterns-GoF patterns
2. UI design patterns-patterns for designing user interface
3. Network design patterns-patterns for networks
4. Enterprise design patterns-patterns for enterprise application
5. Game design patterns-patterns for game development.

Some design patterns are just variations of another design patterns and many evolved design patterns use basic design patterns of GoF.

If you as a learner just go through design pattern catalog book, then it is very difficult to put them into your brain. Some general books that describes more explanation, real application, UML to design patterns, use cases and general discussion can help you a lot. You should also have crystal clear concepts about UML for learning design patterns.

Here I'm jotting down names of some useful books and little about them:
1. Head First Design Pattern - Written in very friendly manner, detail explanation and discussion with it's unique style of writing.
2. Design Patterns by GoF - The bible of design patterns describes original basic design patterns.
3. Applying UML and Patterns by Craig Larman - Written in very practical way of applying UML and patterns. It also describes the details of software development from SRS, use cases to design and development along with Agile development. It has GRASP patterns.
4. Patterns in Java, Vol 1-3 by Mark Grand.
5. Designing Interfaces by Jenifer Tidwell - very good book for designing user interface in patttern oriented manner.
6. Patterns of enterprise application architecture by Martin Fowler - Great book for enterprise application design mainly in J2EE.
7. UML distilled by Martin Fowler - learning UML.
8. Other books by Martin Fowler.

What next?

1. Framework design
2. Software Architecture