摘要：Software design patterns incarnate expert knowledge distilled from thepractical experience in object-oriented design, in a compact and reusable form. Thearticle presents a quantitative study of the usability of the object-oriented softwaredesign patterns (known as Gang of Four patterns) applied for improving thetestability, maintainability, extendibility, readability, reliability, and performanceefficiency of software applications. We received 82 usable responses from softwareprofessionals in Bulgaria, with 65 of them addressing both the usability andrecognition of each one of the Gang of Four patterns, together with their impact onimportant software quality characteristics. As well, we studied the approach of eachsoftware developer in choosing a particular design pattern to use in order to solve aproblem. We found statistically significant differences between the most recognizedand most useful patterns and between the most unrecognized and most uselesspatterns, split into creational, structural, and behavioral groups.
