View source for UsabilityDesignPatterns/PatternTemplate


= Title =

One Sentence Summary.

== Rationale ==

Describe the problem this pattern is attempting to solve.

== Benefits ==

Why it's good

== When to use it ==

And when not to use it

== Implementation Patterns ==

Resources for developers that will help them implement this pattern - from existing implementations they can re-use, to code snippets, to suggested architectures and classes.

== Case Studies ==

Examples from the real world where this pattern was used.  How did the use of the pattern help or hurt the overall usability of the design?

== Supporting Research ==

Has research been done which supports (or challenges) the supposed qualities of this pattern?  Links to papers, Test Pilot results ;-)  etc.

== Mistakes and Pitfalls ==

How this pattern can turn to the dark side.  Experience about things to avoid.

== Introducing the Pattern to New Users ==

Tips on solving innovator's dilemma -- this pattern is better than what users are used to, but they're not used to it, so it will take them some work to learn it.  How to reduce the work, build on things the user already knows, and make the learning process as painless as possible.

== Open-source implementations ==

Pointer to actual implementation code in real open source proejcts.