Algorithms, Frameworks, and Design Patterns

Design patterns and algorithms

We’ve already defined design patterns as “a general reusable solution to a common software design problem.” In contrast, algorithms are defined as “a set of concrete well-known instructions used to solve a problem.”

Differences between design patterns and algorithms

• A design pattern, as is obvious from the name, is about designing a solution. Algorithms, on the other hand, are a concrete solution.
• Design patterns are blueprints that we use to solve problems at the design level while focusing on flexibility and maintenance. Algorithms are the concrete steps we take, focusing on correctness and efficiency.
• Design patterns are not pieces of code that can be copied to solve a problem. Algorithms are concrete solutions that can be expressed in code and copied to solve a problem.

Framework

Before discussing the differences between design patterns and frameworks, let’s define a framework.

In programming, a framework is a basic skeleton provided by the different programming languages for application building. Its purpose is to make it so programmers don’t have to build everything from scratch. The framework provides the essentials for the app so the user can add functionality to it according to their own needs.

For example, Django is a server-side framework that provides the basic skeleton to the user after running the startproject command. The learner can then add functionality to it according to what they need.

Differences between design patterns and frameworks

There are three main differences between design patterns and frameworks:

• Design patterns are more abstract than frameworks. As we’ve already discussed, design patterns are a sort of blueprint and are more abstract than the framework, which is written directly in the code and can be directly executed.
• Architecturally, design patterns are smaller solutions than frameworks. One framework may contain multiple design patterns, but the converse is untrue.
• Design patterns are less specialized than frameworks. Design patterns can be used in any language and in any application. In contrast, the framework is language specific.