Software Design Patterns

Is software design patterns good?
Definitely.
Can design patterns do more harm than good?
Undoubtedly.
"Design Patterns" is just a "tool" for us to come out better designs. Like other tools, the outcomes depend on the person who uses the tools.

Most ppl who are learning design patterns will pass through a period of "pattern happy". We are so addicted to patterns that want to apply patterns in all our designs... The result is usually overengineering codes.

I did...

A good design is based on justified requirements. Over-flexible codes (as result of "pattern happy") is always more complicated than it should be, and therefore require higher maintenance cost.

I am lucky that i learnt the lesson in less bitter way- got critics from boss + learnt through "Refactoring to Patterns" by Joshua Kerievsky. This book opened a new pespective in software designs to me... in more than one year ago.

GoF's classical Design Patterns is damned hard to read, so dry and academic. But once i did understand it, it shows the beauty of good Object-Oriented Design. Be proud of myself!