On the computer aided introduction of design patterns into object-oriented systems

The authors present a new approach to the reorganization of object-oriented systems using design patterns. Instead of looking at design patterns as building blocks, they consider them to be operators, whose application transforms an existing design into an improved target design. For this purpose, an algorithmic process of design pattern application is presented. Furthermore they show that design pattern operators can be implemented in terms of refactorings in a behavior preserving way. Afterwards they demonstrate the applicability of the approach by delineating their experiences with a tool prototype, which they implemented in order to reorganize a large C++ system by using design pattern operators.