Top 5 Design Patterns Books for Java Developers

Design patterns is an important topic for object-oriented programmers e.g. Java and C++ developers. It becomes even more important as your experience grows because everybody starts expecting a lot more from you in terms of writing quality code. I often receive emails from intermediate and senior Java developers about progressing to next level e.g. how to become Tech Lead, Team Lead or a software architect, knowledge of design pattern plays an important role in taking more technical responsibility. While the GoF book is the bible for object-oriented design patterns, in my opinion, it is a bit too dry and academic. Many of you might have already read it but I doubt you have enjoyed it a lot. The first real book I read on design pattern was the head first book. It's full of interesting stories, cartoons, UML diagrams, fireside chats to analyze the pros and cons of each design pattern, fill in the blanks, exercise, and most importantly some non-trivial code examples. Another good thing is that it focuses on a good set of core patterns e.g. Decorator, Observer, Factory, Command, Strategy, and Facade patterns.
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