What is the best way to ship code to your users?

A framework: a conceptual structure. In software, a framework brings a foundation and a set of conventions on which you lay your work. It formalises an abstract school of thought. There are many frameworks you can use to solve the same problem. They come and go according to fashion.

A pattern: an authoritative model given to be imitated. Patterns are similar to recipes but more abstract. They are like grandmother recipes that come with no measurements or steps. Vague, a collection of rules of thumb. In software engineering and UX, we have the famous Design Patterns.

A recipe: a series of steps and instructions to follow to create something. In the kitchen, recipes we follow are often vague, unclear or in the wrong metric system. We have to interpret and adapt. We do the same with code when following a tutorial or copying and pasting from Stack Overflow. The execution of a recipe is influenced by context, leaving room for organic explorations.

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Next time you’re starting a project, think about the level on which you are operating. If you’re building a new framework, consider how people will develop design patterns on top of it, and how users will create and share their recipes.