# nilbuild/design-patterns-for-humans architecture

> Architecture diagram of the GitHub repository nilbuild/design-patterns-for-humans, generated by GitDiagram from its file tree, README and a sample of source files (last updated 2026-06-23). It is an AI-made overview: check details against the source.

- Interactive diagram: https://gitdiagram.com/nilbuild/design-patterns-for-humans
- Repository: https://github.com/nilbuild/design-patterns-for-humans

## Overview

1. **Repository purpose**
   - This is a documentation-only repository for explaining software design patterns, not an application or library.
   - The main artifact is `readme.md`, which serves as the entire content surface for the project.

2. **Top-level structure**
   - `readme.md` contains the full learning guide, including introduction, taxonomy, pattern-by-pattern explanations, and example code snippets.
   - `.github/FUNDING.yml` is the only other meaningful repo file and exists for GitHub sponsorship support.
   - There is no source tree, build system, package manifest, or runtime code in this snapshot.

3. **Content hierarchy**
   - The README is organized into three major subsystems of knowledge:
     - Creational design patterns
     - Structural design patterns
     - Behavioral design patterns
   - A navigation table at the top links readers directly into each pattern section.

4. **Creational-pattern section**
   - This section explains object creation concerns and groups patterns that control instantiation.
   - It covers Simple Factory, Factory Method, Abstract Factory, Builder, Prototype, and Singleton.
   - The examples are framed around object construction, object families, cloning, and lifecycle control.

5. **Structural-pattern section**
   - This section explains how objects and classes are composed to form larger structures.
   - It includes Adapter, Bridge, Composite, Decorator, Facade, Flyweight, and Proxy.
   - The examples focus on wrapping, composition, shared state, and simplified access to complex subsystems.

6. **Behavioral-pattern section**
   - This section explains how objects communicate and how responsibilities are assigned.
   - It covers Chain of Responsibility, Command, Iterator, Mediator, Memento, Observer, Visitor, Strategy, State, and Template Method.
   - The examples emphasize message passing, event notification, undo/restore, runtime algorithm selection, and state transitions.

7. **Data/knowledge flow through the repo**
   - A reader starts at the intro, uses the table of contents, then jumps into a pattern section.
   - Each pattern follows a repeated flow: real-world analogy, plain-language definition, Wikipedia-style definition, then PHP example code and usage.
   - This makes the README act like a structured teaching pipeline rather than a reference manual.

8. **Example-code boundary**
   - All code examples are embedded in Markdown and are illustrative, not executable within the repository.
   - The README explicitly notes that the samples are in PHP 7, but the repository itself has no PHP project scaffolding.
   - The examples are there to explain pattern mechanics, not to define a runnable system.

9. **Technology and format**
   - The document is written in Markdown and rendered on GitHub.
   - It uses HTML snippets for layout and a banner image from `.github/banner.svg`.
   - The code examples are PHP-oriented, which shapes the syntax and object model used in the explanations.

10. **External dependencies and integrations**
   - There is no application dependency graph or external service integration in the repo.
   - The only external references are informational links such as roadmap.sh and Twitter, plus the GitHub sponsorship configuration.
   - These links are peripheral to the architecture and do not affect runtime behavior.

11. **Audience and usage model**
   - The repository is designed as a self-contained educational resource for engineers learning design patterns.
   - Its “architecture” is pedagogical: organize concepts, provide analogies, show code, and cross-link sections.
   - The main boundary is between conceptual explanations and code snippets, not between services or modules.

12. **Diagramming takeaway**
   - If drawing an architecture diagram, represent this repo as a single documentation node with three large content branches: creational, structural, and behavioral.
   - Under each branch, show the individual pattern pages/sections as sub-nodes.
   - Include an ancillary GitHub sponsorship/support node, but no runtime components, databases, APIs, or build/deploy subsystems.

Main entry points: [`readme.md`](https://github.com/nilbuild/design-patterns-for-humans/blob/master/readme.md) (Creational), [`.github/FUNDING.yml`](https://github.com/nilbuild/design-patterns-for-humans/blob/master/.github/FUNDING.yml) (Funding)

## Diagram (Mermaid)

```mermaid
flowchart TD

subgraph group_g1["README content"]
  node_n1["README<br/>doc hub<br/>[readme.md]"]
  node_n2["Intro<br/>overview<br/>[readme.md]"]
  node_n3["Contents<br/>navigation<br/>[readme.md]"]
  node_n4["Creational<br/>pattern family<br/>[readme.md]"]
  node_n5["Structural<br/>pattern family<br/>[readme.md]"]
  node_n6["Behavioral<br/>pattern family<br/>[readme.md]"]
  node_n7["Simple Factory<br/>creational pattern<br/>[readme.md]"]
  node_n8["Factory Method<br/>creational pattern<br/>[readme.md]"]
  node_n9["Abstract Factory<br/>creational pattern<br/>[readme.md]"]
  node_n10["Builder<br/>creational pattern<br/>[readme.md]"]
  node_n11["Prototype<br/>creational pattern<br/>[readme.md]"]
  node_n12["Singleton<br/>creational pattern<br/>[readme.md]"]
  node_n13["Adapter<br/>structural pattern<br/>[readme.md]"]
  node_n14["Bridge<br/>structural pattern<br/>[readme.md]"]
  node_n15["Composite<br/>structural pattern<br/>[readme.md]"]
  node_n16["Decorator<br/>structural pattern<br/>[readme.md]"]
  node_n17["Facade<br/>structural pattern<br/>[readme.md]"]
  node_n18["Observer<br/>behavioral pattern<br/>[readme.md]"]
  node_n19["Strategy<br/>behavioral pattern<br/>[readme.md]"]
  node_n20["State<br/>behavioral pattern<br/>[readme.md]"]
  node_n21["Command<br/>behavioral pattern<br/>[readme.md]"]
end

node_n22["Funding<br/>support config<br/>[FUNDING.yml]"]

node_n1 -->|"starts with"| node_n2
node_n1 -->|"navigates via"| node_n3
node_n1 -->|"organizes"| node_n4
node_n1 -->|"organizes"| node_n5
node_n1 -->|"organizes"| node_n6
node_n1 -->|"supports"| node_n22
node_n4 -->|"includes"| node_n7
node_n4 -->|"includes"| node_n8
node_n4 -->|"includes"| node_n9
node_n4 -->|"includes"| node_n10
node_n4 -->|"includes"| node_n11
node_n4 -->|"includes"| node_n12
node_n5 -->|"includes"| node_n13
node_n5 -->|"includes"| node_n14
node_n5 -->|"includes"| node_n15
node_n5 -->|"includes"| node_n16
node_n5 -->|"includes"| node_n17
node_n6 -->|"includes"| node_n18
node_n6 -->|"includes"| node_n19
node_n6 -->|"includes"| node_n20
node_n6 -->|"includes"| node_n21
node_n2 -->|"points to"| node_n3
node_n3 -.->|"jumps to"| node_n4
node_n3 -.->|"jumps to"| node_n5
node_n3 -.->|"jumps to"| node_n6

click node_n1 "https://github.com/nilbuild/design-patterns-for-humans/blob/master/readme.md"
click node_n2 "https://github.com/nilbuild/design-patterns-for-humans/blob/master/readme.md"
click node_n3 "https://github.com/nilbuild/design-patterns-for-humans/blob/master/readme.md"
click node_n4 "https://github.com/nilbuild/design-patterns-for-humans/blob/master/readme.md"
click node_n5 "https://github.com/nilbuild/design-patterns-for-humans/blob/master/readme.md"
click node_n6 "https://github.com/nilbuild/design-patterns-for-humans/blob/master/readme.md"
click node_n7 "https://github.com/nilbuild/design-patterns-for-humans/blob/master/readme.md"
click node_n8 "https://github.com/nilbuild/design-patterns-for-humans/blob/master/readme.md"
click node_n9 "https://github.com/nilbuild/design-patterns-for-humans/blob/master/readme.md"
click node_n10 "https://github.com/nilbuild/design-patterns-for-humans/blob/master/readme.md"
click node_n11 "https://github.com/nilbuild/design-patterns-for-humans/blob/master/readme.md"
click node_n12 "https://github.com/nilbuild/design-patterns-for-humans/blob/master/readme.md"
click node_n13 "https://github.com/nilbuild/design-patterns-for-humans/blob/master/readme.md"
click node_n14 "https://github.com/nilbuild/design-patterns-for-humans/blob/master/readme.md"
click node_n15 "https://github.com/nilbuild/design-patterns-for-humans/blob/master/readme.md"
click node_n16 "https://github.com/nilbuild/design-patterns-for-humans/blob/master/readme.md"
click node_n17 "https://github.com/nilbuild/design-patterns-for-humans/blob/master/readme.md"
click node_n18 "https://github.com/nilbuild/design-patterns-for-humans/blob/master/readme.md"
click node_n19 "https://github.com/nilbuild/design-patterns-for-humans/blob/master/readme.md"
click node_n20 "https://github.com/nilbuild/design-patterns-for-humans/blob/master/readme.md"
click node_n21 "https://github.com/nilbuild/design-patterns-for-humans/blob/master/readme.md"
click node_n22 "https://github.com/nilbuild/design-patterns-for-humans/blob/master/.github/FUNDING.yml"

classDef toneNeutral fill:#f8fafc,stroke:#334155,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#0f172a
classDef toneBlue fill:#dbeafe,stroke:#2563eb,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#172554
classDef toneAmber fill:#fef3c7,stroke:#d97706,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#78350f
classDef toneMint fill:#dcfce7,stroke:#16a34a,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#14532d
classDef toneRose fill:#ffe4e6,stroke:#e11d48,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#881337
classDef toneIndigo fill:#e0e7ff,stroke:#4f46e5,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#312e81
classDef toneTeal fill:#ccfbf1,stroke:#0f766e,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#134e4a
class node_n1,node_n2,node_n3,node_n4,node_n5,node_n6,node_n7,node_n8,node_n9,node_n10,node_n11,node_n12,node_n13,node_n14,node_n15,node_n16,node_n17,node_n18,node_n19,node_n20,node_n21 toneBlue
class node_n22 toneNeutral
```

## Components

### README content

Main documentation surface and learning flow

- [README](https://github.com/nilbuild/design-patterns-for-humans/blob/master/readme.md): doc hub · Primary documentation entrypoint and full learning guide · `readme.md`
- [Intro](https://github.com/nilbuild/design-patterns-for-humans/blob/master/readme.md): overview · Repository introduction and learning context · `readme.md`
- [Contents](https://github.com/nilbuild/design-patterns-for-humans/blob/master/readme.md): navigation · Table of contents that jumps into pattern sections · `readme.md`
- [Creational](https://github.com/nilbuild/design-patterns-for-humans/blob/master/readme.md): pattern family · Object creation and instantiation patterns · `readme.md`
- [Structural](https://github.com/nilbuild/design-patterns-for-humans/blob/master/readme.md): pattern family · Composition and object structure patterns · `readme.md`
- [Behavioral](https://github.com/nilbuild/design-patterns-for-humans/blob/master/readme.md): pattern family · Communication and responsibility patterns · `readme.md`
- [Simple Factory](https://github.com/nilbuild/design-patterns-for-humans/blob/master/readme.md): creational pattern · Basic object creation helper · `readme.md`
- [Factory Method](https://github.com/nilbuild/design-patterns-for-humans/blob/master/readme.md): creational pattern · Subclass-driven object creation · `readme.md`
- [Abstract Factory](https://github.com/nilbuild/design-patterns-for-humans/blob/master/readme.md): creational pattern · Families of related objects · `readme.md`
- [Builder](https://github.com/nilbuild/design-patterns-for-humans/blob/master/readme.md): creational pattern · Stepwise object construction · `readme.md`
- [Prototype](https://github.com/nilbuild/design-patterns-for-humans/blob/master/readme.md): creational pattern · Object cloning and duplication · `readme.md`
- [Singleton](https://github.com/nilbuild/design-patterns-for-humans/blob/master/readme.md): creational pattern · Single-instance lifecycle control · `readme.md`
- [Adapter](https://github.com/nilbuild/design-patterns-for-humans/blob/master/readme.md): structural pattern · Interface translation wrapper · `readme.md`
- [Bridge](https://github.com/nilbuild/design-patterns-for-humans/blob/master/readme.md): structural pattern · Separate abstraction from implementation · `readme.md`
- [Composite](https://github.com/nilbuild/design-patterns-for-humans/blob/master/readme.md): structural pattern · Tree-shaped part-whole composition · `readme.md`
- [Decorator](https://github.com/nilbuild/design-patterns-for-humans/blob/master/readme.md): structural pattern · Dynamic behavior wrapping · `readme.md`
- [Facade](https://github.com/nilbuild/design-patterns-for-humans/blob/master/readme.md): structural pattern · Simplified access to subsystems · `readme.md`
- [Observer](https://github.com/nilbuild/design-patterns-for-humans/blob/master/readme.md): behavioral pattern · Event notification and subscription · `readme.md`
- [Strategy](https://github.com/nilbuild/design-patterns-for-humans/blob/master/readme.md): behavioral pattern · Runtime algorithm selection · `readme.md`
- [State](https://github.com/nilbuild/design-patterns-for-humans/blob/master/readme.md): behavioral pattern · State-driven behavior changes · `readme.md`
- [Command](https://github.com/nilbuild/design-patterns-for-humans/blob/master/readme.md): behavioral pattern · Encapsulated actions and requests · `readme.md`

### Other components

- [Funding](https://github.com/nilbuild/design-patterns-for-humans/blob/master/.github/FUNDING.yml): support config · GitHub sponsorship configuration · `.github/FUNDING.yml`

## Connections

- README → Intro: starts with · README opens with repository purpose and learning context
- README → Contents: navigates via · Top navigation table links directly into pattern sections
- README → Creational: organizes · Creational patterns form the first major branch
- README → Structural: organizes · Structural patterns form the second major branch
- README → Behavioral: organizes · Behavioral patterns form the third major branch
- README → Funding: supports · Separate sponsorship configuration sits beside the guide
- Creational → Simple Factory: includes · Simple Factory explains basic instantiation
- Creational → Factory Method: includes · Factory Method delegates creation
- Creational → Abstract Factory: includes · Abstract Factory creates related families
- Creational → Builder: includes · Builder separates construction steps
- Creational → Prototype: includes · Prototype focuses on cloning
- Creational → Singleton: includes · Singleton controls instance lifecycle
- Structural → Adapter: includes · Adapter bridges incompatible interfaces
- Structural → Bridge: includes · Bridge decouples abstraction and implementation
- Structural → Composite: includes · Composite models whole-part trees
- Structural → Decorator: includes · Decorator layers added behavior
- Structural → Facade: includes · Facade simplifies subsystem access
- Behavioral → Observer: includes · Observer covers event-driven notification
- Behavioral → Strategy: includes · Strategy swaps algorithms at runtime
- Behavioral → State: includes · State models behavior transitions
- Behavioral → Command: includes · Command encapsulates requests and actions
- Intro → Contents: points to · Introduction leads readers into the navigation structure
- Contents → Creational: jumps to · Contents provides entry into creational patterns
- Contents → Structural: jumps to · Contents provides entry into structural patterns
- Contents → Behavioral: jumps to · Contents provides entry into behavioral patterns