Structural Design Patterns in Modern C++

Course Overview

Updated in May 2025. This course now features Coursera Coach! A smarter way to learn with interactive, real-time conversations that help you test your knowledge, challenge assumptions, and deepen your understanding as you progress through the course. This course guides you through the most important structural design patterns in modern C++, starting with an introduction to core concepts like design patterns, S.O.L.I.D. principles, and UML class diagrams. You’ll explore a wide range of patterns, including Adapter, Façade, Proxy, and others, with step-by-step explanations. Each module introduces a pattern, presents real-world examples, and provides implementation strategies. You’ll learn how to apply these patterns in practical scenarios, such as designing game input interfaces, implementing console projects, and optimizing resource usage with proxies. By analyzing each pattern’s pros and cons, you’ll gain insights into when and why to use each approach in your own software projects. The course also focuses on enhancing performance and modularity, showing how design patterns reduce code complexity and promote reuse. As you progress, you’ll deepen your understanding of advanced C++ concepts, such as smart pointers, shared resources, and pattern-specific idioms. By the end of the course, you’ll be able to confidently apply these patterns to create scalable, maintainable applications, mastering the art of high-level design in modern C++. This course is designed for intermediate to advanced C++ developers familiar with object-oriented programming principles. A basic understanding of C++ syntax and familiarity with coding projects is recommended. No previous experience with design patterns is required.