Simplest Possible Pattern

Michael Mehaffy Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2012 6:09 AM To: Pattern Repository User Subject: Notes on "simplest possible pattern"

My suggestion is that the repository would archive a standardized format that then links to much more content on the repositor's site (more discussion, background, research, citations etc etc - it can go as far as it wants, and hyperlink into a network).

Each would be a short description, and link to more as needed.

1. Upward hyperlinks

2. Title (bust be a concise statement of the configurational resolution: "staircase as a stage" etc...

3. Photo

4. Problem-statement. (All-important)

5. Discussion

6. Therefore statement (All-important)

7. Downward hyperlinks

1 and 7 would be dynamic and evolutionary, and editable by anyone following typical wiki protocols.

2-6 would be put up by the repositor.

Changes/edits would be of two kinds:

1. proposed edits to the pattern, and
2. Proposed new pattern.

The new pattern would not replace the old, but other editors would strengthen or weaken it by the number of links they provide to it. In this way, stronger patterns would come to prominence within the network over weaker ones.