Singleton — the most popular design pattern

Kacper Bąk
5 min readDec 4, 2022

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Photo by @felipepelaquim on Unsplash

A design pattern is a general, reusable solution to a commonly occurring problem within a given context in software design. Design patterns are not specific pieces of code, but instead provide a structural framework that can be used to solve a software design problem in a variety of situations.

Design patterns provide a tested solution to a commonly occurring software design problem, making them a powerful tool for developers. Design patterns also increase code readability and maintainability, which can help simplify the development process and make it easier for developers to understand and work with existing code.

Design patterns are a set of best practices for software development. Recruiters may ask about design patterns to get a better understanding of the candidate’s level of knowledge and experience. A candidate who is familiar with design patterns is likely to be more skilled and experienced in software development.

Design patterns are used in modern programming languages such as Golang. Design patterns provide a common language for software developers to communicate ideas and solutions. Many of the popular design patterns can be used in any language, such as Golang, and they help developers to write more maintainable code.

Not all design patterns are used in new programming languages. Some design patterns are language-specific and may not be applicable to new programming languages. It is important to understand the language-specific nuances of different design patterns to ensure that the most appropriate pattern is used for a given programming language.

Some design patterns are not widely used anymore or have become outdated. Some design patterns that have become less popular over time include the Singleton pattern, the Factory pattern, and the Abstract Factory pattern. It is important to stay up-to-date with the latest design patterns to ensure that the most effective and efficient software solutions are being produced.

Each programming language has its own set of features, capabilities, and limitations. Design patterns are created to solve specific problems and typically rely on the language’s features. Different programming languages can have different solutions to the same problem, and thus require different design patterns. Additionally, some design patterns are more suited to certain programming languages than others.

For example the Dependency Injection Pattern is used so often in Golang because it helps developers create easily maintainable code and reduce the amount of code needed to perform certain tasks. Dependency Injection allows developers to inject dependencies (such as objects, databases, and configurations) into code, reducing the amount of code needed and making it simpler to maintain.

The Singleton pattern is used less frequently than the Dependency Injection pattern in Golang because it is not necessary in all cases. The Singleton pattern is used when you want to ensure that only one instance of a specific object is created. This is not always necessary in Golang since proper use of Dependency Injection can achieve the same goal without creating unnecessary extra objects.

The singleton design pattern is a design pattern that ensures that a class has only one instance and provides global access to that instance. This is useful when you only want to have one object of a class that is accessible throughout your program.

Examples of the singleton design pattern include: file manager, connection manager, session manager, user manager, database manager, configuration manager and many more.

A file manager in a singleton context is an object that manages files on the system. It is a single object that is available throughout the application and provides access to files.

The Singleton design pattern should be used when you want to have only one object of a class that is accessible throughout the program. It is useful when you want to have one object that is shared by all other objects in the program.

The Singleton design pattern should not be used when you want to have multiple instances of a class. In that case, it is better to use other design patterns, such as factory or builder.

Using the singleton design pattern can lead to performance issues, as all objects in the program will have to use the same object. It can also lead to testing issues as it is difficult to test code that uses a single object.

It is difficult to test code that only uses one object because all objects in the programme will have to use the same object. This means that if one object is modified, all other objects will have to be modified to accommodate the changes.

Using the Singleton design pattern can incur technology debt if it is used in the wrong way. For example, if it is used to create complex objects, this can lead to performance issues and testing difficulties.

Learning design patterns is still important in today’s world. Design patterns provide a way to solve common problems that arise when designing and building software applications. They are essential for any software developer, regardless of the current times. Knowing design patterns helps developers to create better and more efficient software solutions, and makes it easier to communicate with other developers when discussing complex solutions.

Design patterns have not become obsolete. While they were patented a long time ago, the concepts and principles behind them remain relevant today and are still used to develop software applications. Design patterns provide a way to solve common problems and help developers create better and more efficient software solutions. As technology advances, new design patterns may be created, but the existing ones will still remain useful.

There are many resources online that provide information on the Singleton design pattern. You can find tutorials, articles, and example code on websites such as Stack Overflow, Tutorials Point, and CodeProject. Additionally, books such as “Design Patterns: Elements of Reusable Object-Oriented Software” by the Gang of Four provide in-depth information on the Singleton design pattern and other design patterns.

The best way to start practicing the use of design patterns in Golang is to familiarize yourself with the language and its features. Once you have a good understanding of the language, you can begin to explore different design patterns and how they can be applied. It is also recommended to read books, tutorials, and articles on design patterns to gain a better understanding of how they are used and how they can be applied to your own projects.

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