# 671 Pattern Detection 3784af51

> Design Pattern Detection Guide

- Skill: `tools-only/671-pattern-detection-3784af51` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 3 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add tools-only/671-pattern-detection-3784af51`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/tools-only/671-pattern-detection-3784af51/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Web & Frontend
- Author: tools-only (https://skillmd.com/u/tools-only)
- Updated: 2026-09-22
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/tools-only/671-pattern-detection-3784af51

---

# Design Pattern Detection Guide

**Feature**: C3.1 - Detect common design patterns in codebases
**Version**: 2.6.0+
**Status**: Production Ready ✅

## Table of Contents

- [Overview](#overview)
- [Supported Patterns](#supported-patterns)
- [Detection Levels](#detection-levels)
- [Usage](#usage)
  - [CLI Usage](#cli-usage)
  - [Codebase Scraper Integration](#codebase-scraper-integration)
  - [MCP Tool](#mcp-tool)
  - [Python API](#python-api)
- [Language Support](#language-support)
- [Output Format](#output-format)
- [Examples](#examples)
- [Accuracy](#accuracy)

---

## Overview

The pattern detection feature automatically identifies common design patterns in your codebase across 9 programming languages. It uses a three-tier detection system (surface/deep/full) to balance speed and accuracy, with language-specific adaptations for better precision.

**Key Benefits:**
- 🔍 **Understand unfamiliar code** - Instantly identify architectural patterns
- 📚 **Learn from good code** - See how patterns are implemented
- 🛠️ **Guide refactoring** - Detect opportunities for pattern application
- 📊 **Generate better documentation** - Add pattern badges to API docs

---

## Supported Patterns

### Creational Patterns (3)
1. **Singleton** - Ensures a class has only one instance
2. **Factory** - Creates objects without specifying exact classes
3. **Builder** - Constructs complex objects step by step

### Structural Patterns (2)
4. **Decorator** - Adds responsibilities to objects dynamically
5. **Adapter** - Converts one interface to another

### Behavioral Patterns (5)
6. **Observer** - Notifies dependents of state changes
7. **Strategy** - Encapsulates algorithms for interchangeability
8. **Command** - Encapsulates requests as objects
9. **Template Method** - Defines skeleton of algorithm in base class
10. **Chain of Responsibility** - Passes requests along a chain of handlers

---

## Detection Levels

### Surface Detection (Fast, ~60-70% Confidence)
- **How**: Analyzes naming conventions
- **Speed**: <5ms per class
- **Accuracy**: Good for obvious patterns
- **Example**: Class named "DatabaseSingleton" → Singleton pattern

```bash
skill-seekers-patterns --file db.py --depth surface
```

### Deep Detection (Balanced, ~80-90% Confidence) ⭐ Default
- **How**: Structural analysis (methods, parameters, relationships)
- **Speed**: ~10ms per class
- **Accuracy**: Best balance for most use cases
- **Example**: Class with getInstance() + private constructor → Singleton

```bash
skill-seekers-patterns --file db.py --depth deep
```

### Full Detection (Thorough, ~90-95% Confidence)
- **How**: Behavioral analysis (code patterns, implementation details)
- **Speed**: ~20ms per class
- **Accuracy**: Highest precision
- **Example**: Checks for instance caching, thread safety → Singleton

```bash
skill-seekers-patterns --file db.py --depth full
```

---

## Usage

### CLI Usage

```bash
# Single file analysis
skill-seekers-patterns --file src/database.py

# Directory analysis
skill-seekers-patterns --directory src/

# Full analysis with JSON output
skill-seekers-patterns --directory src/ --depth full --json --output patterns/

# Multiple files
skill-seekers-patterns --file src/db.py --file src/api.py
```

**CLI Options:**
- `--file` - Single file to analyze (can be specified multiple times)
- `--directory` - Directory to analyze (all source files)
- `--output` - Output directory for JSON results
- `--depth` - Detection depth: surface, deep (default), full
- `--json` - Output JSON format
- `--verbose` - Enable verbose output

### Codebase Scraper Integration

The `--detect-patterns` flag integrates with codebase analysis:

```bash
# Analyze codebase + detect patterns
skill-seekers analyze --directory src/ --detect-patterns

# With other features
skill-seekers analyze \
  --directory src/ \
  --detect-patterns \
  --build-api-reference \
  --build-dependency-graph
```

**Output**: `output/codebase/patterns/detected_patterns.json`

### MCP Tool

For Claude Code and other MCP clients:

```python
# Via MCP
await use_mcp_tool('detect_patterns', {
    'file': 'src/database.py',
    'depth': 'deep'
})

# Directory analysis
await use_mcp_tool('detect_patterns', {
    'directory': 'src/',
    'output': 'patterns/',
    'json': true
})
```

### Python API

```python
from skill_seekers.cli.pattern_recognizer import PatternRecognizer

# Create recognizer
recognizer = PatternRecognizer(depth='deep')

# Analyze file
with open('database.py', 'r') as f:
    content = f.read()

report = recognizer.analyze_file('database.py', content, 'Python')

# Print results
for pattern in report.patterns:
    print(f"{pattern.pattern_type}: {pattern.class_name} (confidence: {pattern.confidence:.2f})")
    print(f"  Evidence: {pattern.evidence}")
```

---

## Language Support

| Language | Support | Notes |
|----------|---------|-------|
| Python | ⭐⭐⭐ | AST-based, highest accuracy |
| JavaScript | ⭐⭐ | Regex-based, good accuracy |
| TypeScript | ⭐⭐ | Regex-based, good accuracy |
| C++ | ⭐⭐ | Regex-based |
| C | ⭐⭐ | Regex-based |
| C# | ⭐⭐ | Regex-based |
| Go | ⭐⭐ | Regex-based |
| Rust | ⭐⭐ | Regex-based |
| Java | ⭐⭐ | Regex-based |
| Ruby | ⭐ | Basic support |
| PHP | ⭐ | Basic support |

**Language-Specific Adaptations:**
- **Python**: Detects `@decorator` syntax, `__new__` singletons
- **JavaScript**: Recognizes module pattern, EventEmitter
- **Java/C#**: Identifies interface-based patterns
- **Go**: Detects `sync.Once` singleton idiom
- **Rust**: Recognizes `lazy_static`, trait adapters

---

## Output Format

### Human-Readable Output

```
============================================================
PATTERN DETECTION RESULTS
============================================================
Files analyzed: 15
Files with patterns: 8
Total patterns detected: 12
============================================================

Pattern Summary:
  Singleton: 3
  Factory: 4
  Observer: 2
  Strategy: 2
  Decorator: 1

Detected Patterns:

src/database.py:
  • Singleton - Database
    Confidence: 0.85
    Category: Creational
    Evidence: Has getInstance() method

  • Factory - ConnectionFactory
    Confidence: 0.70
    Category: Creational
    Evidence: Has create() method
```

### JSON Output (`--json`)

```json
{
  "total_files_analyzed": 15,
  "files_with_patterns": 8,
  "total_patterns_detected": 12,
  "reports": [
    {
      "file_path": "src/database.py",
      "language": "Python",
      "patterns": [
        {
          "pattern_type": "Singleton",
          "category": "Creational",
          "confidence": 0.85,
          "location": "src/database.py",
          "class_name": "Database",
          "method_name": null,
          "line_number": 10,
          "evidence": [
            "Has getInstance() method",
            "Private constructor detected"
          ],
          "related_classes": []
        }
      ],
      "total_classes": 3,
      "total_functions": 15,
      "analysis_depth": "deep",
      "pattern_summary": {
        "Singleton": 1,
        "Factory": 1
      }
    }
  ]
}
```

---

## Examples

### Example 1: Singleton Detection

```python
# database.py
class Database:
    _instance = None

    def __new__(cls):
        if cls._instance is None:
            cls._instance = super().__new__(cls)
        return cls._instance

    def connect(self):
        pass
```

**Command:**
```bash
skill-seekers-patterns --file database.py
```

**Output:**
```
Detected Patterns:

database.py:
  • Singleton - Database
    Confidence: 0.90
    Category: Creational
    Evidence: Python __new__ idiom, Instance caching pattern
```

### Example 2: Factory Pattern

```python
# vehicle_factory.py
class VehicleFactory:
    def create_vehicle(self, vehicle_type):
        if vehicle_type == 'car':
            return Car()
        elif vehicle_type == 'truck':
            return Truck()
        return None

    def create_bike(self):
        return Bike()
```

**Output:**
```
  • Factory - VehicleFactory
    Confidence: 0.80
    Category: Creational
    Evidence: Has create_vehicle() method, Multiple factory methods
```

### Example 3: Observer Pattern

```python
# event_system.py
class EventManager:
    def __init__(self):
        self.listeners = []

    def attach(self, listener):
        self.listeners.append(listener)

    def detach(self, listener):
        self.listeners.remove(listener)

    def notify(self, event):
        for listener in self.listeners:
            listener.update(event)
```

**Output:**
```
  • Observer - EventManager
    Confidence: 0.95
    Category: Behavioral
    Evidence: Has attach/detach/notify triplet, Observer collection detected
```

---

## Accuracy

### Benchmark Results

Tested on 100 real-world Python projects with manually labeled patterns:

| Pattern | Precision | Recall | F1 Score |
|---------|-----------|--------|----------|
| Singleton | 92% | 85% | 88% |
| Factory | 88% | 82% | 85% |
| Observer | 94% | 88% | 91% |
| Strategy | 85% | 78% | 81% |
| Decorator | 90% | 83% | 86% |
| Builder | 86% | 80% | 83% |
| Adapter | 84% | 77% | 80% |
| Command | 87% | 81% | 84% |
| Template Method | 83% | 75% | 79% |
| Chain of Responsibility | 81% | 74% | 77% |
| **Overall Average** | **87%** | **80%** | **83%** |

**Key Insights:**
- Observer pattern has highest accuracy (event-driven code has clear signatures)
- Chain of Responsibility has lowest (similar to middleware/filters)
- Python AST-based analysis provides +10-15% accuracy over regex-based
- Language adaptations improve confidence by +5-10%

### Known Limitations

1. **False Positives** (~13%):
   - Classes named "Handler" may be flagged as Chain of Responsibility
   - Utility classes with `create*` methods flagged as Factories
   - **Mitigation**: Use `--depth full` for stricter checks

2. **False Negatives** (~20%):
   - Unconventional pattern implementations
   - Heavily obfuscated or generated code
   - **Mitigation**: Provide clear naming conventions

3. **Language Limitations**:
   - Regex-based languages have lower accuracy than Python
   - Dynamic languages harder to analyze statically
   - **Mitigation**: Combine with runtime analysis tools

---

## Integration with Other Features

### API Reference Builder (Future)

Pattern detection results will enhance API documentation:

```markdown
## Database Class

**Design Pattern**: 🏛️ Singleton (Confidence: 0.90)

The Database class implements the Singleton pattern to ensure...
```

### Dependency Analyzer (Future)

Combine pattern detection with dependency analysis:
- Detect circular dependencies in Observer patterns
- Validate Factory pattern dependencies
- Check Strategy pattern composition

---

## Troubleshooting

### No Patterns Detected

**Problem**: Analysis completes but finds no patterns

**Solutions:**
1. Check file language is supported: `skill-seekers-patterns --file test.py --verbose`
2. Try lower depth: `--depth surface`
3. Verify code contains actual patterns (not all code uses patterns!)

### Low Confidence Scores

**Problem**: Patterns detected with confidence <0.5

**Solutions:**
1. Use stricter detection: `--depth full`
2. Check if code follows conventional pattern structure
3. Review evidence field to understand what was detected

### Performance Issues

**Problem**: Analysis takes too long on large codebases

**Solutions:**
1. Use faster detection: `--depth surface`
2. Analyze specific directories: `--directory src/models/`
3. Filter by language: Configure codebase scraper with `--languages Python`

---

## Future Enhancements (Roadmap)

- **C3.6**: Cross-file pattern detection (detect patterns spanning multiple files)
- **C3.7**: Custom pattern definitions (define your own patterns)
- **C3.8**: Anti-pattern detection (detect code smells and anti-patterns)
- **C3.9**: Pattern usage statistics and trends
- **C3.10**: Interactive pattern refactoring suggestions

---

## Technical Details

### Architecture

```
PatternRecognizer
├── CodeAnalyzer (reuses existing infrastructure)
├── 10 Pattern Detectors
│   ├── BasePatternDetector (abstract class)
│   ├── detect_surface() → naming analysis
│   ├── detect_deep() → structural analysis
│   └── detect_full() → behavioral analysis
└── LanguageAdapter (language-specific adjustments)
```

### Performance

- **Memory**: ~50MB baseline + ~5MB per 1000 classes
- **Speed**:
  - Surface: ~200 classes/sec
  - Deep: ~100 classes/sec
  - Full: ~50 classes/sec

### Testing

- **Test Suite**: 24 comprehensive tests
- **Coverage**: All 10 patterns + multi-language support
- **CI**: Runs on every commit

---

## References

- **Gang of Four (GoF)**: Design Patterns book
- **Pattern Categories**: Creational, Structural, Behavioral
- **Supported Languages**: 9 (Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, C++, C, C#, Go, Rust, Java)
- **Implementation**: `src/skill_seekers/cli/pattern_recognizer.py` (~1,900 lines)
- **Tests**: `tests/test_pattern_recognizer.py` (24 tests, 100% passing)

---

**Status**: ✅ Production Ready (v2.6.0+)
**Next**: Start using pattern detection to understand and improve your codebase!