Where to begin: on pattern language entry points

Pattern languages as tools for solving problems based on interconnected, abstract, and proven solutions can offer valuable help to practitioners. But there is always the question of where to begin when a pattern language should be applied. Their authors often provide entry points, but these are usually only useful if one starts completely from scratch or from a very specific situation. When confronted with problems at hand, practitioners are often left to find a suitable entry point themselves by reading through the whole pattern language to find applicable patterns. To help with this problem, we present a general approach and its formalization that provides entry points for any kind of situation. Our general three step approach guides practitioners through Situation Assessment, Treatment Selection, and Treatment Application in order to find and apply a suitable pattern language for their specific problems. We formalize all the parts involved and show that the facts collected during Situation Assessment can be used to find a suitable entry point for a specific situation. We also present an algorithm for finding these entry points.