appropriate pattern for a database

[Tyler Jordan]

I'm starting to work on a app that will support a small business. It will have information stored in a database, such as employee data, employee hours, supplies, etc. It will also create reports on the information and allow a person to add and remove employees, stock either manually or because of changes in the database.
What I am try to determine is what type of design pattern I should use to make this a scalable app. I realized how useful patterns were after I designed an app with the factory pattern after reading the Head First Design Pattersn book, made it a breeze to modify the program. Anyway, I'm thinking it may be a combination of some design patterns. However, I'd like to get some input. I figure someone may have tried to do this before and maybe I can proactively avoid some of the pitfalls.

[Peer Reynders]

Originally posted by Tyler Jordan:
I realized how useful patterns were after I designed an app with the factory pattern after reading the Head First Design Pattersn book, made it a breeze to modify the program.

Maybe it is time to get into Patterns of Enterprise Application Architecture (PEAA) (amazon US) then.
As you can see in the P of EAA Catalog there are Data Source Architectural Patterns, Object-Relational Behavioural Patterns, Object-Relational Structural Patterns, Object-Relational Meta-Data Mapping Patterns.

Data Access Patterns: Database Interactions in Object-Oriented Applications (amazon US) is good too but I think PEAA is all around more useful. Also PEAA is a great companion book to Domain Driven Design � Tackling Complexity in the Heart of Software (home; amazon US). Though DDD is probably overkill for your current project.

[Tyler Jordan]

Yes, the book looks like just what I need. I had a feeling that I was moving beyond what the Head First Design Patterns can provide with this new project.

Thanks for the reference!

[Henrique Ordine]

Tyler,

If its scalability you need and if you're using EJBs, make sure you use Stateless Session Beans as Session Facades to access your business objects.

Cheers.

[Ilja Preuss]

I can only second the recommendation for the PEAA book!